title: Interleukin-2 enhances the natural killer cell response to Herceptin-coated Her2/neu-positive breast cancer cells.
abstract: The Her2/neu (c-erbB-2) oncogene encodes a 185-kDa protein tyrosine kinase which is overexpressed in 20% of breast adenocarcinomas and is recognized by a humanized anti-Her2/neu monoclonal antibody (mAb) (rhu4D5 or Herceptin). Natural killer (NK) cells are capable of mediating antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity (ADCC) against antibody-coated targets via their expression of a low-affinity receptor for IgG (FcgammaRIII or CD16). NK cells can be expanded in cancer patients via the administration of low-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) and become potent cytotoxic effectors following exposure to high doses of IL-2. We tested IL-2-activated NK cells against Her2/neu+ (MCF-7Her2/neu) and Her2/neu- (MDA-468) breast cancer cell lines in a 4-h 51Cr-release cytotoxicity assay in the presence or absence of rhu4D5 mAb (effector : target ratio = 10 : 1). Specific lysis of rhu4D5-coated MCF-7Her2/neu and MDA-468 target cells by IL-2-activated NK cells was 35% and 3%, respectively (p < 0.05). Lysis was less than 5% when targets were treated with either the non-humanized mu4D5 mAb or control huIgG. Lysis of rhu4D5-coated MCF-7Her2/neu cells was inhibited by 80 % when NK cells were pre-treated with an anti-Fc receptor antibody prior to use in the cytotoxicity assay. Enhanced ADCC of MCF-7Her2/neu target cells was seen when the effector cells consisted of mononuclear cells obtained from a patient demonstrating significant expansion of NK cells secondary to therapy with low-dose IL-2. Serum from patients receiving infusions of rhu4D5 mAb could substitute for exogenous antibody in the ADCC assay. NK cells activated by rhu4D5-coated tumor cells in the presence of IL-2 also produced large amounts of IFN-gamma with concomitant up-regulation of cell-surface activation markers CD25 and CD69. These results lend support to the concurrent use of rhu4D5 mAb and IL-2 therapy in patients with cancers that express the Her2/neu oncogene.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, USA. carson-1@medctr.osu.edu
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Carson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Parihar
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lindemann
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Personeni
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dierksheide
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Meropol
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baselga
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Caligiuri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000920:Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000502:physiology; D000068878:Trastuzumab; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D000068878:Trastuzumab