Sequential immunochemotherapy and edrecolomab in the adjuvant therapy of breast cancer: reduction of 17-1A-positive disseminated tumour cells.
BACKGROUND
The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of the monoclonal antibody edrecolomab after chemo- and radiotherapy in the elimination of disseminated tumour cells in bone marrow in the adjuvant therapy of breast cancer.


METHODS
The bone marrow of 25 patients with breast cancer was tested for the presence of disseminated tumour cells using the pancytoceratine antibody and the alkaline phosphatase-anti-alkaline-phosphatase (APAAP) technique. To characterize tumour cells simultaneously, immunofluorescent double labelling of pancytoceratine and epithelial cell adhesion molecule (antibody 17-1A) was performed on tumour cells after magneto bead enrichment. Patients positive for the 17-1A antigen in bone marrow after chemotherapy were treated with edrecolomab (500 mg Panorex) initially, then 100 mg/month over 4 months) and investigated for the presence of micrometastases 6 weeks after the last treatment.


RESULTS
Of the 17 patients showing bone marrow micrometastases (BM-MM), 14 tested 17-1A positive before adjuvant chemotherapy. After chemotherapy, nine patients remained positive for the 17-1A antigen and were treated with edrecolomab. The final investigation after immunotherapy showed a complete elimination of the 17-1A-positive BM-MM in seven patients and a significant reduction of these cells in two patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Sequential treatment of breast cancer with edrecolomab after adjuvant chemotherapy can reduce disseminated tumour cells in the bone marrow and eliminate 17-1A-positive micrometastases.
Kirchner
E M
EM
Department of Haematology/Oncology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Marienhospital I Herne, Herne, Germany. kirchner@klinikum-niederberg.de
Gerhards
R
R
Voigtmann
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D046508:Culture Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C400149:Edrecolomab