Anti-epidermal growth factor receptor-antibody therapy for treatment of breast cancer.
Recent studies demonstrated that tumors overexpressing the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R, erbB-1) are associated with poor clinical outcome. This led to the development of a variety of monoclonal antibodies targeting the extracellular domain of this receptor tyrosine kinase. The aim of our study was the evaluation of anti-EGF-R antibody EMD 55900 therapy for treatment of breast cancer. On the basis of 299 tumor specimens derived from breast cancer patients, we investigated EGF-R expression and generated a collective of primary xenotransplants in athymic nude mice. The animals received therapy in 2 treatment schedules to investigate the therapeutic response in early stages of tumor formation as well as on well established tumors. Using 6 different tumors with EGF-R expression levels between 10-300 fmol/mg total protein, we found a therapeutic effect when the EGF-R expression of the tumors was at least 40 fMol/mg. On the basis of these experimental data and our EGF-R expression analysis of breast cancer specimens, we conclude that up to 15% of breast cancer patients could benefit from this monotherapy with EMD 55900.
Solbach
Christine
C
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, School of Medicine, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Solbach@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Roller
Marc
M
Ahr
Andre
A
Loibl
Sibylle
S
Nicoletti
Maria
M
Stegmueller
Manfred
M
Kreysch
Hans-Georg
HG
Knecht
Rainald
R
Kaufmann
Manfred
M
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000628:therapy*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D066246:ErbB Receptors