Recombinant humanised anti-HER2/neu antibody (Herceptin) induces cellular death of glioblastomas.
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) remains the most devastating primary tumour in neuro-oncology. Targeting of the human epithelial receptor type 2 (HER2)-neu receptor by specific antibodies is a recent well-established therapy for breast tumours. Human epithelial receptor type 2/neu is a transmembrane tyrosine/kinase receptor that appears to be important for the regulation of cancer growth. Human epithelial receptor type 2/neu is not expressed in the adult central nervous system, but its expression increases with the degree of astrocytoma anaplasia. The specificity of HER2/neu for tumoral astrocytomas leads us to study in vitro treatment of GBM with anti-HER2/neu antibody. We used human GBM cell lines expressing HER2/neu (A172 express HER2/neu more than U251MG) or not (U87MG) and monoclonal humanised antibody against HER2/neu (Herceptin). Human epithelial receptor type 2/neu expression was measured by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Direct antibody effect, complement-dependent cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity were evaluated by different cytometric assays. We have shown, for the first time, the ability of anti-HER2/neu antibodies to induce apoptosis and cellular-dependent cytotoxicity of HER2/neu-expressing GBM cell lines. The results decreased from A172 to U251 and were negative for U87MG, in accordance with the decreasing density of HER2/neu receptors.
Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical School Hospital of Brest, BP 824, F29609 Brest Cedex, France. jfmineo@hotmail.com
J-F
JF
Mineo
A
A
Bordron
I
I
Quintin-Roué
S
S
Loisel
K L
KL
Ster
V
V
Buhé
N
N
Lagarde
C
C
Berthou
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000920:Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity / Q000187:drug effects; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D000068878:Trastuzumab
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000068878:Trastuzumab