Human agonistic TRAIL receptor antibodies Mapatumumab and Lexatumumab induce apoptosis in malignant mesothelioma and act synergistically with cisplatin.
BACKGROUND
The incidence of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is associated with exposure to asbestos, and projections suggest that the yearly number of deaths in Western Europe due to MPM will increase until 2020. Despite progress in chemo- and in multimodality therapy, MPM remains a disease with a poor prognosis. Inducing apoptosis by tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) or agonistic monoclonal antibodies which target TRAIL-receptor 1 (TRAIL-R1) or TRAIL-R2 has been thought to be a promising cancer therapy.


RESULTS
We have compared the sensitivity of 13 MPM cell lines or primary cultures to TRAIL and two fully human agonistic monoclonal antibodies directed to TRAIL-R1 (Mapatumumab) and TRAIL-R2 (Lexatumumab) and examined sensitization of the MPM cell lines to cisplatin-induced by the TRAIL-receptor antibodies. We found that sensitivity of MPM cells to TRAIL, Mapatumumab and Lexatumumab varies largely and is independent of TRAIL-receptor expression. TRAIL-R2 contributes more than TRAIL-R1 to death-receptor mediated apoptosis in MPM cells that express both receptors. The combination of cisplatin with Mapatumumab or Lexatumumab synergistically inhibited the cell growth and enhanced apoptotic death. Furthermore, pre-treatment with cisplatin followed by Mapatumumab or Lexatumumab resulted in significant higher cytotoxic effects as compared to the reverse sequence. Combination-induced cell growth inhibition was significantly abrogated by pre-treatment of the cells with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that the sequential administration of cisplatin followed by Mapatumumab or Lexatumumab deserves investigation in the treatment of patients with MPM.
Belyanskaya
Larisa L
LL
Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Clinic and Policlinic of Oncology, University Hospital of Zürich, Häldeliweg 4, 8044 Zürich, Switzerland. larisa.belyanskaya@empa.ch
Marti
Thomas M
TM
Hopkins-Donaldson
Sally
S
Kurtz
Stefanie
S
Felley-Bosco
Emanuela
E
Stahel
Rolf A
RA
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D019169:Jurkat Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D053220:Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / Q000276:immunology*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D053220:Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; C105190:TNFRSF10A protein, human; C505639:TNFRSF10B protein, human; C510234:lexatumumab; D002945:Cisplatin; C507357:mapatumumab