Influence of catumaxomab on tumor cells in bone marrow and blood in ovarian cancer.
The trifunctional antibody catumaxomab with bispecificity for the epithelial cell adhesion molecule EpCAM and the T-cell antigen CD3, is a new therapeutic strategy for ovarian cancer patients with symptomatic malignant ascites. Whether or not intraperitoneal (i.p.) catumaxomab-therapy has influence on disseminated and circulating tumor cells was investigated by analyzing cytokeratin-positive (CK+) cells in bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB). Fourteen ovarian cancer patients with symptomatic ascites were treated with catumaxomab (up to 5 i.p.-infusions; increasing dosages (10-200 microg)). CK+-cells were isolated before and after antibody-therapy by density gradient centrifugation and immunocytochemistry (anti-CK antibody A45-B/B3). Catumaxomab-treatment resulted in the sustained reduction of ascites flow and arrested ascites reaccumulation. The mean overall survival was 8 months. CK+-cells in the BM were found in 70% before and 83% after therapy (in the PB 57% and 42%, respectively). A marked reduction of CK+-cells occurred in the BM in 2 and in the PB in 4 patients. Catumaxomab shows a strong intraperitoneal effect and possibly also systemic effects on tumor cells in the BM and PB.
Wimberger
P
P
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45122 Essen, Germany. pauline.wimberger@uk-essen.de
Heubner
M
M
Lindhofer
H
H
Jäger
M
M
Kimmig
R
R
Kasimir-Bauer
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018033:Antibodies, Bispecific / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D018033:Antibodies, Bispecific; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C522419:catumaxomab