Antibodies targeted to TRAIL receptor-2 and ErbB-2 synergize in vivo and induce an antitumor immune response

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Oct 21;105(42):16254-9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0806849105. Epub 2008 Oct 6.

Abstract

Despite the development of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (ErbB-2/HER2)-targeted therapies, there remains an unmet medical need for breast cancer patients with ErbB-2 overexpression. We investigated the therapeutic activity of an agonist mAb to mouse tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptor-2 (DR5) against ErbB2-driven breast cancer. Established tumors in BALB/c transgenic mice expressing a constitutively active ErbB-2/neuT were treated with anti-DR5 mAb and/or anti-ErbB-2 mAb and monitored for tumor progression. Treatment with anti-DR5 or anti-ErbB2 mAb as single agents significantly delayed tumor growth, although all tumors eventually progressed. Remarkably, treatment with a combination of anti-DR5 and anti-ErbB-2 mAbs induced complete response in a majority of mice. In vivo blockade of CD11b(+) cells, but not natural killer cell depletion, significantly abrogated the early antitumor response. Notably, depletion of CD8(+) T cells provoked primary and secondary tumor relapse, revealing the induction of antitumor immunity by the combination treatment. Combined therapy with anti-DR5 and anti-ErbB-2 mAbs further significantly suppressed the growth of advanced spontaneous tumors in ErbB-2/neuT transgenic mice, even when treatment was delayed until tumors were palpable. We thus demonstrated that the combination of anti-DR5 and anti-ErbB2 mAbs might be an effective form of treatment for ErbB-2-overexpressing breast cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Breast Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms / therapy
  • Cell Line
  • Drug Synergism
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / metabolism
  • Immunotherapy
  • Mice
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / immunology*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism*
  • Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / immunology*
  • Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / metabolism*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand
  • Receptor, ErbB-2