g(m3)-ganglioside and Neoplasms

Ganglioside GM3 is strongly related with human tumors, such as lung, brain cancers and melanomas, and more and more evidences have revealed that GM3 possesses powerful effects on cancer development and progression. GM3 is over expressed on several types of cancers, and can be as a tumor-associated carbohydrate antigen, used for immunotherapy of cancers. GM3 can also inhibit tumor cells growth by anti-angiogenesis or motility and so on. Especially, GM3 has effects on the EGFR tyrosine kinase signaling, uPAR-related signaling and glycolipid-enriched microdomains, which are essential for cancer signaling conduction. It is obvious that GM3 will be a promising target for cancer treatment.

Topics: Animals; Cancer Vaccines; Cell Line, Tumor; G(M3) Ganglioside; Humans; Membrane Microdomains; Neoplasms; Signal Transduction

Numerous molecules have been considered as targets for cancer immunotherapy because of their levels of expression on tumor cells, their putative importance for tumor biology, and relative immunogenicity. In this review we focus on the ganglioside GM3(Neu5Gc), a glycosphingolipid present on the outer side of the plasma membrane of vertebrate cells. The reasons for selecting GM3(Neu5Gc) as a tumor-specific antigen and its use as a target for cancer immunotherapy are discussed, together with the development of antitumor therapies focused on this target by the Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM, Cuba).

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; Antigens, Neoplasm; Carbohydrate Sequence; Disease Models, Animal; G(M3) Ganglioside; Humans; Immunotherapy; Neoplasms

Our studies during the early 1970s showed that expression of GM3, the simplest ganglioside and an abundant animal cell membrane component, is reduced during malignant transformation of cells by oncogenic viruses. Levels of mRNA for GM3 synthase were reduced in avian and mammalian cells transformed by oncoprotein "v-Jun", and overexpression of GM3 synthase in the transformed cells caused reversion from transformed to normal cell-like phenotype. GM3 has a well-documented inhibitory effect on activation of growth factor receptors (GFRs), particularly epidermal GFR (EGFR). De-N-acetyl GM3, which is expressed in some invasive human cancer cells, has an enhancing effect on EGFR activation. The important role of the sialosyl group of GM3 was demonstrated using NEU3, a plasma membrane-associated sialidase that selectively remove sialic acids from gangliosides GM3 and GD1a and is up-regulated in many human cancer cells. GM3 is highly enriched in a type of membrane microdomain termed "glycosynapse", and forms complexes with co-localized cell signaling molecules, including Src family kinases, certain tetraspanins (e.g., CD9, CD81, CD82), integrins, and GFRs (e.g., fibroblast growth factor receptor and hepatocyte growth factor receptor c-Met). Studies by our group and others indicate that GM3 modulates cell adhesion, growth, and motility by altering molecular organization in glycosynaptic microdomains and the activation levels of co-localized signaling molecules that are involved in cancer pathogenesis.

Topics: Animals; G(M3) Ganglioside; Humans; Neoplasms; Receptors, Growth Factor; Tetraspanins

Racotumomab is a murine gamma-type anti-idiotype monoclonal antibody that specifically induces an antibody response against Neu-glycolyl GM3 ganglioside (NeuGcGM3), which is overexpressed in several solid tumors. It is adjuvanted with aluminum hydroxide for intradermal administration as a cancer vaccine (racotumomab-Alum, known commercially as Vaxira®). Racotumomab is currently being evaluated for a number of cancer indications, including melanoma, breast and lung cancer. In early clinical trials, racotumomab demonstrated high immunogenicity and low toxicity and it advanced to further clinical testing as a treatment for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). On the basis of promising results in a phase II/III study, racotumomab was launched in 2013 in Cuba and Argentina as an intradermal injection for the treatment of patients with advanced stage NSCLC.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; Cancer Vaccines; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; G(M3) Ganglioside; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Neoplasms

Research into aberrant glycosylation and over-expression of glycolipids on the surface of the majority of cancers, coupled with a knowledge of glycolipids as functional molecules involved in a number of cellular physiological pathways, has provided a novel area of targets for cancer immunotherapy. This has resulted in the development of a number of vaccines and monoclonal antibodies that are showing promising results in recent clinical trials.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antigens, Neoplasm; Cancer Vaccines; Ceramides; Clinical Trials as Topic; G(M3) Ganglioside; Gangliosides; Glycolipids; Glycosylation; Humans; Immunotherapy; Lewis Blood Group Antigens; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Neoplasms; Trisaccharides

Gangliosides, characteristic complex lipids present in the external layer of plasma membranes, deeply influence the organization of the membrane as a whole and the function of specific membrane associated proteins due to lipid-lipid and lipid-protein lateral interaction. Here we discuss the basis for the membrane-organizing potential of gangliosides, examples of ganglioside-regulated membrane protein complexes and the mechanisms for the regulation of ganglioside membrane composition.

Topics: Animals; Carbohydrate Sequence; Caveolae; Cell Adhesion; Cell Membrane; ErbB Receptors; G(M3) Ganglioside; Gangliosides; Humans; Membrane Microdomains; Models, Biological; Molecular Sequence Data; Molecular Structure; Neoplasms; Nervous System; Receptor, Insulin; Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor

Active specific immunotherapy is a promising field in cancer research. N-glycolyl (NGc) gangliosides, and particularly NGcGM3, have received attention as a privileged target for cancer therapy. Many clinical trials have been performed with the anti-NGc-containing gangliosides anti-idiotype monoclonal antibody racotumomab (formerly known as 1E10) and the conjugated NGcGM3/VSSP vaccine for immunotherapy of melanoma, breast, and lung cancer. The present paper examines the role of NGc-gangliosides in tumor biology as well as the available preclinical and clinical data on these vaccine products. A brief discussion on the relevance of prioritization of cancer antigens in vaccine development is also included.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antigens, Neoplasm; Cancer Vaccines; Clinical Trials as Topic; G(M3) Ganglioside; Humans; Immunotherapy; Neoplasms

Different approaches to generating human monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against tumor-associated ganglioside antigens have been carried out in several laboratories. A specific goal addressed by our laboratory is to produce human MAbs to several ganglioside antigens of relevance as therapeutic targets, such as the GM2, GD2, GD3 and GM3 gangliosides in melanoma. In vitro immunization of human B lymphocytes from normal donors was performed using liposomes containing gangliosides as the immunizing antigen combined with either complete tetanus toxoid or a synthetic peptide corresponding to a T helper epitope to stimulate in vitro immunization. Specific human anti-ganglioside antibodies were obtained, indicating that the antibody response found in vitro was antigen-driven. To overcome the widely reported problems concerning stability of immunoglobulin production by the antibody-secreting cell lines, a method of positive selection using GM3-coated magnetic beads has been developed in order to rescue unstable clones. Development of new methods to reproducibly generate ganglioside-specific human MAbs will amplify the possibilities for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Topics: Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antigens; B-Lymphocytes; Epitopes; G(M3) Ganglioside; Gangliosides; Humans; Immunization; Liposomes; Melanoma; Neoplasms; Radioimmunodetection; Radioimmunotherapy; T-Lymphocytes; Tetanus Toxoid

Ganglioside GM3 is well known as a tumor-associated carbohydrate antigen on several types of tumors. Many studies have demonstrated that GM3 plays roles in cells proliferation, adhesion, motility and differentiation, which is involved in the process of cancer development. In the present study, we developed methods to synthesize GM3 analogues conveniently. By enzymatic hydrolysis and chemical procedures, two novel analogues and two known analogues were synthesized, containing lactose and glucosamine. Then anti-proliferation and anti-migration activities were evaluated by cytotoxicity assays and wound healing tests, and the data demonstrated that these analogues exhibited anticancer activities. Based on our previous studies, the structure-activity relationships were discussed. This study could provide valuable sight to find new antitumor agents for cancer therapy.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Cell Proliferation; Drug Design; G(M3) Ganglioside; Humans; Neoplasms; Structure-Activity Relationship; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The GM3(Neu5Gc) ganglioside represents a tumor-specific antigen that is considered a promising target for cancer immunotherapy. We previously demonstrated that the humanized antibody 14F7hT, specific for this ganglioside, exhibited significant antitumor effects in preclinical hematological tumor models. As this antibody recognizes human tumor tissues from several origins, we addressed its potential effect on different tumor types. The use of cell lines for testing GM3(Neu5Gc)-targeting strategies, in particular for human malignancies, is complicated by the absence in humans of functional cytidine monophospho-N-acetyl-neuraminic acid hydroxylase (CMAH), the enzyme required for Neu5Gc sialic acid biosynthesis. Quantitative flow cytometry revealed the absence of surface GM3(Neu5Gc) in several human but also mouse cell lines, in the last case due to low expression of the enzyme. Hypoxia-induced expression of this ganglioside on human SKOV3 cells was observed upon culture in Neu5Gc-containing medium without evidence for CMAH-independent biosynthesis. However, only transfection of the mouse Cmah gene into human SKOV3 and mouse 3LL cells induced a stable expression of GM3(Neu5Gc) on the cancer cell surface, resulting in effective models to evaluate the antitumor responses by 14F7hT in vitro and in vivo. This antibody exerted antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and in vivo antitumor effects on these Cmah-transfected non-hematological tumors from both mouse and human origin. These results contribute to validate GM3(Neu5Gc) as a relevant target for cancer immunotherapy and reinforces the value of 14F7hT as a novel anti-cancer drug.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity; Antigens, Neoplasm; Antineoplastic Agents; Female; G(M3) Ganglioside; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mixed Function Oxygenases; Neoplasms; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Gangliosides altered during the pathological conditions and particularly in cancers. Here, we aimed to profile the gangliosides in breast cancer serum and propose potential biomarkers. LC-FTMS method was first used to identify all the ganglioside species in serum, then LC-MS/MS-MRM method was employed to quantitate the levels of gangliosides in serum from healthy volunteers and patients with benign breast tumor or breast cancer. 49 ganglioside species were determined, including GM1, GM2, GM3, GD1, GD3 and GT1 species. Compared to healthy volunteers, the levels of GM1, GM2, GM3, GD1 and GD3 displayed a rising trend in breast cancer patients. In particular, as the major glycosphingolipid component, GM3 showed excellent diagnostic accuracy in cancer serum (AUC > 0.9). PCA profile of the GM3 species showed clear distinction between normal and cancer serum. What's more, ROC curve proved great diagnostic accuracy of GM3 between cancer and benign serum. In addition, GM3 was discovered as a diagnostic marker to differentiate luminal B subtype from other subtypes. Furthermore, a positive correlation between GM3 and Ki-67 status of patients was identified. In conclusion, our results introduced the alteration patterns of serum gangliosides in breast cancer and suggested serum GM3 as a potential diagnostic biomarker in breast cancer diagnosis and luminal B subtype distinction.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Area Under Curve; Biomarkers, Tumor; Breast Neoplasms; Case-Control Studies; Chromatography, Liquid; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; G(M3) Ganglioside; Gangliosides; Humans; Ki-67 Antigen; Middle Aged; Neoplasms; Principal Component Analysis; Prognosis; ROC Curve; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Targeted cancer immunotherapy offers increased efficacy concomitantly with reduced side effects. One antibody with promising clinical potential is 14F7, which specifically recognises the NeuGc GM3 ganglioside. This antigen is found in the plasma membrane of a range of tumours, but is essentially absent from healthy human cells. 14F7 can discriminate NeuGc GM3 from the very similar NeuAc GM3, a common component of cell membranes. The molecular basis for this unique specificity is poorly understood. Here we designed and expressed 14F7-derived single-chain Fvs (scFvs), which retained the specificity of the parent antibody. Detailed expression and purification protocols are described as well as the synthesis of the NeuGc GM3 trisaccharide. The most successful scFv construct, which comprises an alternative variable light chain (V

Topics: Antibodies, Monoclonal; Crystallography, X-Ray; G(M3) Ganglioside; Humans; Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; Immunoglobulin Light Chains; Immunoglobulin Variable Region; Neoplasms; Protein Conformation; Single-Chain Antibodies

Glycosphingolipid GM3, a known suppressor of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) phosphorylation, inhibits cell proliferation. Valproic acid, conversely, is known as an up-regulator of GM3 synthase gene (ST3GAL5). To test the possibility that valproic acid could inhibit EGFR phosphorylation by increasing the level of GM3 in cells, we treated A431 epidermoid carcinoma cells with valproic acid and found that valproic acid treatment caused an about 6-fold increase in the GM3 level but only a marginal increase in the GM2 level in these cells and that the observed increase in GM3 level was valproic acid dose-dependent. Consistent with this observation, valproic acid treatment induced GM3 synthase gene expression by about 8-fold. Furthermore, phosphorylation of EGFR was reduced, and cell proliferation was inhibited following valproic acid treatment. Consistent with these results, transient expression of GM3 synthase gene in A431 cells also increased cellular level of GM3, reduced phosphorylation of EGFR, and inhibited cell proliferation. Treatment with l-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-l-propanol, an inhibitor of glucosylceramide synthesis, decreased the cellular level of GM3 and reduced the inhibitory effects of valproic acid on EGFR phosphorylation and cell proliferation. These results suggested that induction of GM3 synthesis was enough to inhibit proliferation of cancer cells by suppressing EGFR activity. Valproic acid treatment similarly increased the GM3 level and reduced phosphorylation of EGFR in U87MG glioma cells and inhibited their proliferation. These results suggested that up-regulators of GM3 synthase gene, such as valproic acid, are potential suppressors of cancer cell proliferation.

Topics: Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; ErbB Receptors; G(M3) Ganglioside; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Neoplasms; Phosphorylation; Sialyltransferases; Tumor Suppressor Proteins; Valproic Acid

A concise and efficient synthetic route for preparation of four ganglioside GM3 analogues was described. The key step is a highly regioselective and stereoselective α-sialylation from a suitably protected glycoside acceptor with a sialyl xanthate to provide the sialo-oligosaccharide in good yield. The cytotoxic properties of the synthetic gangliosides were evaluated against normal human keratinocytes and human HCT116 and K562 cancer cells. Two of them exhibited good antiproliferative activity and displayed a better cytotoxicity against cancer cell than HaCaT normal cell.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Cell Line; Cell Line, Tumor; Cytotoxins; G(M3) Ganglioside; Humans; Keratinocytes; N-Acetylneuraminic Acid; Neoplasms

N-glycolylated gangliosides are not naturally expressed in healthy human tissues but are overexpressed in several tumors. We demonstrate the existence of antibodies that bind (N-glycolylneuraminyl)-lactosylceramide (NeuGcGM3) and are detectable in the sera of 65 from the 100 donors (65%) tested by ELISA. From those 65 NeuGcGM3 antibody-positive donors, 35 had antibodies that were able to recognize and kill NeuGcGM3-expressing tumor cells by a complement-mediated mechanism. After complement inactivation, 11 of the 35 positive sera showed a direct cytotoxic effect on the tumor cells. This complement-independent cytotoxicity was dependent on the presence of antigen on the membrane and resembles an oncotic necrosis cell death. Both the levels of anti-NeuGcGM3 antibodies in the sera as well as the percentage of healthy donors with this immunity decreased with the age of the donor. In contrast to age and gender-matched healthy donors, we could only detect low reactivity against NeuGcGM3 in the sera of six out of 53 non-small cell lung cancer patients. These results suggest the existence of antibodies against NeuGcGM3 with antitumor immune surveillance functions, reinforcing the importance of N-glycolylated gangliosides as antitumor targets.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies; Antineoplastic Agents; Cell Death; Cell Line, Tumor; Female; G(M3) Ganglioside; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin M; Male; Mice; Necrosis; Neoplasms

Tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens (TACAs) are useful targets in the development of therapeutic cancer vaccines. However, a serious problem with them is the poor immunogenicity. To overcome the problem, a monophosphorylated derivative of Neisseria meningitidis lipid A was explored as a potential carrier molecule and built-in adjuvant for the construction of structurally defined fully synthetic glycoconjugate vaccines. Some paradigm-shifting discoveries about the monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA)-TACA conjugates were that they elicited robust IgG antibody responses, indicating T cell-mediated immunity, without an external adjuvant and that an external adjuvant, e.g., Titermax Gold, actually reduced rather than promoted the immunological activity of the conjugates. The induced antibodies were proved to bind selectively to target tumor cells. MPLA was therefore demonstrated to be a powerful built-in immunostimulant and adjuvant for an all new design of fully synthetic glycoconjugate cancer vaccines.

Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Animals; Antibodies, Neoplasm; Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; Cancer Vaccines; Cell Line, Tumor; G(M3) Ganglioside; Glycoconjugates; Immunity, Cellular; Immunoglobulin G; Lipid A; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Molecular Structure; Neisseria meningitidis; Neoplasms; Vaccination; Vaccines, Synthetic

The target concept means not only an aberrant expression of a particular molecule in tumour tissues but also evidence of a clear therapeutic advantage, as a consequence of immune-intervention, in an antigen-positive relevant tumour model. Since we reported the presence of NGcGM3 ganglioside in human breast tumours years ago and though Phase I clinical trials of a ganglioside containing vaccine have been conducted, a definitive direct validation of this peculiar molecule as target for cancer immunotherapy has remained unperformed.. Two animal models were used: leghorn chickens and C57BL/6 mice. The murine 3LL-D122 cell line, the derived subcutaneous tumours and metastatic lung lesions were processed for gangliosides identification. Active immunotherapy experiments in the 3LL-D122 spontaneous lung metastasis model were performed with NGcGM3/VSSP vaccine prepared by conjugation of NGcGM3 with the outer membrane proteins of Neisseria meningitides.. The 3LL-D122 Lewis lung carcinoma results were consistent with an increased expression of NGcGM3 from primary tumours to metastatic lesions, as observed in human breast cancer samples. Both vaccines, prepared with synthetic or natural-source-derived ganglioside, showed similar anti-tumour and immunogenicity profiles. Finally, a clear involvement of NK1.1(+) cells and CD8(+) T cells in the anti-metastatic effect elicited by the vaccine was manifested.. While 'proof of concept' Phase II and III clinical trials with the NGcGM3/VSSP vaccine in cancer patients are currently ongoing these results reasonably sustain the validation of this peculiar ganglioside as a novel target for cancer immunotherapy.

Topics: Animals; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; Cancer Vaccines; Carcinoma, Lewis Lung; Erythrocytes; Female; Flow Cytometry; G(M3) Ganglioside; Horses; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Immunotherapy; Lung; Lung Neoplasms; Mass Spectrometry; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Neisseria meningitidis; Neoplasm Metastasis; Neoplasm Transplantation; Neoplasms

Therapeutic vaccination with tumor antigens is a new approach in cancer treatment, which aims at inducing immune response while avoiding the side effects generally associated to many conventional therapies. To improve the efficacy of vaccines, suitable carriers may be used. Herein the insertion of a thioether analogue of GM3 lactone (SNeuAC-C14) into liposomes is reported. SNeuAC-C14 is a potential vaccine for the targeting of saccharide-based tumor epitopes. Different liposome formulations were designed to act as carriers and to generate recognition by tumor epitopes. The structural study of pure and loaded liposomes was carried out by synchrotron Small Angle X-ray Scattering and was complemented by Dynamic Light Scattering and Zeta potential measurements. This provided detailed information on relevant properties of the investigated host-guest structures and showed that the active unit of SNeuAC-C14, i.e. its spiro tricyclic moiety, was located in the polar head region of the liposome bilayer, which is an important requirement for recognition phenomena. Moreover, it was found that most of the SNeuAC-C14/liposome complexes were positively charged. The obtained results allow these systems to be considered as candidates to promote immunoresponse in tumor cells.

Topics: Cancer Vaccines; Epitopes; G(M3) Ganglioside; Lipid Bilayers; Liposomes; Neoplasms; Structure-Activity Relationship

Gangliosides have been involved in multiple cellular processes such as growth, differentiation and adhesion, and more recently as regulators of cell death signaling pathways. Some of these molecules can be considered as tumor-associated antigens, in particular, N-glycolyl sialic acid-containing gangliosides, which are promising candidates for cancer-targeted therapy because of their low expression in normal human tissues. In this study, we provided the molecular and cellular characterization of a novel cell death mechanism induced by the anti-NGcGM3 14F7 monoclonal antibody (mAb) in L1210 murine tumor cell line but not in mouse normal cells (B and CD4(+) T lymphocytes) that expressed the antigen. Impairment of ganglioside synthesis in tumor cells abrogated the 14F7 mAb cytotoxic effect; however, exogenous reincorporation of the ganglioside did not restore tumor cell sensitivity to 14F7 mAb-induced cytotoxicity. 14F7 F(ab')(2) but not Fab fragments retained the cytotoxic capacity of the whole mAb. By contrary, other mAb, which recognizes N-glycolylated gangliosides, did not show any cytotoxic effect. These mAbs showed quite different capacities to bind NGcGM3-positive cell lines measured by binding inhibition experiments. Interestingly, this complement-independent cell death mechanism did not resemble apoptosis, because no DNA fragmentation, caspase activation, or Fas mediation were observed. However, NGcGM3 ganglioside-mediated 14F7 mAb-induced cell death was accompanied by cellular swelling, membrane lesion formation, and cytoskeleton activation, suggesting an oncosis-like phenomenon. This novel mechanism of cell death lets us to support further therapeutic approaches using NGcGM3 as a molecular target for antibody-based cancer immunotherapy.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies, Neoplasm; Antibody Affinity; Antibody Specificity; Binding Sites; Cell Death; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Membrane; Cytoskeleton; G(M3) Ganglioside; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Neoplasms

Gangliosides have diverse biological functions including modulation of immune system response. These molecules are differentially expressed on malignant cells compared with the corresponding normal ones and are involved in cancer progression affecting, in different ways, the host's anti-tumour specific immune responses. Although in humans the N-glycolylated variant of GM3 ganglioside is almost exclusively expressed in tumour tissues, the significance of this glycolipid for malignant cell biology remains obscure, while for NAcGM3 strong immune suppressive effects have been reported. The present work demonstrates, for the first time, the capacity of NGcGM3 ganglioside to down-modulate CD4 expression in murine and human T lymphocytes, especially in non-activated T cells. Thirty and tenfold reductions in CD4 expression were induced by purified NGcGM3 ganglioside in murine and human T lymphocytes, respectively. The CD4 complete recovery in these cells occurred after 48 h of ganglioside removal, due to neo-synthesis. Restored T cells kept similar sensitivity to ganglioside-induced CD4 down-modulation after a new challenge. In addition, a clear association between NGcGM3 insertion in lymphocyte plasma membranes and the CD4 down-modulation effect was documented. Notably, a possible role of this ganglioside in tumour progression, taking advantage of the X63 myeloma model, was also outlined. The relevance of these findings, characterizing NGcGM3 as a possible tumour immunesurveillance inhibitor and supporting the reason for its neo-expression in certain human cancers, is contributing to this unique heterophilic ganglioside validation as target for cancer immunotherapy.

Topics: Animals; CD4 Antigens; Cell Culture Techniques; Down-Regulation; G(M3) Ganglioside; Humans; Immunotherapy; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Multiple Myeloma; Neoplasms; Neuraminidase; T-Lymphocytes; Tumor Cells, Cultured

In this study we report the characterization of a human monoclonal antibody (HuMab), L612, that reacts with ganglioside GM3 and has therapeutic application for the treatment of human neoplasms, particularly melanoma. A permanent IgM-secreting Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B-cell line L612 was established. L612 HuMab bound specifically to neoplastic cell lines in culture and in tissue biopsy specimens such as melanoma, colon, breast, and lung cancer. The antibody did not bind to normal cells or biopsy tissue. HuMab L612 showed the highest reactivity to melanoma cells, particularly to those with high concentrations of GM3. Immunostaining on high-performance thin-layer chromatography plates demonstrated that L612 HuMab bound to GM3 purified from melanoma cells. Removal of the sialic acid from GM3 abolished antibody binding. HuMab L612 also reacted to GM4 purified from egg yolk, indicating that it recognizes an NeuAc alpha 2-3 galactose antigen determinant. HuMab L612 heavy and light chains were sequenced and determined to belong to the mu heavy chain variable subgroup III and kappa chain variable subgroup IV families, respectively. The studies indicate that the L612 HuMab has significant therapeutic potential for a wide variety of human cancers.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Amino Acid Sequence; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibody Specificity; Antigens, Neoplasm; B-Lymphocytes; Base Sequence; Breast Neoplasms; Carbohydrate Sequence; Cell Line, Transformed; Cloning, Molecular; Colonic Neoplasms; DNA Primers; Female; G(M3) Ganglioside; Gangliosides; Herpesvirus 4, Human; Humans; Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; Immunoglobulin Light Chains; Immunoglobulin Variable Region; Lung Neoplasms; Melanoma; Molecular Sequence Data; Neoplasms; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Recombinant Proteins; Skin Neoplasms

Using beta 1,4-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.92) complementary DNA, the correlation of gene expression, enzyme activity, and expression of ganglioside antigens was analyzed in 20 human tumor cell lines. In many lines, GM2 and/or GD2 were the most complex structures examined. Northern blot analysis revealed 5.2- and 3.0-kilobase mRNAs in almost all cell lines expressing GD2 and/or GM2. Some melanoma lines, however, showed no bands although they expressed fairly high levels of GD2. These cell lines expressed very high levels of alpha 2,8-sialyltransferase and the resulting product, GD3. Semiquantitative RT-PCR demonstrated that even cell lines with no bands in Northern blot contained 0.4-2.5% of mRNA level in the highest expressing cell line. These results indicate that GD2 expression on individual cell lines is regulated not only by the expression level of the N-acetylgalactosaminyl transferase but also by the amount of its precursor structure (GD3) and alpha 2,8-sialyltransferase present in the cells. beta 1,4-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase activities and mRNA levels generally correlated quite closely. A few lines, however, showed lower enzyme activities than expected from their mRNA levels, indicating the possibility that the enzyme is being regulated by translational or posttranslational modification such as phosphorylation and glycosylation as well as by transcriptional regulation. Depending on their patterns of ganglioside synthesis and expression, the lines examined were classified into 6 groups which were characteristic of different tumor cell types.

Topics: Antibodies, Monoclonal; Base Sequence; Blotting, Southern; G(M2) Ganglioside; G(M3) Ganglioside; Galactosyltransferases; Gangliosides; Humans; Molecular Sequence Data; N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferases; Neoplasms; Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The appearance of Hanganutziu and Deicher (HD) antibody in the sera of patients suffering from various diseases, including malignancies of some organs and liver disorders, was investigated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using N-glycolylneuraminyl-lactosylceramide (HD3) and 4-O-acetyl-HD3 as the antigenic molecules. More than 25% of sera from patients suffering from malignancies, cholelithiasis and liver cirrhosis had HD antibody, whereas none of 41 sera from healthy persons had HD antibody. The percentage of HD antibody-positive patients was similar in stages I, II and III of gastric cancer and recurrence cases. Antibody titers of the positive patients in each stage were also not different from those in each other stage. These results indicated that HD antigenic expression on cancerous tissue is not dependent on the cancerous malignancy. The HD antibody level was elevated after surgical removal of cancerous tissues in 5 of 6 patients examined, indicating that tumor growth absorbed the serum antibody. Serum antibody against 4-O-acetyl-HD3 was detected independently of HD3 antibody in some cases; however, in most cases, correlation between the two antibody titers was observed.

Topics: Aged; Antibodies, Heterophile; Antigens, Neoplasm; Breast Neoplasms; Cholelithiasis; Colonic Neoplasms; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Esophageal Neoplasms; Female; G(M3) Ganglioside; Humans; Liver Cirrhosis; Lymphoma; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Stomach Neoplasms

A new immunohistochemical assay was developed for the detection of human monoclonal antibody (HuMAb) bound to human biopsied tumor tissues. A murine anti-idiotype monoclonal antibody, alpha type, 18C6 (IgGl), was raised against an IgM HuMAb, L612, defining a tumor-associated ganglioside antigen (GM3) and used as a probe in a three step cell-binding assay (HuMAb + anti-id + biotinylated anti-mouse Ig). Anti-id 18C6 has an exclusive binding specificity for HuMAb L612, but does not interfere with the binding of L612 to antigen positive melanoma cell lines or to a purified antigen, GM3. The applicability of 18C6 in the three step cell-binding assay was tested first using a melanoma cell line, UCLASO-M12. L612 bound to M12 cells was specifically detected by 18C6 without any background reactivity in ELISA. When this assay was compared with the standard two-step cell-binding assay (HuMAb + peroxidase-conjugated anti-human IgM) using various cultured tumor cell lines, parallel reactivity was observed. The three-step cell-binding assay was then applied to various fresh-frozen human tumor sections. Positive reactivity was demonstrated on various histologic types of human tumor tissues: primary melanoma (10/10), metastatic melanoma (4/4), nevus (10/10), lung cancer (3/6), breast cancer (2/6), and colon cancer (1/1). Adjacent normal tissues were unstained. Control experiments included the cell-binding assay with L612 alone, 18C6 alone. L612 + unrelated mouse IgG, and unrelated IgM HuMAb (L72) + 18C6; but biotinylated anti-mouse IgG did not react with these control preparations. The results indicate that anti-id 18C6 is a highly specific probe to assess the expression of the ganglioside antigenic epitope recognized by the L612 HuMAb on biopsied human tumor tissues.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Biopsy; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; G(M3) Ganglioside; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Immunohistochemistry; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Neoplasms; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The serum concentration and composition of gangliosides were examined in 80 humans including 10 normal subjects. A significant increase was found in the total gangliosides of serum in 7 patients with cerebral astrocytomas. There was also an increased percentage of serum gangliosides with simpler structure, particularly GM3. The serum of patients with other intracranial tumors, including pituitary adenomas, ependymoma, teratoma, and metastases, did not show an increase in total ganglioside; however the pattern of simplification was found in these and in a few patients with extracranial tumors as well. The findings suggest that astrocytoma tumors shed sialoglycolipids into the circulation, and their assay may be useful in monitoring oncological therapy.

Topics: Astrocytoma; Brain Diseases; Brain Neoplasms; Chromatography, Thin Layer; G(M3) Ganglioside; Gangliosides; Humans; Neoplasms; Pons