PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Ménard

Publications and source records attributed to S Ménard.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Prognostic significance of the 67-kilodalton laminin receptor expression in human breast carcinomas.

BACKGROUND: The 67-kd laminin receptor is a cell-surface protein that binds laminin with high affinity. In vitro studies suggest that this protein is involved in the progression of human tumors to invasive cancers (metastasis), but there have been few in vivo studies. Identification of such proteins would allow development of therapies aimed at interfering with their mechanisms of action. PURPOSE: This large retrospective study was designed to investigate the association of expression of this laminin receptor molecule with established prognostic factors and overall survival in breast carcinoma patients. METHODS: We immunohistochemically stained archival paraffin-embedded sections of 1160 primary breast carcinomas, using an immunoperoxidase technique and the MLuC5 monoclonal antibody, which is specific for the 67-kd laminin receptor. Specimens were obtained from consecutive surgeries performed from January 1968 through December 1971. Patients with negative lymph nodes or involved regional nodes had been treated with surgery alone; those with positive axillary nodes had received surgery and radiotherapy. No chemotherapy had been administered until disease recurrence. The statistical analysis was carried out using the logrank method for the survival curves and the actuarial life table to calculate survival rates according to the different prognostic variables. RESULTS: We found statistically significant associations between laminin receptor expression and young age (P < .001), premenopausal status (P = .001), positive axillary lymph nodes (P = .01), peritumoral lymphatic invasion (P = .02), and the diameter of the tumor (P = .05). Moreover, the association of expression of the receptor protein with poor prognosis, as indicated by survival curves, was statistically significant (P < .01). For patients with receptor-negative tumors, the survival rate was 50% at 20 years; for those with receptor-positive tumors, the survival rate was 50% at 13 years. Multivariate analysis showed the laminin receptor to be an independent prognostic factor (P = .005), indicating its predictive value in relation to overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the 67-kd laminin receptor is associated with the metastatic process. IMPLICATIONS: These preliminary findings also suggest that hormones may have a regulatory role in the in vivo expression of the 67-kd laminin receptor, which supports the hypothesis that hormone therapy might inhibit expression of the receptor. Studies of expression of this receptor in tumors of patients with extremely different sex hormone levels (e.g., men and pregnant women) are in progress.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

A critical comparison of three internalization assays applied to the evaluation of a given mAb as a toxin-carrier candidate.

In the attempt to define a strategy for screening new monoclonal antibodies (mAb) that could be appropriate for clinical application in oncology, we evaluated the suitability of three methods: a direct internalization assay (DIA), an indirect internalization assay (IIA) and an indirect cytotoxicity assay (ICA), by applying them to already selected mAb. The latter were directed against three antigenic systems [38-kDa glycoprotein (gp38), epidermal growth factor receptor, and the neu oncogene product], which, according to their tumor selectivity, could be considered suitable for mAb-guided therapy. The dose-dependent and time-dependent binding, as well as the low intra-assay variability, demonstrated the reliability of the three tests. However, a certain degree of inter-assay variability was observed in each one, the highest value being that found when IIA was applied. Furthermore, the degree of variability, as well as the predictability, seemed to be more related to the mAb/antigen (Ag) combination used rather than to the test applied. From the overall data we suggest a procedure to be applied for screening purposes. As a first approach applied to the raw material, ICA is only suitable for screening in the case of an already selected toxin whereas IIA may be helpful to eliminate the true negative mAb. After purification of the relevant mAb a repeated analysis using DIA could allow the selection of true internalizing mAb. However, this second screening should be followed by a further analysis of the fate of the Ag-Ab complex after internalization.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Antibody-induced activation of p185HER2 in the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line Calu-3 requires bivalency.

In the present study we utilized two previously described monoclonal antibodies (mAb), and their respective Fab portions, directed against the extracellular domain of p185HER2, a transmembrane glycoprotein with intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity coded by the HER2/neu oncogene, to study the mechanism of mAb-induced receptor internalization and phosphorylation. Fluorescence scan analysis and direct binding of radiolabelled mAb and their Fab fragments showed that entire MGR2 and MGR3 mAb were reactive with similar binding affinity on two cell lines (Calu-3 and Sk-Br-3) overexpressing the p185HER2 receptor, and unreactive on unrelated cells. The corresponding Fab fragments were positive on the related cells, but bound with diminished intensity and affinity. Entire MGR2 and MGR3 induced internalization in both Calu-3 and Sk-Br-3 cells, whereas their Fab portions were not internalized. When the bivalency of the MGR2 Fab fragment was artificially reconstituted by incubation with rabbit anti-(mouse IgG), internalization was obtained. Monovalent binding of the entire labelled antibodies, obtained in the presence of a saturating amont of unlabelled antibody, decreased both the rate and the final amount of internalized antibody. Metabolic labelling and immunoblotting experiments showed that incubation with entire MGR3 amplified the basal phosphorylation of the p185HER2 receptor in Calu-3 and Sk-Br-3 cells, whereas MGR3 Fab decreased the signal. Taken together, our data indicate that antibody-mediated activation of p185HER2 in Calu-3 and Sk-Br-3 cells occurs through the dimerization of receptor molecules and that bivalency of the activating antibody is mandatory for induction of internalization and phosphorylation of the receptor. Our data support an allosteric model of activation for the p185HER2 receptor.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Prognostic significance of the CaMBr1 antigen on breast carcinoma: relevance of the type of recognised glycoconjugate.

An extensive study of the expression of the blood group-related antigen CaMBr1 has been performed by immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting and high performance thin layer chromatography both on frozen and paraffin-embedded (paraffin) samples from normal and neoplastic breast tissues. The glycolipid antigenic fraction (from frozen samples) was preferentially expressed on functioning breast epithelium. In a prospective series of 143 breast cancer cases CaMBr1 expression was associate, on frozen sections, with the transferrin receptor (P = 0.01), the positivity with oestrogen receptor immunochemical assay (P = 0.06), premenopausal status (P = 0.06) and node negativity (P = 0.07). Non-significant correlation with longer disease-free survival (DFS) was observed. In a retrospective series of 862 cases on paraffin sections the glycoproteic antigenic fraction was significantly associated with premenopausal status (P < 0.05) and lobular histotype (P < 0.01), but failed to predict survival, although a trend for longer DFS was observed for positive cases.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

Study of the expression and function of the tumour-associated antigen CaMBr1 in small cell lung carcinomas.

The expression of the epithelial antigen recognised by the MBr1 monoclonal antibody (CaMBr1) was studied on 161 small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) biopsies. A correlation between the marker expression and the overall survival of the patients was found. To investigate the possible role of CaMBr1 in tumour aggressiveness, the in vivo and in vitro growth capabilities of different SCLC cell lines, in relation to the antigen expression, were analysed. The CaMBr1-positive cell lines displayed a higher growth potential in comparison to CaMBr1-negative cells. The biochemical nature of CaMBr1 was analysed in terms of enzyme sensitivity, molecular weight and comparison with other glycoproteins expressed by SCLC cells. The results indicated the trypsin sensitivity of the molecule, and sialic acid hiding of the CaMBr1 epitope. The increase of MBr1 reactivity after neuraminidase treatment suggests that the CaMBr1 epitope expressed in the SCLC cell line is carried by a sialoglycoprotein.

Animals↗

Evolution of the therapeutic use of new monoclonal antibodies.

Peptide or carbohydrate epitopes resulting from aberrant glycosylation, receptors for growth, and differentiation signals have recently been reexamined as candidates for monoclonal antibody-guided therapy. Microdistribution studies have demonstrated the limited penetration of radiolabeled antibodies in tumors. Increased tumor capillary permeability has been obtained by pretreatment with cytokines or by exploitation of monoclonal antibodies against tumor endothelial cells. The use of monoclonal antibodies for combined therapies based on different rationales (multiple monoclonal antibodies, monoclonal antibodies plus cytokines, and monoclonal antibodies plus drugs) is a recent development, and the retargeting of effector cells using hybrid monoclonal antibodies can be considered an extension of this approach. A major driving force in the field of immunotoxins today is represented by progress in protein engineering. Genes encoding various toxins have been cloned, and novel molecules with more desirable biologic properties have been produced. Also, genetic engineering techniques help in overcoming the major limitation in the clinical use of rodent monoclonal antibodies, ie, human antiimmunoglobulin response.

Animals↗

Alteration of laminin production in small-cell lung carcinoma: possible correlation with the absence of the basement membrane.

Basement membranes are frequently absent in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). To study this phenomenon, the production of laminin by SCLC cells, both in vitro and in vivo, has been investigated and compared with the laminin production by lung carcinomas of other histotypes (non-SCLC, NSCLC). Immunoradiometric and immunoperoxidase tests, respectively, carried out on culture supernatants and cells using antilaminin rabbit antiserum, revealed that in 1 (H446) out of 8 SCLC cell lines tested and in the NSCLC line Calu3, laminin was detectable both in the culture medium and in the cytoplasm of the cells. After treatment of an SCLC-negative cell line (N592) with monensin, a molecule which inhibits protein secretion, laminin became detectable in the cytoplasm. Similar results were obtained by FACS analysis on cells permeabilized with saponin. Northern analysis indicated that the laminin B1 gene was transcribed. The level of mRNA for the B1 laminin subunit in the N592 cells was twice and 4 times higher than that found in the laminin-secreting Calu3 and H446 cell lines. The production of laminin in SCLC and NSCLC surgically resected samples using immunoperoxidase staining of cryostatic sections was also investigated. The results indicate that 85% of the NSCLC cases tested showed diffuse staining in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells and strong staining at the basement membrane level, whereas a similar staining was only found in 15% of the SCLC cases tested. The treatment of SCLC cells with differentiating agents in vitro has been shown to induce the adhesion of these cells. In fact, n-butyric acid induced the disaggregation of floating-clump cells and single-cell adhesion in the N592 line, whereas after treatment with retinoids the clumps of the N592 cells were still present, but 30% of these were found to adhere to the plate. However, no increase in the laminin production was found in the cytoplasmic or culture medium under these conditions.

Adenocarcinoma↗

The extracellular domain of the c-erbB-2 oncoprotein is released from tumor cells by proteolytic cleavage.

A molecule that is immunologically related to the c-erbB-2 oncogene product (p185HER2/neu) was detected in the conditioned culture medium from neu-overexpressing tumor cell lines and in sera of advanced-stage breast carcinoma patients. Using a sensitive (in the range of 0.5 ng ml-1) double-determinant radioimmunoassay (DDIRMA) with two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against the neu extracellular domain (ECD), soluble oncoproteins were detected in supernatants from several neu-positive tumor cell lines, independent of the levels of membrane p185HER2 expression. The molecule detected did not react with a MAb directed against an intracytoplasmic epitope of the p185HER2. Western blot analysis of the concentrated supernatant revealed a protein of approximately 110 kDa molecular mass, which closely matches the predicted size of the glycosylated p185HER2 ECD. Immunoprecipitation of culture supernatant from cell surface-radioiodinated cells confirmed the 110 kDa molecular mass of the glycosylated shed protein, which migrated to 86 kDa after deglycosylation. Proteolytic cleavage of the p185HER2 molecule was demonstrated in release assays carried out with protease inhibitors. The combined use of leupeptin and EDTA completely inhibited release of the molecule. Analysis of sera from breast carcinoma patients and healthy donors by DDIRMA revealed the presence of soluble neu in 15% of pathologic sera but none of the normal sera. A good correlation was found between neu-overexpression in the primary tumor and the soluble marker in serum of patients with advanced disease; sera of early-stage patients were always negative, independent of neu-overexpression in the tumor. These results suggest the usefulness of soluble neu as an indicator of tumor aggressiveness but not as a diagnostic marker of breast cancer.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Membrane association and shedding of the GPI-anchored Ca-MOv18 antigen in human ovary carcinoma cells.

The antigen recognized by the MOv18 MAb (Ca-MOv18) was recently shown to be a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked protein. In this report we show that GPI-anchorage is not limited to IGROVI cells nor to other ovary carcinoma cell lines, but Ca-MOv18 was also found to be sensitive to phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) treatment on fresh ovarian cancer cells. Furthermore, we found a heterogeneous sensitivity of Ca-MOv18 to PI-PLC cleavage, not only among the different cells studied but also in different experiments performed on the same cell line, during extended periods of time in culture. Sensitivity to PI-PLC cleavage was determined by immunofluorescence on live cells and by double-determinant radioimmunoassay of the antigen released in the supernatant. The specificity of the PI-PLC cleavage was demonstrated as follows: (a) TX114 solubilized Ca-MOv18 shifts from the detergent to the aqueous phase after treatment with PI-PLC; (b) on membrane preparations, PI-PLC specifically released a fraction of the antigen, which is distinct from the weakly associated form released by high-salt treatment; (c) Ca-MOv18 from IGROVI expressed the cross-reacting determinant (CRD), which is characteristic of GPI-linked molecules. The absence of CRD expression on the spontaneously released protein and the possibility of artificially inducing antigen shedding during the resynthesis of Ca-MOv18 which follows bacterial PI-PLC treatment are interesting points which need to be further investigated in order to understand the physiology of the Ca-MOv18 tumor antigen.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Glycolipids carrying Le(y) are preferentially expressed on small-cell lung cancer cells as detected by the monoclonal antibody MLuC1.

The monoclonal antibody MLuC1, which reacts strongly with a high percentage of small-cell lung cancers (SCLC), as well as with various human carcinomas, has been used to immunochemically characterize the recognized epitope (CaMLuC1). To this aim 3 different approaches were adopted: (1) immunoblotting/immunostaining of extracts from various tumor-cell lines; (2) inhibition of binding by purified oligosaccharides; (3) direct binding to oligosaccharide-protein conjugates. All of these experiments indicate that CaMLuC1 is present on the Le(y) blood-group structure heterogeneously expressed on various glycoproteins and glycolipids. The expression of the glycoconjugates carrying Le(y) was then analyzed on breast and lung cancers and on their normal counterparts. Our overall results suggest that SCLC produce Le(y)-active glycolipids in higher amounts compared to other tumors of the same or of a different oncotype, as well as normal lung cells, thus indicating an SCLC-specific modification of the glycosylation pathways.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Production and characterization of two monoclonal antibodies directed against the integrin beta 1 chain.

The production and characterization of two new monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), designated MAR4 and MAR5, raised against the partially purified alpha 5 beta 1 integrin, are described. The reactivity of these 2 MAbs on tumor cell lines indicated that they reacted on all the cells expressing the beta 1 subunit independently of the alpha 5 expression. Both MAbs were found to immunoprecipitate on 3 cell lines, a protein of 120 KD corresponding to the molecular weight be the beta 1 chain, in addition to proteins of other MW corresponding to the alpha subunits differentially expressed by these cells. The cross-competition experiments showed that MAR4 and MAR5 recognize the same epitope. These 2 MAbs seem to be useful reagents for the characterization of the VLA expression in tumor cells.

Animals↗

An anti-doxorubicin monoclonal antibody modulates kinetic and dynamic characteristics of the drug.

A monoclonal antibody (MAb) directed against doxorubicin (DXR), denominated MAD II, was found to exert an antidotal action by modulating the kinetic and dynamic characteristics of the drug. In vitro, MAD II has been found to reduce the cytotoxicity of DXR and the drug uptake on spleen lymphocytes more efficiently than on tumor cells (P388 leukemia cells). In vivo, the anti-DXR MAb modified the drug distribution; the drug uptake was found to be reduced in the intestine and myocardial tissues and increased in the tumor, liver and spleen. In mice treated with DXR, the administration of anti-DXR MAb exerted an antidotal activity which was proved by the reduction in body-weight loss and mortality. In contrast, the therapeutic efficacy of the drug in P388-tumor-bearing mice was not influenced by the anti-DXR MAb.

Animals↗

Characterization of two monoclonal antibodies directed against the 67 kDa high affinity laminin receptor and application for the study of breast carcinoma progression.

Two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), designated MLuC5 and MLuC6, were produced against a human small cell lung carcinoma cell line. They were found to exhibit a superimposable reactivity on different cell lines and on platelets. Moreover, they both immunoprecipitated a 67 kDa molecule from the membrane of the reference target cells. Immunodepletion and cross-inhibition tests indicated that the two mAbs recognize two epitopes closely localized on the same molecule. The MLuC5 mAb was further characterized for its reactivity on platelets. Immunoprecipitation and ELISA assays demonstrate that this mAb recognizes the 67 kDa high affinity laminin receptor. MLuC5 reactivity was evaluated by immunohistochemistry on a variety of normal and tumor tissues, in particular breast specimens including normal epithelium, dysplastic lesions, in situ carcinomas, invasive primary carcinomas and distant metastases. The laminin receptor was found to be strongly expressed in 50% of the infiltrating carcinomas, whereas in situ carcinomas and benign lesions, as well as the normal mammary epithelium, were only weakly and focally positive. In metastatic lesions MLuC5 reactivity was only found in 11% of the samples tested, independently of the site of origin of the lesion.

Animals↗

Study of the biological and prognostic significance of the antigen CaMBr8 on breast carcinoma.

We previously reported that the expression on the primary tumour of the antigen CaMBr8 was related to a short survival, attributable either to higher tumour aggressiveness or a poor response to oophorectomy. To further verify the CaMBr8 prognostic value, we analysed retrospectively 862 breast cancer patients with a 19 year follow-up. In this series, CaMBr8 expression was found to be associated to some negative prognostic factors (premenopausal status, lymphnode invasion, a high number of mitosis and HER-2/neu oncoprotein expression), but had no influence on the patients' survival. Direct association with a poor prognosis was only evident in patients with lobular or mixed breast carcinoma, which however represent only a small fraction of the total breast cancers. Another possibility was that CaMBr8 could identify a subgroup of patients which did not respond to hormone therapy. To verify this hypothesis we evaluated on a second series of 116 patients the relationship between CaMBr8 expression and hormone-receptor levels. A negative association emerged which was also observed in vitro in the human breast cancer line MCF-7 treated with Sodium Butyrate, a differentiation inducer, which reduced hormone-receptor levels and increased CaMBr8 expression. In conclusion, the longer survival of CaMBr8 negative tumour patients observed in the initial study, was probably related to a better response to oophorectomy, due to the hormone-receptor level of their tumours.

Adult↗

p185 HER2/neu epitope mapping with murine monoclonal antibodies.

In order to obtain further information on the biological role of the HER2/neu oncoprotein, 7 new monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were produced against the p185HER2 extracellular domain. These MAbs, together with two others previously produced, were used to investigate the p185HER2 expression in breast carcinomas and compare the recognized antigenic determinants. The 7 reagents (MGR4,5,6,7,8,9 and 10), were shown to define five distinct epitopes. Three of these MAbs (MGR5,7,10), as well as one previously produced (MGR2), recognize the same epitope (Epitope-1) which seems, therefore, to be highly immunogenic for the murine immune system. Epitope-2 recognized by the MGR4 MAb, appears to be closely related to epitope-1 due to a cross inhibition between MGR4 and MGR10, but not MGR2. Epitope-2 is the only one of the 5 also present on the product of the neu oncogene, the rat analogue of the human HER2/neu gene. None of the reagents against epitope-1 and epitope-2 were found to mediate receptor internalization, whereas MGR6 as well as a previously produced MAb (MGR3), both of which define epitope-3 and MGR8 which defines epitope-4, were found to do so. Epitope-4 like the neu-specific peptide recognized by the reference c-neu Ab3 MAb, was detectable on all p185HER2 positive breast cancer, independently from the quantitative content of the oncoprotein, at variance with the other 4 epitopes whose availability on p185HER2 for the relevant MAbs varied with the degree of overexpression. Epitope-5, recognized by the MGR9 MAb, on the contrary to the other epitopes, was prevalently localized at the basal membrane level of the tumor nodule.

Animals↗

Possible targets on carcinoma for bMAb retargeting of lymphocyte or drug cytotoxicity.

Retargeting of drugs or lymphocyte cytotoxicity through bi-specific monoclonal antibodies (bMAbs) has been proven a therapeutic tool against human carcinoma both in pre-clinical in vitro and in vivo studies. Some of these reagents have already been introduced into clinical trials and preliminary results appear to be promising. However, improvement of the specificity of this approach could be achieved by selecting more suitable target molecules on tumor cells. The research focused on developing MAbs directed against molecules with tumor-restricted distribution and homogeneous expression. Cell-membrane receptors for nutrients or growth factors which operationally represent tumor-specific molecules due to their overexpression, could be considered appropriate targets. Several bMAb anti-nutrients (the folate-binding protein) or growth-factor receptor (c-erbB1, c-erbB2)/anti-triggering molecules have been generated and all were able to efficiently retarget the relevant population of lymphocytes on tumor cells. In order to design a more reliable and selective therapeutic tool, the following parameters were analyzed: correlation between cytotoxicity and antigen level, potency and possible modulation of the target molecule.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Prognostic significance of HER-2/neu expression in breast cancer and its relationship to other prognostic factors.

Archival surgical specimens from 1,210 female breast cancer patients treated between 1968 and 1971 and with a 19-year follow-up were reanalyzed with special reference to several parameters, such as size of the primary tumor, axillary nodal involvement, histologic grade, degree of inflammatory infiltrate (LPI) of the tumor and expression of the neu oncoprotein (p185) as detected by immunohistochemistry. In a multifactorial analysis the 4 former factors were found to be independent prognostic parameters. Over-expression of p185 was found to be related to tumor size and grade and to LPI but not to pathologic nodal status. Over-expression of p185 showed a negative impact upon survival in node-positive but not in node-negative patients. However, in the subset of node-negative patients without LPI, p185 over-expression showed the same correlation with a poor prognosis as in node-positive patients. In contrast, in node-negative and LPI-positive patients, p185 over-expression correlated with a good prognosis. Also, the prognosis of patients with positive nodes, presence of LPI and no p185 over-expression was similar to that of patients with negative nodes, absence of LPI and p185 over-expression.

Age Factors↗