MRK-17

Our aim was to determine the antimetastatic potential of anti-P-glycoprotein (P-gp) antibodies (Abs) against multidrug-resistant (MDR) human small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells expressing P-gp. Human SCLC cells H69 (P-gp negative) and its etoposide-resistant variant H69/YP (P-gp positive) were used. H69 and H69/VP cells injected i.v. metastasized to the liver, kidneys and systemic lymph nodes of NK cell-depleted severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. H69/VP cells, but not H69 cells, were resistant to treatments with vindesine. Treatment with mouse-human chimeric anti-P-gp Ab (MH162) and its mouse counterpart (MRK-16) reduced metastasis of H69/VP cells in various organs and prolonged the survival of tumor-bearing mice, although they were less effective if injected at late times (after 28 days). Treatment with another mouse anti-Pgp Ab, MRK-17, was effective only against liver metastasis. MH162 and MRK-16 efficiently induced Ab-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) by peritoneal macrophages against H69/VP cells in vitro, but MRK-17 was less effective, in accordance with their in vivo antimetastatic potential. Gene transfection of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) into H69/VP cells to augment macrophage-mediated ADCC resulted in inhibition of metastasis to the liver and lymph nodes, but not kidneys. Combined treatment with a low dose of MRK-16 completely cured metastasis of M-CSF transfectant, but not of the mock transfectant. Our findings suggest that while anti-P-gp Abs had antimetastatic potential against SCLC cells expressing P-gp, combined treatment with M-CSF gene transduction to augment the therapeutic efficacy of anti-P-gp Abs may be beneficial for eradicating metastatic MDR SCLC in humans.