OBJECTIVEInduction of immune tolerance to maintain clinical control with a minimal drug regimen is a current research focus in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Accordingly, we are developing a tolerization approach to dnaJP1, a peptide part of a pathogenic mechanism that contributes to autoimmune inflammation in RA. We undertook this study to test 2 hypotheses: 1) that mucosal induction of immune tolerance to dnaJP1 would lead to a qualitative change from a proinflammatory phenotype to a more tolerogenic functional phenotype, and 2) that immune deviation of responses to an inflammatory epitope might translate into clinical improvement.METHODSOne hundred sixty patients with active RA and with immunologic reactivity to dnaJP1 were enrolled in a pilot phase II trial. They received oral doses of 25 mg of dnaJP1 or placebo daily for 6 months.RESULTSThe dnaJP1 peptide was safe and well-tolerated. In response to treatment with dnaJP1, there was a significant reduction in the percentage of T cells producing tumor necrosis factor alpha and a corresponding trend toward an increased percentage of T cells producing interleukin-10. Coexpression of a cluster of molecules (programmed death 1 and its ligands) associated with T cell regulation was also found to be a prerequisite for successful tolerization in clinical responders. Analysis of the primary efficacy end point (meeting the American College of Rheumatology 20% improvement criteria at least once on day 112, 140, or 168) showed a difference between treatment groups that became significant in post hoc analysis using generalized estimating equations. Differences in clinical responses were also found between treatment groups on day 140 and at followup. Post hoc analysis showed that the combination of dnaJP1 and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) was superior to the combination of HCQ and placebo.CONCLUSIONTolerization to dnaJP1 leads to immune deviation and a trend toward clinical efficacy. Susceptibility to treatment relies on the coexpression of molecules that can down-regulate adaptive immunity.

Even with the advancement of radiologic techniques, metastatic cancers can still be difficult to detect. In this study, 48 patients suspected of having occult metastases were studied by radioimmunodetection following the administration of 92.5 to 181.3 MBq of indium 111-labeled monoclonal anticarcinoembryonic antigen antibody. All but seven patients were thought to have metastatic colorectal carcinoma. In the majority of cases, physical examinations and computed tomographic scans had failed to detect a lesion. At least one lesion that was later proved to exist was detected in 34 of the 50 studies performed on these patients. Seven of eight patients with normal radioimmunodetection scans remain free of disease. One hundred one sites were detected overall; 60 were considered true-positive sites and 27 false-positive sites. Fourteen sites remained in question. Nineteen false-negative sites occurred. Radioimmunoimaging appears valuable for the detection of occult cancer where standard, noninterventional techniques have failed to detect the suspected disease.

The toxicity during and following 291 infusions of 19 murine and three human monoclonal antibodies (MoAB) in 177 cancer patients with 10 different malignancies was assessed. Doses ranged from 0.5 to 500 mg administered over 0.25 to 24 hours. Various reactions in varying degrees were observed in 45 (28%) patients during their first MoAb infusion. Nine additional patients experienced toxicity following a subsequent antibody infusion. Antibodies that reacted with circulating cells were associated with toxicity in 20 of 28 (71%) of the first infusions, compared to 24 of 127 (19%) for patients receiving antibodies that did not react with circulating cells. Fevers, rigors, chills, and diaphoresis were observed in 10% to 12% of the patients and were associated with binding to circulating cells. Presumed hypersensitivity reactions, including urticaria, pruritus, bronchospasm, and anaphylaxis occurred in 20 patients (11%). There were five episodes of bronchospasm and a single episode of anaphylaxis. Liver transaminases were elevated in 14%. There was no correlation between dose or infusion rate and toxicity. Murine monoclonal antibodies that are not conjugated to cytotoxic agents can be given with an acceptable frequency of side effects and serious allergic reactions. There is a small risk of anaphylaxis, and one should avoid rapid infusion of high antibody doses in the presence of circulating target cells and/or circulating free antigen.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the kinetics, biodistribution, and tumor-depicting properties of three intact indium-111-labeled murine monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) and to determine if use of In-111-labeled F(ab')2 fragments of one of them had advantages over its intact counterpart for immunoscintigraphy. Ten patients with prostate cancer were studied with an anti-prostatic acid phosphatase MoAb (PAY-276), with a resultant tumor detection rate of 15%. Twenty-eight patients with melanoma were studied with ZME-018, a MoAb that targets the KD-240 melanoma antigen. Forty-three percent of the known lesions were detected. Forty patients with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-producing tumors were studied, 24 with intact ZCE-025, and anti-CEA MoAb, and 16 with its F(ab')2 fragment. With use of intact ZCE-025, 34% of known lesions were detected versus 83% with its F(ab')2 fragment. The distribution of each MoAb appears unique unto itself with regard to kinetics, normal tissue distribution, and response to MoAb mass.

We have infused 13 111In-labeled murine IgG monoclonal antibodies (MAb) into 73 patients who had been diagnosed as having 7 types of cancers, and 3 111In-labeled human MAb into 8 patients with breast cancer. To each patient, 1.5-5 mCi attached to a maximum of 1 mg MAb had been given in a total MAb dose of 0.5-500 mg. The most encouraging overall results have been obtained with anti-human T-cell MAb T101 (33 of 33 tumor sites imaged in 5 patients), antimelanoma MAb P96.5 (47 of 88 sites imaged in 21 patients), anti-prostate MAb PSA399 (14 of 21 sites imaged in 4 patients), and anti-colon MAb ZCE025 (16 of 26 sites imaged in 12 patients). Poor imaging results were related to lower doses, reactivity with circulating cells, and limited antigen expression in various tumor sites. The problems involved in radioimmunodetection included low extraction of MAb from the serum by the tumor that resulted in poor tumor uptake of the radiopharmaceutical, and high background activity in the liver, heart, spleen, and gastrointestinal tract that made imaging difficult in those areas. Heterogeneous antigen production leaves some tumor deposits without targets, and the immunogenicity of the MAb limits use of these agents repetitively in humans. Nevertheless, these early results are encouraging for their potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Haindl, Walter; Halpern, Samuel E.; Dillman, Robert O.; Hagan, Phillip L.; Beauregard, Jacquelyn; Clutter, Maureen L.; Amox, Diane G.; Ryan, Kevin; Bartholomew, Richard M.; Frincke, James M.; Carlo, Dennis J. Author Information

The purpose of these studies was to determine if prostate carcinoma (PC) and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) could be detected using the In-lll- MoAbs described in this paper. Murine IgG MoAbs were developed against prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) and to an antigen present on human T-cells. The MoAbs were labeled with In-lll by a bifunctional chelation technique and administered (ad) intravenously to patients (PT) with PC and CTCL respectively. One mg or less of each MoAb was labeled with 1.5-5.0 mCi of In-111. Normal prostate tissue was visualized in 3 of 5 PT and 5 of 12 bone metastases were detected in a PT with PC. Outstanding definitions of lymph nodes was achieved in CTCL. The sequence of administration markedly altered the invivo kinetics of the IN-111-MoAb. Some toxicity was observed in CTCL patients but not in PT with PC. The authors conclude that the above MoAbs will target tumor and that the sequence and to some extent quantities of MoAb has an affect on the pharmacokinetics and tumor uptake of these two MoAbs.