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Enhanced Tumor Uptake of Macromolecules Induced by a Novel Vasoactive Interleukin 2 Immunoconjugate¹

Department of Pathology, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90033

Low uptake of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) in cancer lesions is a significant problem in cancer therapy. Recent studies have shown that antibody uptake in tumor is controlled in large part by the tumor blood flow and the vascular permeability of the tumor endothelium. We have hypothesized that these physiological properties of tumor vessels may be altered by pretreatment with vasoactive drugs or peptides linked to tumor-specific MAbs. To test this hypothesis, two MAbs, Lym-1 directed against human malignant lymphomas and B72.3 reactive with the TAG-72 antigen expressed in solid tumors, were chemically conjugated with human recombinant interleukin 2 (IL-2). IL-2 has been used in humans to activate lymphokine-activated killer cells for the treatment of cancer but is also known to produce a generalized vascular permeability by an unknown mechanism when used systemically. Chemical conjugation of IL-2 to MAbs appears to destroy its cytokine function as shown by T-cell proliferation studies in vitro. Despite this finding, MAb/IL-2 immunoconjugates retain their ability to produce an enhanced vascular permeability when injected i.v. into nude mice bearing relevant tumor models only. Biodistribution studies using ¹²⁵I-labeled tracer Lym-1 have demonstrated that the Lym-1/IL-2 immunoconjugate can increase antibody uptake in tumor by a factor of 4 in a time (2.5-h pretreatment)- and dose (30 µg/mouse)-dependent manner. In contrast, treament of mice with free IL-2 and antibody showed this effect in all organs of the mouse including the tumor. Bidirectional crossover imaging studies in individual tumor-bearing nude mice showed improved uptake and decreased blood pool when the MAb/IL-2 immunoconjugates were used compared to controls. Finally, tumor blood flow and vascular permeability studies demonstrate that the physiological effect of the MAb/IL-2 is due to a reversible and specific vascular leakage at the tumor site. These studies indicate that pretreatment with this novle immunoconjugate may enhance the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of MAbs, drugs, and other macromolecules for the treatment of cancer.

¹ This work was presented at the Third Conference on Radioimmunodetection and Radioimmunotherapy of Cancer, November 15–17, 1990, Princeton, NJ. Supported by Grant RO1 CA47334 from the NIH; by Techniclone International, Inc., Tustin, CA; and by funds provided by the Freeman Aces Cancer Tennis Tournament.

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at Department of Pathology, University of Southern California School of Medicine, 2025 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90033.

Received 10/18/90. Accepted 3/ 8/91.

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