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Query: UMLS:C0027651 (tumor)
 685,946 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

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.
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PMID:p185 HER2/neu epitope mapping with murine monoclonal antibodies. 137 73

We recently constructed a humanized bispecific antibody (BsF(ab')2v1) by separate E. coli expression of each Fab' arm followed by directed chemical coupling in vitro. BsF(ab')2 v1 (anti-CD3/anti-p185HER2) was demonstrated to retarget the cytotoxic activity of human CD3+ CTL in vitro against the human breast-tumor cell line, SK-BR-3, which over-expresses the p185HER2 product of the proto-oncogene HER2. Our minimalistic humanization strategy is to install as few murine residues as possible into a human antibody in order to recruit antigen-binding affinity and biological properties comparable to that of the murine parent antibody. This strategy proved very successful for the anti-p185HER2 arm of BsF(ab')2 v1. In contrast BsF(ab')2 v1 binds to T cells via its anti-CD3 arm much less efficiently than does the chimeric BsF(ab')2 which contains the variable domains of the murine parent anti-CD3 antibody. Here we have constructed additional BsF(ab')2 fragments containing variant anti-CD3 arms with selected amino acid replacements in an attempt to improve antibody binding to T cells. One such variant, BsF(ab')2 v9, was created by replacing 6 residues in the second hypervariable loop of the anti-CD3 heavy chain variable domain of BsF(ab')2 v1 with their counterparts from the murine parent anti-CD3 antibody. BsF(ab')2 v9 binds to T cells (Jurkat) much more efficiently than does BsF(ab')2 v1 and almost as efficiently as the chimeric BsF(ab')2. This improvement in the efficiency of T-cell binding of the humanized BsF(ab')2 is an important step in its development as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of p185HER2 over-expressing cancers.
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PMID:Engineering a humanized bispecific F(ab')2 fragment for improved binding to T cells. 142 3

Advances in the understanding of the process of carcinogenesis may allow prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer to be approached at the molecular level. Studies in our laboratory show that growth factors (transforming growth factor alpha), dominant oncogenes (HER-2/erb B2 and K-ras), and tumor suppressor genes (p53) are functionally important in the maintenance of the malignant phenotype of human non-small-cell lung cancer cells. Application of these findings to clinical problems include the identification of p53 mutations as markers for malignant change in Barrett's epithelium, the use of discordant p53 mutations to diagnose second primary malignant neoplasms in patients with head and neck cancer, and the potential for therapy by the reversal of genetic lesions.
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PMID:Molecular surgery for cancer. 144 90

Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor among women, comprising an estimated 24% of all cancer cases and 18% of all cancer deaths. At least half of the patients with primary breast cancer will ultimately die by metastatic disease. The tumor characteristics, the natural course of the disease and the response to therapy vary strongly. A number of recently detected cell biological parameters such as oncogenes/suppressor genes, growth factors and secretory proteins are more or less important prognostic factors, because they influence the characteristics and behavior of a tumor with respect to metastatic pattern, extent of cellular differentiation, growth rate and response to treatment. However, there is no clear consensus how best to identify patients at high or low risk. In our experience c-myc amplification and pS2 protein are strong prognosticators for relapse rate, while in advanced disease (apart from a negative estrogen/progesterone receptor/pS2 status) amplification of HER2/neu is a good prognosticator for failure to endocrine therapy. In the diagnosis of breast cancer, in vivo imaging of tumors by labeled hormones or other factors also forms a new development which might have implications for treatment too. With respect to treatment both endocrine and chemotherapy can cure a minority of patients with micrometastases, but in patients with advanced disease only a prolongation of (progression-free) survival can be reached. Response rates decrease with increasing tumor load. In the past decade a number of interesting new endocrine agents has been developed such as new (pure) (anti)steroidal agents, vitamins, aromatase inhibitors, analogs of peptide hormones, prolactin inhibitors and growth factor antagonists. However, less is known on the (potential) interaction between hormones, chemotherapeutic agents, retinoids, cytokins, growth factor antagonists and irradiation. Rapid detection of new powerful combination therapies are needed to improve treatment results during the nineties.
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PMID:Clinical breast cancer, new developments in selection and endocrine treatment of patients. 144 97

Tumoral biological markers of breast cancer expand the predictive value of conventional prognostic factors, such as tumor size, axillary lymph node status, and histoprognostic grade. They include tumor estrogen and progesterone receptor levels, flow cytometric DNA analysis, to convey a prognostic value. Expression of the product of the gene pS2, which reflects the functional integrity of the estradiol receptor, indicates a good prognosis. In contrast, presence of growth factor receptors, such as the EGF receptor, or amplification of the HER2/neu or INT2 oncogene indicate a poor prognosis. Study of protein gp 170 and GST-pi predicts the response of tumors to chemotherapy, while the study of the potential doubling time (Tpot) provides an indication of the renewal capacity of the tumor. Markers of tumor invasiveness and metastatic potential include proteases (activators and inhibitors) produced either by tumor cells or by the cells of the stroma, gene nm 23, and membrane fatty acids. The place of the last markers in patients' treatment is not known yet. The knowledge of the tumor biological parameters along with clinical features should provide an accurate prediction of the aggressiveness of the tumor, allowing the best adjustment of treatment with the expected behavior of the disease.
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PMID:[Intratumoral biological markers in breast cancers]. 148 91

The accumulation of genetic damage in the forms of activated proto-oncogenes and inactivated tumor-suppressor genes is the driving force in the evolution of a normal cell to a malignant cell. For example, both the activation of ras oncogenes and the inactivation of several suppressor genes, including p53, have been observed in the development of human colon and lung tumors. Point mutations in key codons can activate ras proto-oncogenes and inactivate the p53 suppressor gene. Thus, several critical genes for tumorigenesis are potential targets for carcinogens and radiation that can induce point mutations at low doses. The ras proto-oncogenes are targets for many genotoxic carcinogens. Activation of the ras gene is an early event--probably the "initiating" step--in the development of many chemical-induced rodent tumors. ras Oncogenes are observed in more human tumors and at a higher frequency than any other oncogene, and activation of the proto-oncogene may occur at various stages of the carcinogenic process. Numerous proto-oncogenes other than the ras genes have been shown to be activated in human tumors and to a lesser extent in rodent tumors. Mechanisms that induce aberrant expression of proto-oncogenes are gene amplification and chromosomal translocation or gene rearrangement. Amplification of proto-oncogenes and possibly gene overexpression during the absence of gene amplification occur in the development of many human tumors. For a specific tumor type, amplification of any one proto-oncogene may occur at a low frequency, but the frequency of tumors in which at least one proto-oncogene is amplified can be much higher. Proto-oncogene amplification is usually associated with late stages of tumor progression; however, amplified HER2/neu has been observed in early clinical stages of mammary neoplasia. Activation of proto-oncogenes by chromosomal translocation has been detected at a high frequency in several hematopoietic tumors. Non-ras genes have been detected by DNA transfection assays in both human and rodent tumors. For example, ret and trk genes were found to be activated by gene rearrangements in human papillary thyroid carcinomas. Several potentially new types of oncogenes have also been detected by DNA transfection assays. The etiology of the genetic alterations observed in most human tumors is unclear at present. Examples of ras gene activation and those documented for mutations in the p53 gene demonstrate that exogenous conditions can induce oncogenic mutants of normal genes. The genetic alterations observed in most human tumors are probably generated by both spontaneous events and exogenous conditions.
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PMID:Role of proto-oncogene activation in carcinogenesis. 148 40

Four human ovarian and breast tumor lines expressing the HER2/neu oncogene were resistant to the cytotoxic and DNA-degradative activity of TNF. The resistance was not associated with altered TNF receptor function because Scatchard analysis of 125I-rTNF binding to HER2/neu-expressing target cells revealed receptors with normal binding parameters. Furthermore, the TNF receptors on the resistant lines were capable of signal transduction as evidence by the induction of ADP-ribose polymerase activity and MHC expression. TNF resistance was not reversed by coincubation with drugs that interrupted the glutathione redox cycle. In addition, although coincubation of HER2/neu-expressing targets with cycloheximide resulted in significant TNF-induced lysis, when compared to HER2/neu-nonexpressing targets similarly treated with cycloheximide, a significant relative resistance was still present. To investigate the role of ADP-ribosylation in the resistance of these targets, we used nontoxic concentrations of two inhibitors of ADP-ribose polymerase, 3-aminobenzamide, and nicotinamide. Both inhibitors completely reversed the resistance of HER2/neu-expressing targets to TNF-mediated cytotoxicity and DNA injury in a concentration-dependent fashion. These inhibitors of ADP-ribose polymerase did not act by down-regulating expression of HER2/neu oncogenes. In contrast, aminobenzamide and nicotinamide significantly diminished TNF-induced cytotoxicity of L929 targets. These data suggest that the activity of ADP-ribose polymerase may play a pivotal role in determining the fate of the target cell during exposure to TNF.
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PMID:Inhibitors of ADP-ribose polymerase decrease the resistance of HER2/neu-expressing cancer cells to the cytotoxic effects of tumor necrosis factor. 167 41

In order to obtain further information on the biological role of the HER2/neu oncoprotein monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were produced against the p185 extracellular domain. To immunize the mice and screen the hybridoma supernatants we selected a lung adenocarcinoma cell line (Calu-3), which demonstrated an over-expression of p185HER2 measured as the reactivity with polyclonal rabbit serum to the 14-amino-acid carboxy-terminal-HER2/neu. Two MAbs, designated MGR2 (IgG1) and MGR3 (IgG2), selected for reactivity on Calu-3 and negativity on A43I live cells, the reference target cell for EGF receptor expression, were found to immunoprecipitate a 185-kDa molecule. Immunodepletion experiments with the polyclonal antiserum and cross-competition experiments indicated that the 2 reagents recognized 2 different epitopes located on the p185HER2 molecule. One of the 2 MAbs, MGR3, was found to internalize, induce p185HER2 phosphorylation and inhibit tumor cell growth in vitro. These results indicate that MGR3 is directed against a determinant located in the p185HER2 ligand binding site and may compete with the p185HER2 ligand, but is incapable of inducing a complete mitotic signal.
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PMID:Selection of monoclonal antibodies which induce internalization and phosphorylation of p185HER2 and growth inhibition of cells with HER2/NEU gene amplification. 167 68

The HER2 protooncogene encodes a 185-kDa transmembrane protein (p185HER2) with extensive homology to the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. Clinical and experimental evidence supports a role for overexpression of the HER2 protooncogene in the progression of human breast, ovarian, and non-small cell lung carcinoma. These data also support the hypothesis that p185HER2 present on the surface of overexpressing tumor cells may be a good target for receptor-targeted therapeutics. The anti-p185HER2 murine monoclonal antibody (muMAb) 4D5 is one of over 100 monoclonals that was derived following immunization of mice with cells overexpressing p185HER2. The monoclonal antibody is directed at the extracellular (ligand binding) domain of this receptor tyrosine kinase and presumably has its effect as a result of modulating receptor function. In vitro assays have shown that muMAb 4D5 can specifically inhibit the growth of tumor cells only when they overexpress the HER2 protooncogene. MuMAb 4D5 has also been shown to enhance the TNF-alpha sensitivity of breast tumor cells that overexpress this protooncogene. Relevant to its clinical application, muMAb 4D5 may enhance the sensitivity of p185HER2-overexpressing tumor cells to cisplatin, a chemotherapeutic drug often used in the treatment of ovarian cancer. In vivo assays with a nude mouse model have shown that the monoclonal antibody can localize at the tumor site and can inhibit the growth of human tumor xenografts which overexpress p185HER2. Modulation of p185HER2 activity by muMAb 4D5 can therefore reverse many of the properties associated with tumor progression mediated by this putative growth factor receptor. Together with the demonstrated activity of muMAb 4D5 in nude mouse models, these results support the clinical application of muMAb 4D5 for therapy of human cancers characterized by the overexpression of p185HER2.
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PMID:Monoclonal antibody therapy of human cancer: taking the HER2 protooncogene to the clinic. 167 63

A wealth of recently derived information has strongly implicated the protooncogene erbB-2 (also termed HER-2 or neu) and its protein product as critically involved in human breast cancer as well as other important epithelial malignancies. Because of its substantial homology with the EGF receptor, erbB-2 has long been assumed to encode a growth factor receptor, although until recently definitive identification of ligand(s) has remained elusive. Both in a mutated form and when overexpressed in a non-mutated form, erbB-2 is capable of inducing malignant transformation of many target cells including immortalized breast epithelium. We have recently identified and purified a 30 kDa size growth factor secreted by some human breast cancer cells. The factor is related to transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) in its ability to bind to the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (though with about 10 fold lower apparent affinity), its ability to phosphorylate EGF receptor and its ability to induce cloning of normal rat kidney (NRK) fibroblasts. However, it is distinct from TGF-alpha as determined by peptide mapping and its ability to induce activation of erbB-2. TGF-alpha and EGF are incapable of directly inducing phosphorylation of erbB-2. However, in a variety of spontaneously occurring tumor cells as well as cell lines transfected with erbB-2 prepared in our laboratory, 30 kDa glycoprotein (gp30) is capable of inducing direct phosphorylation of erbB-2. The ability to induce phosphorylation of erbB-2 is not inhibited by an anti-EGF receptor blocking antibody. In cells that overexpress erbB-2, the gp30 low concentrations is stimulatory of both standard mitogenesis assays and in clonogenic assays. At higher concentrations, the ligand is growth inhibitory in both of these assays. Because of the ability of gp30 to compete for binding with antibodies directed against erbB-2 which inhibit growth, the gp30 ligand is capable of reversing antibody-induced inhibition of growth. In addition, the gp30 ligand can overcome inhibitory effects seen in cells which overexpress erbB-2 which are induced by extracellular domain fragments of the erbB-2 receptor, once again suggesting a specific pathway of action for the gp30 ligand mediated for interaction with erbB-2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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PMID:The role of erbB-2 and its ligands in growth control of malignant breast epithelium. 168 28


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