Generation of chimeric bispecific G250/anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, a tool to combat renal cell carcinoma

The monoclonal antibody (MAb) G250 binds to a tumour-associated antigen, expressed in renal cell carcinoma (RCC), which has been demonstrated to be a suitable target for antibody-mediated immunotherapy. A bispecific antibody having both G250 and anti-CD3 specificity can cross-link G250 antigen-expressing RCC target cells with T cells and can mediate lysis of such targets. Therapy studies with murine antibodies are limited by immune responses to the antibodies injected (HAMA response), which can be decreased by using chimeric antibodies. We generated a chimeric bispecific G250/anti CD3 MAb by transfecting chimeric genes of heavy and light chains for both the G250 MAb and the anti-CD3 MAb into a myeloma cell line. Cytotoxicity assays revealed that the chimeric bispecific MAb was capable of mediating lysis of RCC cell lines by cloned human CD8(+)T cells or jy IL-2-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs). Lysis mediated by the MAb was specific for target cells that expressed the G250 antigen and was effective at concentrations as low as 0.01 mu g ml(-1). The chimeric bispecific G250/anti-CD3 MAb produced may be an effective adjuvant to the currently used IL-2-based therapy of advanced renal cell arcinoma.