Selective growth inhibition of human lung cancer cell lines bearing a surface glycoprotein gp160 by 125I-labeled anti-gp160 monoclonal antibody.

Monoclonal antibody 5E8 which is specific for a Mr 160,000 glycoprotein (gp160) on the surface of human lung cancer was radiolabeled with 125I. Radiolabeled 5E8 antibody is shown here to suppress the growth of gp160 positive human lung tumor cell lines in a dose-dependent fashion, but this same radiolabeled antibody does not alter the growth of gp160 negative lung tumor cell lines. Neither the unlabeled 5E8 nor a control radiolabeled monoclonal antibody has any effect upon the growth of gp160 positive tumors. The specificity of radiolabeled antibody mediated tumor killing is further demonstrated by the ability of unlabeled 5E8 to inhibit tumor killing by 125I-5E8. The efficiency with which the labeled tumor specific antibody suppressed tumor colony formation is enhanced by increasing the molar ratio of 125I to 5E8. This ratio could be increased to a level of two without affecting the capacity of the antibody to bind to the cell surface antigen. An attempt to increase the efficiency of tumor killing by the addition of a second antibody subsequent to incubation with 125I-5E8 was unsuccessful. These results indicate that 125I is a viable isotope and gp160 represents an appropriate target for radioimmunotherapy of human lung cancer.