Targeted neutralization of the complement membrane attack complex inhibitor CD59 on the surface of human melanoma cells.

Major problems in the immunotherapy of human tumors with complement-activating monoclonal antibodies (mAb) are (i) inherent resistance of tumor cells to complement cytolysis and (ii) a possible undiscriminatory attack against normal cells. In the present study we have developed a procedure to simultaneously direct the complement membrane attack complex and neutralize its inhibitor CD59 (protectin) on human melanoma cells in vitro. G361 melanoma cells were selectively recognized in heterogenous cell mixtures by a complement-fixing mAb (R24) against the tumor cell GD3-ganglioside. Biotinylated anti-CD59 mAb (YTH53.1) was directed to the tumor cells with a high-affinity biotin-avidin bridge using a proportion of R24 as a biotinylated targeting mAb and avidin as a linker. Biotinylated anti-CD59 mAb lost its ability to activate complement, but retained its CD59-neutralizing activity. Thus, it was possible to avoid nonspecific lysis of surrounding erythrocytes and endothelial cells and direct the CD59-neutralizing effect to the tumor cells. As a result the tumor cells were efficiently killed by R24 plus complement while the bystander cells remained viable. These results suggest that it is possible to target an unrestricted complement membrane attack against GD3- and CD59-positive melanoma cells.