Racotumomab: an anti-idiotype vaccine related to N-glycolyl-containing gangliosides - preclinical and clinical data

A.M. VAZQUEZ; HERNANDEZ AM; A. MACIAS; ENRIQUE MONTERO; D. E. GOMEZ; ALONSO DANIEL F; GABRI MARIANO R; GOMEZ RE

Frontiers in Oncology

Frontiers in oncology

Año: 2012 vol. 2 p. 150 - 160

2234-943X

Neu-glycolyl(NeuGc)-containing gangliosides are attractive targets for immunotherapy withanti-idiotype mAbs, because these glycolipids are not normal components of the cytoplas-mic membrane in humans, but their expression has been demonstrated in several human malignant tumors. Racotumomab is an anti-idiotype mAbs pecific to P3mAb, an antibody which reacts to NeuGc-containing gangliosides, sulfatides, and other antigens expressed in tumors. Preparations containing racotumomab were able to inducea strong anti-metastatic effect in tumor- earingmice. Different PhaseI clinical trials have been conducted in patients with advanced melanoma, breast cancer, and lung cancer. The results of these clinical trials demonstrated the low toxicity and the high immunogenicity of this vaccine. The induced antibodies recognized and directly killed tumor cells expressing NeuGcGM3. APhaseII/III multicenter, controlled, randomized, doubleb in dclinical trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of aluminum hydroxide- recipitated racotumomab vaccine in overall survival in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. The clinical results of this study showed a significant clinical benefit in the patients who were treated witht he anti-idiotype vaccine.