Harnessing the innate immune system to treat cancer: Enhancement of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity with anti-CD137 Ab

Atsushi Yonezawa, Cariad Chester, Narendiran Rajasekaran, Holbrook E. Kohrt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Monoclonal antibodies are an invaluable therapeutic class when it comes to cancer therapy. One of the primary mechanisms of anti-tumor activity of monoclonal antibodies is antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) mediated by natural killer (NK) cells. Innate immune effector cells play important roles in generating and maintaining antitumor immunity to enhance ADCC. Methods: Efficacy of anti-CD137 mAb was examined by in vitro and in vivo experiments. Clinical trials of anti-CD137 mAb are also on-going. Results: CD137 is a costimulatory receptor that belongs to the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily. CD137 is expressed on T cell, activated NK cells and other immune cells. We recently showed that an agonistic anti-CD137 mAb activates NK cells, resulting in increased ADCC against cancer cells. Anti-CD137 agonistic mAb therapy may both increase ADCC due to mAb-activated NK cells and promote the proliferation and cytotoxicity of antigen-specific T cells induced by mAb treatment. Conclusions: We discuss some of the promising strategies that could potentially enhance ADCC with anti-CD137 mAbs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number5
JournalChinese Clinical Oncology
Volume5
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2016
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC)
  • CD137
  • Cancer immunotherapy
  • Natural killer cells (NK cells)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology

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