Anti-idiotype monoclonal antibodies as vaccines for human cancer.

The anti-idiotype therapy approach has been tested and has shown to be effective in several animal models including the L1210/GZL tumor system in DBA/2 mice. Very recently, anti-idiotype antibodies (Ab2) have also been used in human trials. In this review, the generation and characterization of Ab2s which can be used as potential vaccine candidates for two human tumor systems--leukemia/lymphona and gastrointestinal carcinoma have been discussed. We have generated syngeneic monoclonal idiotypic cascades for two different human tumor-associated antigens (TAA) gp37 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). In both cascades we have produced TAA mimicking monoclonal Ab2s and monoclonal anti-anti-idiotypes (Ab3) which bind to the original TAA. Modulation of immune responses in cancer patients by Ab2 immunization will be an important consideration in future studies.