Evaluation of a conjugate of purified antibodies against human AFP-dextran-daunorubicin to human AFP-producing yolk sac tumor cell lines.

The anticancer drug, DNR, was conjugated to an affinity-purified horse antibody to human AFP (aAFP) via a dextran bridge. The conjugate (immunoglobulin: DNR molar ratio, 1:50) was twice as potent as free DNR in an in vitro cytotoxicity assay against an AFP-producing human yolk sac tumor. The in vivo effect of aAFP, DNR, and the conjugate was tested against the human yolk sac tumor growing in nude mice. The conjugate, at a concentration of DNR containing the equivalent amount of 20 micrograms or 70 micrograms/mouse significantly retarded tumor growth whereas free aAFP showed only a slight inhibition of tumor growth compared to the PBS-treated control. Mice which received 20 micrograms/mouse of free DNR showed a moderate retardation of tumor growth whereas those which received 70 micrograms/mouse of DNR or a mixture of DNR and aAFP showed emaciation and early death due to acute toxicity of the drug. These results suggest that the anti-body-drug conjugate accumulated preferentially on the AFP-producing tumor cells and that cytotoxicity occurred.