Lymphocytes extracted from freshly resected melanomas can be expanded in vitro and can often mediate specific lysis of autologous tumor cells but not allogeneic tumor or autologous normal cells. We treated 20 patients with metastatic melanoma by means of adoptive transfer of these tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and interleukin-2, after the patients had received a single intravenous dose of cyclophosphamide. Objective regression of the cancer was observed in 9 of 15 patients (60 percent) who had not previously been treated with interleukin-2 and in 2 of 5 patients (40 percent) in whom previous therapy with interleukin-2 had failed. Regression of cancer occurred in the lungs, liver, bone, skin, and subcutaneous sites and lasted from 2 to more than 13 months. Toxic effects of interleukin-2 occurred, although the treatment course was short (five days); these side effects were reversible. It appears that in patients with metastatic melanoma, this experimental treatment regimen can produce higher response rates than those achieved with interleukin-2 administered alone or with lymphokine-activated killer cells. It is too early to determine whether this new form of immunotherapy can improve survival, but further trials seem warranted.

The human lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), the complement receptor-associated OKM1 molecule, and a previously undescribed molecule termed p150,95, have been found to be structurally and antigenically related. Each antigen contains an alpha- and beta-subunit noncovalently associated in an alpha 1 beta 1-structure as shown by cross-linking experiments. LFA-1, OKM1, and p150,95 alpha-subunit designations and their molecular weights are alpha L = 177,000 Mr, alpha M = 165,000 Mr, and alpha X = 150,000 Mr, respectively. The beta-subunits are all = 95,000 Mr. Some MAb precipitated only LFA-1, others only OKM1, and another precipitates all three antigens. The specificity of these MAb for particular subunits was examined after subunit dissociation by high pH. MAb specific for LFA-1 or OKM1 bind to the alpha L- or alpha M-subunits, respectively, while the cross-reactive MAb binds to the beta-subunits. Coprecipitation experiments with intact alpha 1 beta 1-complexes showed anti-alpha and anti-beta MAb can precipitate the same molecules. In two-dimensional (2D) isoelectric focusing-SDS-PAGE, the alpha subunits of the three antigens are distinct, while the beta-subunits are identical. Biosynthesis experiments showed alpha L, alpha M, and alpha X are synthesized from distinct precursors, as is beta. The three antigens differ in expression on lymphocytes, granulocytes, and monocytes. During maturation of the monoblast-like U937 line, alpha M and alpha X are upregulated and alpha L is downregulated. Some MAb to the alpha subunit of OKM1 inhibited the complement receptor type three. LFA-1, OKM1, and p150,95 constitute a novel family of functionally important human leukocyte antigens that share a common beta-subunit.

Mouse Mac-1, a complement receptor-associated surface structure on macrophages, and LFA-1, a function-associated structure on lymphocytes, comprise a novel family of leukocyte differentiation antigens participating in adhesive cell interactions. Mac-1 and LFA-1 contain alpha-subunits of 170,000 and 180,000 Mr, respectively, and beta-subunits of 95,000 Mr noncovalently associated in alpha 1 beta 1 complexes. The structural relation between the alpha- and between the beta-subunits, and the location of functionally important sites on the molecules, have been probed with antibodies. Both non-cross-reactive and cross-reactive monoclonal antibodies (MAb) and antisera prepared to the purified molecules or the LFA-1 alpha-subunits were used. Reactivity with individual subunits was studied by immunoprecipitation after dissociation induced by high pH treatment, or by immunoblotting after SDS-PAGE. Cross-reactive epitopes on Mac-1 and LFA-1 were found to be present on the beta-subunits, which were immunologically identical. Non-cross-reactive epitopes that are distinctive for Mac-1 or LFA-1 were localized to the alpha-subunits. MAb to LFA-1 alpha-subunit epitopes inhibited CTL-mediated killing. Two MAb to Mac-1 alpha-subunit epitopes but not a third MAb to a spatially distinct alpha-epitope inhibited complement receptor function. Neither function was inhibited by a MAb binding to a common beta-subunit epitope. Therefore, sites of Mac-1 and LFA-1 involved in their respective adhesion-related functions, as well as distinctive structural features, have been localized to the alpha-subunits.

Current strategies for the production of therapeutic mAbs include the use of mammalian cell systems to recombinantly produce Abs derived from mice bearing human Ig transgenes, humanization of rodent Abs, or phage libraries. Generation of hybridomas secreting human mAbs has been previously reported; however, this approach has not been fully exploited for immunotherapy development. We previously reported the use of transient regulation of cellular DNA mismatch repair processes to enhance traits (e.g., affinity and titers) of mAb-producing cell lines, including hybridomas. We reasoned that this process, named morphogenics, could be used to improve suboptimal hybridoma cells generated by means of ex vivo immunization and immortalization of antigenspecific human B cells for therapeutic Ab development. Here we present a platform process that combines hybridoma and morphogenics technologies for the generation of fully human mAbs specific for disease-associated human antigens. We were able to generate hybridoma lines secreting mAbs with high binding specificity and biological activity. One mAb with strong neutralizing activity against human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor was identified that is now considered for preclinical development for autoimmune disease indications. Moreover, these hybridoma cells have proven suitable for genetic optimization using the morphogenics process and have shown potential for large-scale manufacturing.