Combined Effect of Anti-SSEA4 and Anti-Globo H Antibodies on Breast Cancer Cells

The globo-series glycosphingolipids (SSEA3, SSEA4, and Globo H) were shown to express in many cancers selectively, and a combination of anti-SSEA4 and anti-Globo H antibodies was able to suppress tumor growth in mice inoculated with breast cancer cell lines. To further understand the effect, we focused on the combined effect of the two antibodies in target binding and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) in vitro. Here, we report that the binding of anti-Globo H antibody (VK9) to MDA-MB231 breast cancer cells was influenced by anti-SSEA4 antibody (MC813-70), and a combination of both antibodies induced a similar effect as did anti-SSEA4 antibodies alone in a reporter-based ADCC assay, indicating that SSEA4 is a major target in breast cancer due to its higher expression than Globo H. Furthermore, we showed that a homogeneous anti-SSEA4 antibody (chMC813-70-SCT) designed to maximize the ADCC activity can be used to isolate a subpopulation of natural killer (NK) cells that exhibit an similar to 23% increase in killing the target cells as compared to the unseparated NK cells. These findings can be used to predict a therapy outcome based on the expression levels of antigens and evaluate therapeutic antibody development.

Automated summary

The combination of anti-SSEA4 and anti-Globo H antibodies can suppress tumor growth in breast cancer cells. SSEA4 is identified as a major target in breast cancer due to higher expression levels compared to Globo H. An antibody designed to maximize ADCC activity can enhance the killing efficiency of NK cells.