Epitope mapping of a series of human thymidylate synthase monoclonal antibodies.

We have reported previously the development and application of several monoclonal antibodies to thymidylate synthase (TS). In this study, we used a series of overlapping 17-mer peptides that spanned the entire TS protein to map the epitope recognized by three TS monoclonal antibodies (TS 106, TS 109, and TS 110). Using an ELISA, we identified two peptides (R126-F142 and L131-R147) that bound all three antibodies, which suggests that each antibody recognized a similar epitope on TS. A second set of peptides, representing sequential single-residue truncations from either the amino terminus or the carboxyl terminus starting with a G129-E145 17-mer, was synthesized. A 10-amino acid sequence P133-F142 (PVYGFQWRHF) was identified as the binding epitope for all three antibodies. Further investigation via substitution mutational analysis of each residue within this epitope revealed that residues F137, W139, R140, H141, and F142 were critical for maximal binding of TS 106 and TS 110. TS 109 showed a similar pattern except in regard to R140, with which there was no apparent loss of binding. In addition to the utility of the three antibodies in detecting and measuring TS levels, identification of the binding locus permits the potential application of these antibodies in the investigation of TS enzymatic and regulatory function.

Thymidylate synthase expression and response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with advanced head and neck cancer.

BACKGROUND: Thymidylate synthase (TS), an essential enzyme in DNA synthesis, is a target for the fluoropyrimidines, an important group of antineoplastic agents used widely in the treatment of head and neck cancer. PURPOSE: We evaluated relationships between the level and/or pattern of tumor TS expression and response to fluorouracil (5-FU)-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with advanced head and neck cancer. METHODS: Tumor specimens from 86 patients were available for this retrospective analysis. The patients were enrolled in four consecutive phase II studies that tested combinations of 5-FU, leucovorin, and cisplatin with or without added methotrexate plus piritrexim or interferon alfa-2b (IFN alpha-2b). TS protein expression in the tumors was assessed by use of the TS 106 monoclonal antibody and standard immunohistochemical staining techniques. TS immunostaining was classified according to its level of intensity (TS 0-1 = low, TS 2 = intermediate, and TS 3 = high) and according to its extent (focal pattern = less than 25% of tumor cells positive; diffuse pattern = greater than or equal to 25% of tumor cells positive). Data from 79 patients were available for an analysis of tumor TS expression and patient/tumor characteristics; 70 patients were assessable for their response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant association between the level of tumor TS expression and the degree of tumor differentiation; a higher proportion of patients whose tumors exhibited TS 0-1 immunostaining had undifferentiated or poorly differentiated tumors than patients whose tumors exhibited TS 2 or TS 3 immunostaining (P = .04, Jonckheere-Terpstra trend test). Among the 70 patients who were assessable for response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, TS 3 tumor immunostaining was associated with a lower rate of complete response (i.e., complete disappearance of clinically detectable disease for a minimum of 4 weeks from time of initial determination) than was TS 2 or TS 0-1 immunostaining, but this association was not statistically significant (P = .09, exact trend test); among the 39 patients who were treated with regimens that included 5-FU, leucovorin, cisplatin, and IFN alpha-2b, this inverse association between TS immunostaining intensity and response was statistically significant (P = .02, exact trend test). Tumor TS immunostaining intensity and overall survival were not found to be associated. Patients with tumors exhibiting a focal pattern of TS immunostaining have experienced significantly longer survival than patients with tumors exhibiting a diffuse pattern; for the 53 patients with diffuse tumor TS immunostaining, the median survival was 24.7 months, whereas the median survival has not yet been reached for the 22 patients with focal tumor TS immunostaining (P = .04, two-tailed logrank test). However, the survival advantage for the focal versus diffuse TS immunostaining pattern was limited to patients whose tumors also exhibited a TS 3 level of immunostaining intensity. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Characterization of tumor TS expression may be of value in identifying patients with advanced head and neck cancer who would benefit from fluoropyrimidine-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Recent advances in the biology of colorectal cancer.

The identification of the precise molecular defects responsible for the common forms of inherited colorectal cancer has significantly advanced our understanding of both inherited and sporadic disease. These advances coupled with a rapid accumulation of information on the molecular genotype and biological phenotype of colorectal cancer have identified potential markers that may prove to be not only of prognostic value but also important as screening tools and therapeutic targets. These molecular and biological features include replication errors, mutations of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes and expression of tumor specific antigens and cytokeratins. This review highlights important recent advances that further our understanding of the biology and genetics of colorectal cancer.

Reduction of Brucella species and Francisella tularensis cross-reacting agglutinins by dithiothreitol.

Cross-reaction agglutinin titers to Brucella abortus antigen were found in 42 of 128 tularemia serum specimens, and cross-reaction titers to Francisella tularensis antigen were found in 8 of 34 brucellosis serum specimens. The cross-reaction titers were reduced to 10 or less by dithiothreitol, suggesting that the titers are due to immunoglobulin M antibody.

Effect of centrifugation and microagglutination techniques on Brucella agglutinin titers.

The microagglutination technique without centrifugation was more effective than centrifugation of the standard tube test for increasing Brucella agglutinin titers of specimens with a titer greater than or equal to 160 but was less effective than centrifugation of the standard tube test for specimens with a titer less than 160.

Determination of brucella immunoglobulin G agglutinating antibody titer with dithiothreitol.

The routine brucella agglutination test measures both immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG brucella antibody titers; however, only an elevated IgG titer is significant for differentiating active from inactive disease in patients with symptoms lasting 3 or more weeks. The IgG antibody titer can be determined by treating the serum wih 2-mercaptoethanol to inactivate the IgM brucella antibodies while leaving the IgG brucella antibodies intact. Dithiothreitol, which also inactivates IgM, was compared with 2-mercaptoethanol for the determination of IgG brucella agglutination titers. The dithiothreitol and 2-mercaptoethanol test results agreed within +/- 1 dilution step in 103 of 105 serum specimens tested, for a 98.1% rate of agreement. The results indicate that dithiothreitol can be used in place of 2-mercaptoethanol for determining IgG brucella agglutination titers. Dithiothreitol does not have the offensive odor or the irritant properties of 2-mercaptoethanol.