Orally administered beta-glucans enhance anti-tumor effects of monoclonal antibodies.

Abstract

beta-Glucan primes leukocyte CR3 for enhanced cytotoxicity and synergizes with anti-tumor monoclonal antibodies (mAb). We studied readily available (1-->3)-beta- D-glucan using the immune deficient xenograft tumor models, and examined the relationship of its anti-tumor effect and physico-chemical properties. Established subcutaneous (s.c.) human xenografts were treated for 29 days orally with daily beta-glucan by intragastric injection and mAb intravenously (i.v.) twice weekly. Control mice received either mAb alone or beta-glucan alone. Tumor sizes were monitored over time. beta-Glucans were studied by carbohydrate linkage analysis, and high performance size-exclusion chromatography with multiple angle laser scattering detection. Orally administered beta- D-glucan greatly enhanced the anti-tumor effects of mAb against established tumors in mice. We observed this beta-glucan effect irrespective of antigen (GD2, GD3, CD20, epidermal growth factor-receptor, HER-2), human tumor type (neuroblastoma, melanoma, lymphoma, epidermoid carcinoma and breast carcinoma) or tumor sites (s.c. versus systemic). This effect correlated with the molecular size of the (1-->3),(1-->4)-beta- D-glucan. Orally administered (1-->3),(1-->6)-beta- D-glucans also synergized with mAb, although the effect was generally less marked. Given the favorable efficacy and toxicity profile of oral beta- D-glucan treatment, the role of natural products that contain beta-glucan in cancer treatment as an enhancer of the effect of mAb therapy deserves further study.

• Authors: Nai-Kong V Cheung, Shakeel Modak, Andrew Vickers, Benny Knuckles
• Journal: Cancer immunology, immunotherapy : CII (Cancer Immunol Immunother) Vol. 51 Issue 10 Pg. 557-64 (Nov 2002) ISSN: 0340-7004 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 12384807 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Antineoplastic Agents
• Glucans
• beta-Glucans
• beta-glucan, (1-3)(1-4)-
• beta-1,3-glucan

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Animals
• Antibodies, Monoclonal (therapeutic use)
• Antineoplastic Agents (administration & dosage, chemistry, therapeutic use)
• Cell Division
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Drug Synergism
• Glucans (administration & dosage, chemistry, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Kinetics
• Mice
• Mice, Nude
• Molecular Weight
• Neoplasms, Experimental (drug therapy, pathology, therapy)
• Tumor Cells, Cultured
• Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
• beta-Glucans