BACKGROUND:

Advances in the understanding of tumor biology have led to the development of targeted therapies as monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) in clinical oncology. Among their suggested mechanisms of action monoclonal antibodies (IgG1) selectively directed against tumor membrane receptors mediate of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) by triggering Fc-γRIII on natural killer (NK) cells.

METHODS:

This study reviews the clinical context of ADCC measurement with a particular focus on EGFR targeting and describes an ex vivo ADCC method applied to MoAbs (cetuximab and panitumumab), against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The test performance was evaluated on different target cells lines (CAL166, A431, HNO91, CAL27), with different effector cells (peripheral blood mononuclear cells or natural killers -NK-) and in various experimental conditions, in order to establish a truly clinically applicable method.

RESULTS:

Using the experience available in the published literature, we optimized all variables involved in the experimental design: target cells type, numbers and ratio target cells and NK cells (effector cells) per well, time of exposure and repeatability.

CONCLUSION:

ADCC measurement may be of clinical relevance in the context of treatment with MoAbs. This study describes a non-radioactive method which has proven satisfactory in terms of sensitivity, reproducibility, feasibility and cost effectiveness for the measurement of ADCC activity mediated by NK with an orientation towards the EGFR target.