Nanoparticles — particles in the size range 1–100 nm — are emerging as a class of therapeutics for cancer. Early clinical results suggest that nanoparticle therapeutics can
show enhanced efficacy, while simultaneously reducing side effects, owing to properties such as more targeted localization in tumours and active cellular uptake. Here, we
highlight the features of nanoparticle therapeutics that distinguish them from previous anticancer therapies, and describe how these features provide the potential for
therapeutic effects that are not achievable with other modalities. While large numbers of preclinical studies have been published, the emphasis here is placed on preclinical and clinical studies that are likely to affect clinical investigations and their implications for advancing the treatment of patients with cancer.

Nanoparticle therapeutics: an emerging treatment modality for cancer

A murine monoclonal antibody specific for calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase has been prepared and used in an unlabeled antibody bridge technique for labeling monoclonal antibodies. This procedure--the alkaline phosphatase monoclonal anti-alkaline phosphatase (APAAP) method--gives excellent immunocytochemical labeling of tissue sections and cell smears, comparable in clarity and intensity to that achieved with immunoperoxidase labeling. If the enzyme label is developed with a naphthol salt as a coupling agent and Fast Red or hexazotized new fuchsin as a capture agent, a vivid red reaction product is obtained which is very easily detected by the human eye. For this reason the APAAP technique was found particularly suitable for labeling cell smears (for both cytoplasmic and surface-membrane antigens) and for detecting low numbers of antigen-bearing cells in a specimen (e.g., carcinoma cells in a malignant effusion). It was found possible to enhance the intensity of the APAAP labeling reaction substantially by repeating the second and third incubation steps (i.e., the unlabelled "bridge" antibody and APAAP complexes). The APAAP technique was superior to immunoperoxidase labeling for staining tissues rich in endogenous peroxidase, and could be used in conjunction with immunoperoxidase methods for double immunoenzymatic staining. The method was also applicable to the detection of antigenic molecules following their electrophoretic transfer from SDS-polyacrylamide gels to nitrocellulose sheets ("immunoblotting").

Immunoenzymatic labeling of monoclonal antibodies using immune complexes of alkaline phosphatase and monoclonal anti-alkaline phosphatase (APAAP complexes).

A revised European-American classification of lymphoid neoplasms: a proposal from the International Lymphoma study group

Background DNA fragments that appeared to belong to an unidentified human herpesvirus were recently found in more than 90 percent of Kaposi's sarcoma lesions associated with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). These fragments were also found in 6 of 39 tissue samples without Kaposi's sarcoma, including 3 malignant lymphomas, from patients with AIDS, but not in samples from patients without AIDS. Methods We examined the DNA of 193 lymphomas from 42 patients with AIDS and 151 patients who did not have AIDS. We searched the DNA for sequences of Kaposi's sarcoma–associated herpesvirus (KSHV) by Southern blot hybridization, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or both. The PCR products in the positive samples were sequenced and compared with the KSHV sequences in Kaposi's sarcoma tissues from patients with AIDS. Results KSHV sequences were identified in eight lymphomas in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. All eight, and only these eight, were body-cavity–based lymphomas — that...

Kaposi's Sarcoma–Associated Herpesvirus-Like DNA Sequences in AIDS-Related Body-Cavity–Based Lymphomas

Unmutated Ig V(H) genes are associated with a more aggressive form of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

The ultrastructural localization of the CD68 antigen, a 110-kd intracellular glycoprotein associated with myeloid cells and with monocytes/macrophages, was investigated in human neutrophil granulocytes by postembedding immunogold staining, using monoclonal antibody KP1. The antigen was found in the primary granules of neutrophils, although not all primary granules were labeled. It was absent from the plasma membrane. In monocytes, it was also detected within cytoplasmic granules, colocalized with lysozyme and myeloperoxidase. This observation confirms and completes results obtained by immunofluorescence and other light-microscopic methods. Moreover this study shows that the CD68 epitope recognized by antibody KP1 is able to resist fixation and embedment and therefore emphasizes the value of using KP1 as a marker for this macrophage-associated molecule.

Ultrastructural localization of the CD68 macrophage-associated antigen in human blood neutrophils and monocytes.

The aim of the present study was to prepare a monoclonal antibody against human C3 receptors. The monoclonal antibody termed C3RTo5, which is characterized in this study, inhibited the ligand binding of C3b receptors of human erythrocytes, neutrophils and lymphocytes, but did not block the ligand binding of C3bi and C3d receptors. C3RTo5 reacted only with cells that express C3b receptors. It did not react with cells that do not express C3 receptors or with cells that express C3 receptors other than C3b receptors. The reactivity of C3RT05 against C3b receptors of human erythrocytes, neutrophils, glomerular cells, tonsil cells, or spleen cells could be removed by absorption with human erythrocytes or tonsil cells, whereas absorption with human peripheral T cells or sheep erythrocytes had no effect. In immunoprecipitation studies, a glycoprotein with a mol. wt of 205,000 could be isolated with C3RTo5 from non-ionic detergent lysate of tritiated tonsil cells. A rabbit antiserum prepared against this glycoprotein was able to stain C3b receptor-positive cells, inhibit C3b receptor ligand-binding activity and, furthermore, to precipitate a 205,000 mol. wt component. The results of this study indicate that C3RTo5 is a monoclonal antibody with selective reactivity to C3b receptors and presumably to the binding sites within the receptor molecule. Using C3RTo5 further strong evidence was obtained that membrane-bound C3b receptors have a mol. wt of 205,000.

Human complement (C3b) receptors defined by a mouse monoclonal antibody.

The production of mouse peroxidase:antiperoxidase (PAP) complexes suitable for immunohistological use in conjunction with monoclonal antibodies is described. Three approaches were explored: 1) production of conventional polyclonal PAP complexes; 2) conversion of rabbit PAP to "pseudo-mouse PAP" by incubation with monoclonal mouse anti-rabbit immunoglobulin; 3) formation of PAP complexes from monoclonal mouse antiperoxidase. PAP complexes prepared by the latter technique gave the best immunohistological labeling reactions, being stable on storage and compatible with a wide range of human monoclonal antibodies. Gel filtration revealed that monoclonal PAP is of lower molecular weight than conventional PAP complexes (fulfilling theoretical predictions based on the monospecificity of monoclonal antibodies).

Preparation of peroxidase: antiperoxidase (PAP) complexes for immunohistological labeling of monoclonal antibodies.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The positive regulatory domain I (PRDM1) protein or BLIMP-1, belonging to the PRDM gene family of transcriptional repressors, is a key regulator of terminal differentiation in B-lymphocytes and is critical for plasma cell differentiation. DESIGN AND METHODS: Here we document the expression of PRDM1 in normal and neoplastic lymphoid cells, through the use of a monoclonal antibody that recognizes the molecule in paraffin-embedded tissue sections. A large series of B and T-cell lymphomas (679 cases) was studied, using tissue microarrays. RESULTS: Multiple myeloma, plasmacytoma and lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma cases (n=19) were positive. Plasmablastic lymphoma, oral mucosa-type (n=15), were also found to be positive. PRDM1 protein was expressed in some cases of B-cell neoplasia, i.e. chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (15%), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (43%), classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (41%) and also in T-cell lymphoma (23%). INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: Most B-neoplastic cells showing plasmablastic differentiation were PRDM1-positive. Unexpectedly, a subset of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma expressed PRDM1, lacked detectable plasmablastic or immunoblastic changes and displayed more aggressive behavior, with a shorter failure-free survival. In contrast to normal B-cells, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cases with increased PRDM1 expression co-expressed BCL-6 and MUM1/IRF4, confirming that PRDM1 expression in these tumors is insufficient to drive the full genetic program associated with plasmacytic differentiation.

PRDM1/BLIMP-1 expression in multiple B and T-cell lymphoma.

We have investigated the immunohistochemical expression of p53 protein in 96 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma using a panel of five antibodies. Positive neoplastic cells were found in 30 (31.2%) cases, which could be divided into two groups according to their patterns of reactivity with the different antibodies; i.e. those positive with both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, and those which were stained only by monoclonal antibodies PAb1801 and/or PAb240. Positivity was nuclear in all but six cases in which cytoplasmic staining was found. In view of the hypothesis recently raised that p53 protein induces apoptosis we have compared our results with parallel staining for bcl-2 protein since bcl-2 is believed to be important, at least in lymphomas, in suppression of apoptosis. Staining for bcl-2 protein was performed on 83 cases and it was shown that p53-positive cases accounted for 10 out of 17 (59%) of the bcl-2-negative lymphomas but only for 15 out of the 66 (23%) bcl-2-positive cases, suggesting a possible relationship between the expression of these two proteins. Thus, our data show that p53 protein is abnormally expressed in a substantial proportion of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and bears a significant inverse relationship to bcl-2 protein expression. However the molecular basis of this expression remains to be elucidated.

D Y Mason

Papers

Ultrastructural localization of the CD68 macrophage-associated antigen in human blood neutrophils and monocytes.

Human complement (C3b) receptors defined by a mouse monoclonal antibody.

Preparation of peroxidase: antiperoxidase (PAP) complexes for immunohistological labeling of monoclonal antibodies.

PRDM1/BLIMP-1 expression in multiple B and T-cell lymphoma.

Immunohistochemical detection of p53 and bcl‐2 proteins in non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma