OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy of anti-idiotype antibody 3F6 and its single-chain variable fragment (3F6 ScFv) to induce humoral and cellular immune responses against small-cell-lung cancer (SCLC).

METHODS3F6 and 3F6 ScFv (Ab2) were used to immunize BALB/c mice. The reaction of antibodies (Ab3) with specific antigen on NCI-H128 cells was tested by ELISA and Western blot, and the antibody binding inhibition assays were performed by competitive Western blot. Cellular immunity against SCLC induced by Ab2 was detected by a delayed-type hypersensitivity response and mouse lymphocyte proliferation assay.

RESULTSThe sera immunized with Ab2 showed significant reaction (P < 0.001, as compared to control sera) with SCLC-specific antigen on NCI-H128 cells and specifically competed the binding of 2F7 (Ab1) to the specific antigen. DTH responses challenged with NCI-H128 cells were significantly (P < 0.001) stronger in mice immunized with Ab2 as compared to mice immunized with normal mouse IgG. T cell proliferation was significantly higher in Ab2-immunized mice (P < 0.05) than in control mice.

CONCLUSIONThe two kinds of anti-idiotypic antibodies successfully mimic the SCLC-specific antigen on NCI-H128 cell and induce strong humoral and cellular immune responses to SCLC-specific antigen in syngeneic mice. They may become novel vaccines against human small-cell-lung cancer and worthy of further investigation.