Targeting the lymphotoxin-beta receptor with agonist antibodies as a potential cancer therapy

The lymphotoxin-beta receptor (LT beta R) is a tumor necrosis factor receptor family member critical for the development and maintenance of various lymphoid microenvironments. Herein, we show that agonistic anti-LT beta R monoclonal antibody (mAb) CBE11 inhibited tumor growth in xenograft models and potentiated tumor responses to chemotherapeutic agents. In a syngeneic colon carcinoma tumor model, treatment of the tumor-bearing mice with an agonistic antibody against murine LT beta R caused increased lymphocyte infiltration and necrosis of the tumor. A pattern of differential gene expression predictive of cellular and xenograft response to LT beta R activation was identified in a panel of colon carcinoma cell lines and when applied to a panel of clinical colorectal tumor samples indicated 35% likelihood a tumor response to CBE11. Consistent with this estimate, CBE11 decreased tumor size and/or improved long-term animal survival with two of six independent orthotopic xenografts prepared from surgical colorectal carcinoma samples. Targeting of LT beta R with agonistic mAbs offers a novel approach to the treatment of colorectal and potentially other types of cancers.