Human tumor growth suppression by apoptosis induced with anti-ErbB-2 chimeric monoclonal antibody

We established an anti-ErbB-2 mouse-human chimeric monoclonal antibody (MoAb), CH401, which was able to kill cancer cells overexpressing the ErbB-2 protein in vitro. The analysis of the killing mechanism indicated that MoAb CH401 might be the first anti-erbB-2 mouse-human chimeric MoAb which can induce the apoptosis of cancer cells, since morphological changes and DNA fragmentation were recognized in MoAb CH401-treated cells. The ErbB-2 receptor appears to have two opposing functions: acting as a receptor both for a growth factor and for an apoptotic factor. Our results indicate that MoAb CH401 treatment may prove to be very useful for cancer therapy.