Magnetic microspheres and monoclonal antibodies for the depletion of neuroblastoma cells from bone marrow: Experiences, improvements and observations

• Published in: British journal of cancer Vol. 54; no. 5; pp. 771 - 778
• Main Authors: KEMSHEAD, J. T, HEATH, L, GIBSON, F. M, KATZ, F, RICHMOND, F, TRELEAVEN, J, UGELSTAD, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Nature Publishing Group 01.11.1986
• Subjects: Antibodies, Monoclonal - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; bone marrow; Bone Marrow - immunology; Bone Marrow Transplantation; Cell Count; Cell Separation - methods; Colony-Forming Units Assay; Humans; magnetic susceptibility; Magnetics; Medical sciences; Microspheres; monoclonal antibodies; Neuroblastoma - immunology; Neuroblastoma - therapy; neuroblastoma cells; Neurology; Transplantation, Autologous; Tumors of the nervous system. Phacomatoses; Human; Nervous system diseases; Microsphere; Various treatments; Monoclonal antibody; Neuroblastoma; Immunological method; Autograft; Depletion; Magnetic; Bone marrow; Tumor; Technique; Child; Tumor cell
• ISSN: 0007-0920; 1532-1827
• DOI: 10.1038/bjc.1986.239

Improvements to the original procedure of using a panel of monoclonal antibodies and magnetic microspheres for the depletion of tumour cells from bone marrow are described. These include a completely disposable system for the magnetic depletion of tumour cells coated with magnetic microspheres. Properties of a new series of microspheres are compared with the old M330 beads in their ability to deplete neuroblasts from both model systems and 50 bone marrows harvested from Stage IV neuroblastoma patients. Using human neuroblastoma cell lines labelled with the DNA intercalating, Hoechst dye 33342 a 5% tumour contamination can routinely be removed from 5 X 10(6) - 5 X 10(7) nucleated cells. Analysis of the 50 purged marrows revealed that 10 were visibly contaminated with tumour (by conventional cytology and immunological procedures). In all but one case, tumour cells were removed. In this instance the tumour:bead ratio fell to 1:4 indicating the importance of maintaining a sufficient number of beads in the system. Red cell contamination of marrow was also kept extremely low so preventing possible physical blockade of bead:tumour cell interaction. Marrow engraftment was rapid in this group, apart from patients who had been exposed to high doses of alkylating agents prior to autografting.