Therapeutic efficacy evaluation of radioimmunotherapy with (90)Y‐labeled anti‐podoplanin antibody NZ‐12 for mesothelioma

Podoplanin is a type I transmembrane sialomucin‐like glycoprotein that is highly expressed in malignant mesothelioma. The rat‐human chimeric antibody NZ‐12 has high affinity for human podoplanin and antibody‐dependent cellular cytotoxicity and is applicable for radioimmunotherapy (RIT) to enhance the antitumor effect. In the present study, we evaluated the in vivo and in vitro properties of radiolabeled NZ‐12 and the antitumor effect of RIT with (90)Y‐labeled NZ‐12 in an NCI‐H226 (H226) malignant mesothelioma xenograft mouse model. (111)In‐labeled NZ‐12 bound specifically to H226 cells with high affinity, and accumulation was high in H226 tumors but low in major organs. RIT with (90)Y‐labeled NZ‐12 significantly suppressed tumor growth and prolonged survival without body weight loss and obvious adverse effects. Higher podoplanin expression levels were observed in human mesothelioma specimens, suggesting higher tumor accumulation of (90)Y‐labeled NZ‐12 in patients compared with the H226 tumor xenografts. Our findings suggest that (90)Y‐labeled NZ‐12 is a promising RIT agent as a new therapeutic option for malignant mesothelioma that warrants further clinical studies to evaluate the dosimetry and efficacy in patients.