Characterization of novel neutralizing mouse monoclonal antibody JM1-24-3 developed against MUC18 in metastatic melanoma

BACKGROUND: MUC18 is a glycoprotein highly expressed on the surface of melanoma and other cancers which promotes tumor progression and metastasis. However, its mechanism of action and suitability as a therapeutic target are unknown. METHODS: A monoclonal antibody (mAb) (JM1-24-3) was generated from metastatic melanoma tumor live cell immunization, and high-throughput screening identified MUC18 as the target. RESULTS: Analysis of molecular interactions between MUC18 and JM1-24-3 revealed that the downstream signaling events depended on binding of the mAb to a conformational epitope on the extracellular domain of MUC18. JM1-24-3 inhibited melanoma cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro and reduced tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. CONCLUSION: These results confirm that MUC18 is mechanistically important in melanoma growth and metastasis, suggest that the MUC18 epitope identified is a promising therapeutic target, and that the JM1-24-3 mAb may serve as the basis for a potential therapeutic agent.