The tumor vessel targeting agent NGR-TNF controls the different stages of the tumorigenic process in transgenic mice by distinct mechanisms.

NGR-TNF is a vascular targeting agent in advanced clinical development, coupling tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) with the CNGRCG peptide, which targets a CD13 isoform specifically expressed by angiogenic vessels. Antitumor efficacy of NGR-TNF has been described in different transplantation tumor models. Nevertheless, the mechanism underlying its activity is not fully understood.

Anti-metastatic activity of the tumor vascular targeting agent NGR-TNF.

Tumor vessels are an attractive target for cancer therapy, including metastasis treatment. Angiogenesis inhibitors targeting the VEGF signalling pathway have proven to be efficacious in preclinical cancer models and in clinical trials. However, angiogenesis inhibition concomitantly elicits tumor adaptation and progression to stages of greater malignancy, with heightened invasiveness and in some cases increased distant metastasis.

CD8(+) T lymphocytes isolated from renal cancer patients recognize tumour cells through an HLA- and TCR/CD3-independent pathway.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to characterize the immune response of patients affected by renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Methods: Long-term RCC lines were established by retroviral-mediated transfer of the large T-antigen of SV40 into fresh carcinoma cells. Reactive T cell effectors were generated by iterative stimulations of patients' PBMC with autologous tumour cells.

An anti-CD45RO/RB monoclonal antibody modulates T cell responses via induction of apoptosis and generation of regulatory T cells.

The effects of a chimeric monoclonal antibody (chA6 mAb) that recognizes both the RO and RB isoforms of the transmembrane protein tyrosine phosphatase CD45 on human T cells were investigated. Chimeric A6 (chA6) mAb potently inhibited antigen-specific and polyclonal T cell responses. ChA6 mAb induced activation-independent apoptosis in CD4(+)CD45RO/RB(high) T cells but not in CD8(+) T cells.