Inhibition of Lymphoid Tumor Growth In Vitro by Combined Treatment With the Iron Chelator Deferoxamine and a n Immunoglobulin G Monoclonal Antibody Against the Transferrin Receptor

Data are presented indicating that the growth of 5 out of 5 murine lymphoid tumors can be inhibited in a synergistic fashion in vitro by combined treatment with the iron chelator deferoxamine (DFO) and an immunoglobulin G (IgG) monoclonal anti-transferrin receptor antibody (ATRA). A two-way doselresponse analysis shows that the ATRA becomes more efficient as an inhibitor with increasing doses of DFO. Flow cytometric studies further support the view that IgG ATRAS impair transferrin receptor (TR) function by causing TR down-modulation and degradation, even when the presence of DFO acts to promote increased cell surface TR expression. It is also shown that an IgG ATRA is nearly as effective as an IgM ATRA in inhibiting tumor cell growth when used in combination with DFO. Finally, studies with the iron chelator picolinic acid show