Synergistic effect of the anti‐HER‐2/neu antibody and cisplatin in immortalized and primary mesothelioma cell lines

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Abstract
Malignant mesothelioma (MM) still remains a therapeutic and diagnostic problem to which new therapeutic perspectives are being continuously tried and tested. Three different primary cultures (MMGe‐1, MES MM 98, and MES 1) and one immortalized cell line (MSTO 211 H) of human MM were studied in order to evaluate the HER‐2/neu expression. Three out of four cell lines showed a different level of c‐erbB‐2 expression, the highest being detected on the MSTO 211 H cell line (fibroblastic phenotype), whereas MMGe‐1 resulted negative. The effect of the anti‐HER‐2/neu antibody (Trastuzumab) alone, and in combination with cisplatin (CDDP) at different doses (ranging from 0.1 to 100 μg/ml), was studied on all the c‐erB‐2 positive cell lines. Trastuzumab was able to inhibit cell proliferation in a time‐dependent manner, with growth inhibition also obtained at low concentrations (0.1–1 μg/ml). Combined treatment with Trastuzumab (10 μg/ml) and CDDP (1 μg/ml) showed synergism. Our results were encouraging, and suggest a rationale for further investigations in a clinical setting. J. Cell. Physiol. 193: 37–41, 2002.