The IgE antibody and its use in cancer immunotherapy

Abstract

The immunoglobulin E (IgE) is a class of antibody that is capable of mounting a robust immune response resulting in anaphylaxis, which plays a central role in allergic reactions against environmental agents and immunity against parasites. Multiple studies also suggest that IgE plays a role in cancer immunosurveillance, which implies that this class of antibody can be exploited for the treatment of cancer. While most therapeutic antibodies developed for cancer therapy are of the IgG class, IgE has several advantages including the exceptionally high affinity for its Fc receptors (FcεRs) and its low serum concentration that provides less competition for Fc receptor occupancy. In addition, FcεRs are expressed on relevant effector cells involved in antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and/or antibody-dependent cell-mediated phagocytosis (ADCP) including antigen-presenting cells (APC). In fact, multiple IgEs targeting different tumor-associated antigens (TAA) have been developed and shown to be effective against cancer cells in vitro and in animal models. Further advances of current technologies and experimental models, coupled with a better understanding of IgE-mediated immune effector mechanisms against targeted tumors, are expected to help elucidate the full potential of tumor-specific IgE antibodies for cancer immunotherapy. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010. All rights reserved.