The
epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a member of the human
epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) family of
receptor tyrosine kinases; it is a transmembrane receptor involved in cell growth and differentiation. EGFR homodimers or heterodimers in combination with other HER members, such as HER2 and HER3, activate downstream signaling cascades in many types of
cancer, including
oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The present study produced novel anti-EGFR
monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) possessing antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and
complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), and investigated antitumor activity. Mice were immunized with an EGFR-overexpressed
glioblastoma cell line, LN229 (LN229/EGFR), after which ELISA was performed using recombinant EGFR. mAbs were subsequently selected according to their efficacy for LN229/EGFR, as determined via flow cytometry. After determining the subclass of mAbs, the EMab-17 (
IgG2a, kappa) clone exhibited ADCC and CDC activities against two OSCC cell lines, HSC-2 and SAS. Furthermore, EMab-17 exerted antitumor activities against mouse xenograft models using HSC-2 and SAS, indicating that EMab-17 may be used in an antibody-based
therapy for EGFR-expressing OSCC.