An anti-CD30 immunocytokine with combined IL-2 and IL-12 domains enhances anti-tumour immunity

Abstract

Classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma is one of the most curable cancers today. However, non-responders, tumour relapses and long-term toxicities of the treatment make it necessary to look for alternative drugs. In this study, we have generated a novel immunocytokine that aims to overcome the misguided T_H2 immune response in Hodgkin’s lymphoma by targeting CD30 on the surface of the malignant Hodgkin-Reed-Sternberg cells, and by combining IL-2 and IL-12 domains in one molecule. This immunocytokine induces resting natural killer cells to specific lysis of CD30⁺ tumour cells, exhibits superior cytokine activity compared to immunocytokines with a single cytokine domain, and inhibits tumour growth in immunocompetent mice.