Development and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against human epidermal growth factor receptor in Balb/c mice

For production of monoclonal antibody (mAb) against human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), first, five female Balb/c mice 6 to 8 weeks old were immunized against A431 tumoral cells that express more EGFR on its membrane in four periods and the most immune mouse was selected for fusion. The fusion of mouse's spleen immune cells with SP2/0 cells (myeloma cells) were fulfilled in presence of Poly Ethylene Glycol (PEG). Supernatant of hybridoma cells were screened for detection of antibody by ELISA. The suitable clones were selected for limiting dilution (L.D). Large scale of monoclonal antibodies was produced in vitro and ascetic fluid. In this investigation, 280 clones were obtained, 27 of which displayed absorbance more than 1. Of these, 3 clones represented absorbance about 1.7 and selected for limiting dilution. The yield of limiting dilution was 8 monoclones with absorbance about 2. These results indicate that such monoclonal antibodies against EGFR can be used in diagnosis and treatment of tumors with membranous EGFR.