The La autoantigen is a malignancy-associated cell death target that is induced by DNA-damaging drugs

PURPOSE

To evaluate the La autoantigen as a target for specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) binding in dead cancer cells after use of DNA-damaging chemotherapy.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

In vitro studies of La-specific 3B9 mAb binding to malignant and normal primary cells with and without cytotoxic drug treatment were done using immunoblotting and flow cytometry. Chromatin-binding studies and immunofluorescence detection of gammaH2AX as a marker of DNA double-stranded breaks together with 3B9 binding assays were done to measure DNA damage responses. Incorporation of a transglutaminase 2 (TG2) substrate and TG2 inhibition were studied to measure protein cross-linking in dead cells.

RESULTS

La was overexpressed in human cancer cell lines with respect to normal primary cells. Within 3 h of the DNA-damaging stimulus, La became chromatin bound when it colocalized with gammaH2AX. Later, after the stimulus produced cell death, La-specific 3B9 mAb bound specifically and preferentially in the cytoplasm of dead cancer cells. Moreover, 3B9 binding to dead cancer cells increased with increasing DNA damage. Both La and 3B9 became cross-linked in dead cancer cells via TG2 activity.

CONCLUSION

La autoantigen represents a promising cancer cell death target to determine chemotherapy response because its expression was selectively induced in dead cancer cells after DNA-damaging chemotherapy.

In vivo targeting of dead tumor cells in a murine tumor model using a monoclonal antibody specific for the La autoantigen

PURPOSE

To investigate the potential of the La-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) 3B9 as an in vivo tumor-targeting agent.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

The murine EL4 lymphoma cell line was used for in vitro studies and the EL4 model in which apoptosis was induced with cyclophosphamide and etoposide was used for in vivo studies. In vitro studies compared 3B9 binding in the EL4 cell with that in its counterpart primary cell type of the thymocyte. For in vivo studies, 3B9 was intrinsically or extrinsically labeled with carbon-14 or 1,4,7,10-tetra-azacylododecane-N,N',N'',N''''-tetraacetic acid-indium-111, respectively, and biodistribution of the radiotracers was investigated in EL4 tumor-bearing mice, which were treated or not with chemotherapy.

RESULTS

La-specific 3B9 mAb bound EL4 cells rather than thymocytes, and binding was detergent resistant. 3B9 binding to dead EL4 cells in vitro was specific, rapid, and saturable. Significantly, more 3B9 bound dead EL4 tumor explant cells after host mice were treated with chemotherapy, which suggested that DNA damage induced 3B9 binding. Tumor binding of 3B9 in vivo was antigen specific and increased significantly after chemotherapy. Tumor accumulation of 3B9 peaked at approximately 50% of the injected dose per gram of tumor 72 h after chemotherapy and correlated with increased tumor cell death. Tumor/organ ratios of 3B9 biodistribution, which included the tumor/blood ratio, exceeded unity 48 or more hours after chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

La-specific mAb selectively targeted dead tumor cells in vivo, and targeting was augmented by cytotoxic chemotherapy. This novel cell death radioligand may be useful both for radioimmunoscintigraphy and radioimmunotherapy.

Preclinical evaluation of 213Bi-labeled plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 in an orthotopic murine xenogenic model of human breast carcinoma

Tumor-associated urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) is a critical marker of invasion and metastasis, has strong prognostic relevance, and is thus a potential therapeutic target. Experimental data published to date has established the proof-of-principle of uPA targeting by (213)Bi-labeled plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 (alpha-PAI-2) in multiple carcinoma models. Here, we present preclinical toxicologic and efficacy assessment of alpha-PAI-2 in mice, using both single and multiple-dose schedules, administered by an i.p. route. We also present novel data showing that human PAI-2 inhibited murine uPA and was specifically endocytosed by murine fibroblast cells. This diminishes potential problems associated with species specificity of the targeting reagent in toxicologic assessments as human alpha-PAI-2 should interact with any uPA-expressing host cells. In this model, single bolus doses up to 36 mCi/kg alpha-PAI-2 did not reach the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). The MTD for a multiple fractionated (once daily for 5 days) administration schedule was determined to lie between 4.8 and 6.0 mCi/kg/d x 5. Comparison of the tumor growth rates and survival using sub-MTD single and multiple-dose schedules in an orthotopic human breast carcinoma xenograft murine model indicated that 4.8 mCi/kg/d x 5 was the most efficacious schedule. In conclusion, we have determined a safe dose and schedule of alpha-PAI-2 administration in mice, thus confirming that it is an efficacious therapeutic modality against tumor growth. This will allow detailed safety evaluation in a second species and for the initiation of human studies.

Kinetic analysis of plasminogen activator inhibitor type-2: urokinase complex formation and subsequent internalisation by carcinoma cell lines

The overexpression of urokinase (uPA), which plays a key role in tumour invasion and metastasis, is an established prognostic marker and potential therapeutic target. Plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 (PAI-2), an efficient and specific inhibitor of uPA, has been shown to selectively deliver potent cytotoxins to tumour cells. However, a direct quantitative analysis of both the inhibition kinetics and subsequent fate of PAI-2 upon interaction with cell-surface uPA has not been previously undertaken. In this study, we analysed specific PAI-2 binding to receptor-bound uPA on human breast and prostate cancer cell lines to directly measure inhibition kinetics. Cell-surface uPA:PAI-2 complex formation, which is reflective of complete uPA inhibition, was found to be very efficient (inactivation constant [K(I)] = 60-80 pM, depending on cell line used) and rapid (inactivation rate constant [k(inact)] = 0.32-0.47 min(-1) at 37 degrees C, depending on cell line used). To directly quantify and visualise cellular internalisation and localisation, we developed a novel assay based on the use of PAI-2 labelled with Alexa(488) fluorochrome and a polyclonal antibody to quench Alexa(488) fluorescence. The efficient and rapid formation of uPA:PAI-2 complexes was thus shown to be associated with specific and rapid internalisation of PAI-2, which could be localised within endosomes and lysosomes. PAI-2 was subsequently degraded, presumably within lysosomes. This study is the first to provide definitive evidence for uPA/uPAR-mediated PAI-2 endocytosis.