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Can EGFR be a therapeutic target in breast cancer? Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2022; 1877:188789. [PMID: 36064121 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is highly expressed in certain cancer types and is involved in regulating the biological characteristics of cancer progression, including proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance. Various medicines targeting EGFR have been developed and approved for several cancer types, such as lung and colon cancer. To date, however, EGFR inhibitors have not achieved satisfactory clinical results in breast cancer, which continues to be the most serious malignant tumor type in females. Therefore, clarifying the underlying mechanisms related to the ineffectiveness of EGFR inhibitors in breast cancer and developing new EGFR-targeted strategies (e.g., combination therapy) remain critical challenges. Various studies have demonstrated aberrant expression and maintenance of EGFR levels in breast cancer. In this review, we summarize the regulatory mechanisms underlying EGFR protein expression in breast cancer cells, including EGFR mutations, amplification, endocytic dysfunction, recycling acceleration, and degradation disorders. We also discuss potential therapeutic strategies that act directly or indirectly on EGFR, including reducing EGFR protein expression, treating the target protein to mediate precise clearance, and inhibiting non-EGFR signaling pathways. This review should provide new therapeutic perspectives for breast cancer patients with high EGFR expression.
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Rutkowska A, Stoczyńska-Fidelus E, Janik K, Włodarczyk A, Rieske P. EGFR vIII: An Oncogene with Ambiguous Role. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2019; 2019:1092587. [PMID: 32089685 PMCID: PMC7024087 DOI: 10.1155/2019/1092587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRvIII) seems to constitute the perfect therapeutic target for glioblastoma (GB), as it is specifically present on up to 28-30% of GB cells. In case of other tumor types, expression and possible role of this oncogene still remain controversial. In spite of EGFRvIII mechanism of action being crucial for the design of small active anticancer molecules and immunotherapies, i.e., CAR-T technology, it is yet to be precisely defined. EGFRvIII is known to be resistant to degradation, but it is still unclear whether it heterodimerizes with EGF-activated wild-type EGFR (EGFRWT) or homodimerizes (including covalent homodimerization). Constitutive kinase activity of this mutated receptor is relatively low, and some researchers even claim that a nuclear, but not a membrane function, is crucial for its activity. Based on the analyses of recurrent tumors that are often lacking EGFRvIII expression despite its initial presence in corresponding primary foci, this oncogene is suggested to play a marginal role during later stages of carcinogenesis, while even in primary tumors EGFRvIII expression is detected only in a small percentage of tumor cells, undermining the rationality of EGFRvIII-targeting therapies. On the other hand, EGFRvIII-positive cells are resistant to apoptosis, more invasive, and characterized with enhanced proliferation rate. Moreover, expression of this oncogenic receptor was also postulated to be a marker of cancer stem cells. Opinions regarding the role that EGFRvIII plays in tumorigenesis and for tumor aggressiveness are clearly contradictory and, therefore, it is crucial not only to determine its mechanism of action, but also to unambiguously define its role at early and advanced cancer stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrianna Rutkowska
- Department of Tumor Biology, Medical University of Lodz, Zeligowskiego 7/9, 90-752 Lodz, Poland
| | - Ewelina Stoczyńska-Fidelus
- Department of Tumor Biology, Medical University of Lodz, Zeligowskiego 7/9, 90-752 Lodz, Poland
- Department of Research and Development, Celther Polska Ltd., Milionowa 23, 93-193 Lodz, Poland
- Department of Research and Development, Personather Ltd., Milionowa 23, 93-193 Lodz, Poland
| | - Karolina Janik
- Department of Tumor Biology, Medical University of Lodz, Zeligowskiego 7/9, 90-752 Lodz, Poland
| | - Aneta Włodarczyk
- Department of Tumor Biology, Medical University of Lodz, Zeligowskiego 7/9, 90-752 Lodz, Poland
| | - Piotr Rieske
- Department of Tumor Biology, Medical University of Lodz, Zeligowskiego 7/9, 90-752 Lodz, Poland
- Department of Research and Development, Celther Polska Ltd., Milionowa 23, 93-193 Lodz, Poland
- Department of Research and Development, Personather Ltd., Milionowa 23, 93-193 Lodz, Poland
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Xu W, Bi Y, Zhang J, Kong J, Jiang H, Tian M, Li K, Wang B, Chen C, Song F, Pan X, Shi B, Kong X, Gu J, Cai X, Li Z. Synergistic antitumor efficacy against the EGFRvIII+HER2+ breast cancers by combining trastuzumab with anti-EGFRvIII antibody CH12. Oncotarget 2016; 6:38840-53. [PMID: 26474285 PMCID: PMC4770741 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.6111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2015] [Accepted: 09/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Although Trastuzumab, an anti-HER2 antibody, benefits certain patients with HER2-overexpressing breast cancer, de novo or acquired trastuzumab resistance remains a haunting issue. EGFRvIII, co-expressing with HER2 in some breast tumors, indicates a poor clinical prognosis. However, the role of EGFRvIII in the function of trastuzumab is not clear. Here, we demonstrated that EGFRvIII overexpression contributed to de novo trastuzumab resistance and the feedback activation of STAT3 caused by trastuzumab also resulted in acquired resistance in EGFRvIII(+)HER2(+) breast cancers. CH12, a highly effective anti-EGFRvIII monoclonal antibody that preferentially binds to EGFRvIII, significantly suppressed the growth of EGFRvIII+HER2(+) breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, CH12 in combination with trastuzumab had a synergistic inhibitory effect on EGFRvIII(+)HER2(+) breast cancers in vitro and in vivo via attenuating the phosphorylation of EGFR and HER2 and their downstream signal pathways more effectively and reversing STAT3 feedback activation. Moreover, the combination therapy suppressed angiogenesis and induced cell apoptosis significantly. Together, these results suggested a synergistic efficacy of the combination of trastuzumab with CH12 against EGFRvIII(+)HER2(+) breast cancers, which might be a potential clinical application in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Xu
- Medical School of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes & Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai,China
| | - Yanyu Bi
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes & Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai,China
| | - Jiqin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes & Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai,China
| | - Juan Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes & Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai,China
| | - Hua Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes & Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai,China
| | - Mi Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes & Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai,China
| | - Kesang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes & Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai,China
| | - Biao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes & Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai,China
| | - Cheng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes & Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai,China
| | - Fei Song
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes & Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai,China
| | - Xiaorong Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes & Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai,China
| | - Bizhi Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes & Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai,China
| | - Xianming Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes & Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai,China
| | - Jianren Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes & Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai,China
| | - Xiumei Cai
- Medical School of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zonghai Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes & Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai,China
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Gan HK, Cvrljevic AN, Johns TG. The epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRvIII): where wild things are altered. FEBS J 2013; 280:5350-70. [DOI: 10.1111/febs.12393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 219] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2013] [Revised: 06/10/2013] [Accepted: 06/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hui K. Gan
- Tumour Targeting Program; Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research; Heidelberg Victoria Australia
| | - Anna N. Cvrljevic
- Oncogenic Signaling Laboratory; Monash University; Clayton Victoria Australia
| | - Terrance G. Johns
- Oncogenic Signaling Laboratory; Monash University; Clayton Victoria Australia
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Abstract
This is a review of RNA as a target for small molecules (ribosomes, riboswitches, regulatory RNAs) and RNA-derived oligonucleotides as tools (antisense/small interfering RNA, ribozymes, aptamers/decoy RNA and microRNA). This review highlights the present state of research using RNA as a drug target or as a potential drug candidate and explains at which stage and to what extent rational design could eventually be involved. Special attention has been paid to the recent potential clinical applications of RNA either as drugs or drug targets. The review deals mainly with mechanistic approaches rather than with physicochemical or computational aspects of RNA-based drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene M Lagoja
- Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Minderbroedersstraat 10, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium +32 16 337396 ; +32 16 337340 ;
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Del Vecchio CA, Jensen KC, Nitta RT, Shain AH, Giacomini CP, Wong AJ. Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Variant III Contributes to Cancer Stem Cell Phenotypes in Invasive Breast Carcinoma. Cancer Res 2012; 72:2657-71. [DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-11-2656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Gupta P, Han SY, Holgado-Madruga M, Mitra SS, Li G, Nitta RT, Wong AJ. Development of an EGFRvIII specific recombinant antibody. BMC Biotechnol 2010; 10:72. [PMID: 20925961 PMCID: PMC2959087 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6750-10-72] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2010] [Accepted: 10/07/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND EGF receptor variant III (EGFRvIII) is the most common variant of the EGF receptor observed in human tumors. It results from the in frame deletion of exons 2-7 and the generation of a novel glycine residue at the junction of exons 1 and 8. This novel juxtaposition of amino acids within the extra-cellular domain of the EGF receptor creates a tumor specific and immunogenic epitope. EGFRvIII expression has been seen in many tumor types including glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), breast adenocarcinoma, non-small cell lung carcinoma, ovarian adenocarcinoma and prostate cancer, but has been rarely observed in normal tissue. Because this variant is tumor specific and highly immunogenic, it can be used for both a diagnostic marker as well as a target for immunotherapy. Unfortunately many of the monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies directed against EGFRvIII have cross reactivity to wild type EGFR or other non-specific proteins. Furthermore, a monoclonal antibody to EGFRvIII is not readily available to the scientific community. RESULTS In this study, we have developed a recombinant antibody that is specific for EGFRvIII, has little cross reactivity for the wild type receptor, and which can be easily produced. We initially designed a recombinant antibody with two anti-EGFRvIII single chain Fv's linked together and a human IgG1 Fc component. To enhance the specificity of this antibody for EGFRvIII, we mutated tyrosine H59 of the CDRH2 domain and tyrosine H105 of the CDRH3 domain to phenylalanine for both the anti-EGFRvIII sequence inserts. This mutated recombinant antibody, called RAb(DMvIII), specifically detects EGFRvIII expression in EGFRvIII expressing cell lines as well as in EGFRvIII expressing GBM primary tissue by western blot, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF) and FACS analysis. It does not recognize wild type EGFR in any of these assays. The affinity of this antibody for EGFRvIII peptide is 1.7 × 10⁷ M⁻¹ as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). CONCLUSION This recombinant antibody thus holds great potential to be used as a research reagent and diagnostic tool in research laboratories and clinics because of its high quality, easy viability and unique versatility. This antibody is also a strong candidate to be investigated for further in vivo therapeutic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puja Gupta
- Brain Tumor Research Laboratories, Department of Neurosurgery, and Program in Cancer Biology, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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Karpel-Massler G, Wirtz CR, Halatsch ME. Ribozyme-mediated inhibition of 801-bp deletion-mutant epidermal growth factor receptor mRNA expression in glioblastoma multiforme. Molecules 2010; 15:4670-8. [PMID: 20657384 PMCID: PMC6257566 DOI: 10.3390/molecules15074670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2010] [Revised: 06/28/2010] [Accepted: 06/29/2010] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The epidermal growth factor receptor (HER1/EGFR) is known to be disregulated in a large subgroup of glioblastoma multiforme cases. Disregulation of HER1/EGFR is related to malignant transformation and tumor growth in various human cancers, including malignant glioma. One mechanism that may lead to disregulated HER1/EGFR signaling is the intrinsic alteration of the receptor structure due to mutational changes. The most common mutant form of HER1/EGFR, named variant III (EGFRvIII), results from an 801 bp in-frame deletion in the DNA sequence encoding the extracellular ligand-binding domain. Independent of ligand-binding, EGFRvIII is constitutively activated and beyond external control. Since its cellular expression was shown to relate enhanced tumorigenicity, various therapeutic strategies were developed to target EGFRvIII, including monoclonal antibodies, vaccination therapies and small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors. In this review, we focus on ribozyme-mediated inhibition of EGFRvIII messenger RNA expression as a gene therapeutic approach for EGFRvIII-expressing glioblastoma multiforme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg Karpel-Massler
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Ulm Medical School, Steinhövelstr 9, D-89075 Ulm, Germany.
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Sampson JH, Archer GE, Mitchell DA, Heimberger AB, Herndon JE, Lally-Goss D, McGehee-Norman S, Paolino A, Reardon DA, Friedman AH, Friedman HS, Bigner DD. An epidermal growth factor receptor variant III-targeted vaccine is safe and immunogenic in patients with glioblastoma multiforme. Mol Cancer Ther 2010; 8:2773-9. [PMID: 19825799 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-09-0124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 209] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Conventional therapies for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) fail to target tumor cells exclusively, such that their efficacy is ultimately limited by nonspecific toxicity. Immunologic targeting of tumor-specific gene mutations, however, may allow more precise eradication of neoplastic cells. The epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRvIII) is a consistent and tumor-specific mutation widely expressed in GBMs and other neoplasms. The safety and immunogenicity of a dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccine targeting the EGFRvIII antigen was evaluated in this study. Adults with newly diagnosed GBM, who had undergone gross-total resection and standard conformal external beam radiotherapy, received three consecutive intradermal vaccinations with autologous mature DCs pulsed with an EGFRvIII-specific peptide conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin. The dose of DCs was escalated in cohorts of three patients. Patients were monitored for toxicity, immune response, radiographic and clinical progression, and death. No allergic reactions or serious adverse events were seen. Adverse events were limited to grade 2 toxicities. The maximum feasible dose of antigen-pulsed mature DCs was reached at 5.7 x 10(7) +/- 2.9 x 10(7) SD without dose-limiting toxicity. EGFRvIII-specific immune responses were evident in most patients. The mean time from histologic diagnosis to vaccination was 3.6 +/- 0.6 SD months. Median time to progression from vaccination was 6.8 months [95% confidence interval (C.I.(95)), 2.5-8.8], and median survival time from vaccination was 18.7 months (C.I.(95), 14.5-25.6). Overall median survival from time of histologic diagnosis was 22.8 months (C.I.(95), 17.5-29). This study establishes the EGFRvIII mutation as a safe and immunogenic tumor-specific target for immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- John H Sampson
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
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10
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Mitchell DA, Sampson JH. Toward effective immunotherapy for the treatment of malignant brain tumors. Neurotherapeutics 2009; 6:527-38. [PMID: 19560742 PMCID: PMC2763142 DOI: 10.1016/j.nurt.2009.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2009] [Revised: 04/08/2009] [Accepted: 04/09/2009] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The immunologic treatment of cancer has long been heralded as a targeted molecular therapeutic with the promise of eradicating tumor cells with minimal damage to surrounding normal tissues. However, a demonstrative example of the efficacy of immunotherapy in modulating cancer progression is still lacking for most human cancers. Recent breakthroughs in our understanding of the mechanisms leading to full T-cell activation, and recognition of the importance of overcoming tumor-induced immunosuppressive mechanisms, have shed new light on how to generate effective anti-tumor immune responses in humans, and sparked a renewed and enthusiastic effort to realize the full potential of cancer immunotherapy. The immunologic treatment of invasive malignant brain tumors has not escaped this re-invigorated endeavor, and promising therapies are currently under active investigation in dozens of clinical trials at several institutions worldwide. This review will focus on some of the most important breakthroughs in our understanding of how to generate potent anti-tumor immune responses, and some of the clear challenges that lie ahead in achieving effective immunotherapy for the majority of patients with malignant brain tumors. A review of immunotherapeutic strategies currently under clinical evaluation, as well as an outline of promising novel approaches on the horizon, is included to provide perspective on the active and stalwart progress toward effective immunotherapy for the treatment of malignant brain tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duane A Mitchell
- Duke Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
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11
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Sampson JH, Archer GE, Mitchell DA, Heimberger AB, Bigner DD. Tumor-specific immunotherapy targeting the EGFRvIII mutation in patients with malignant glioma. Semin Immunol 2008; 20:267-75. [PMID: 18539480 PMCID: PMC2633865 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2008.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2007] [Revised: 04/08/2008] [Accepted: 04/17/2008] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Conventional therapies for malignant gliomas (MGs) fail to target tumor cells exclusively, such that their efficacy is ultimately limited by non-specific toxicity. Immunologic targeting of tumor-specific gene mutations, however, may allow more precise eradication of neoplastic cells. The epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRvIII) is a consistent tumor-specific mutation that is widely expressed in MGs and other neoplasms. This mutation encodes a constitutively active tyrosine kinase that enhances tumorgenicity and migration and confers radiation and chemotherapeutic resistance. This in-frame deletion mutation splits a codon resulting in the creation of a novel glycine at the fusion junction between normally distant parts of the molecule and producing a sequence re-arrangement which creates a tumor-specific epitope for cellular or humoral immunotherapy in patients with MGs. We have previously shown that vaccination with a peptide that spans the EGFRvIII fusion junction is an efficacious immunotherapy in syngeneic murine models, but patients with MGs have a profound immunosuppression that may inhibit the ability of antigen presenting cells (APCs), even those generated ex vivo, to induce EGFRvIII-specific immune responses. In this report, we summarize our results in humans targeting this mutation in two consecutive and one multi-institutional Phase II immunotherapy trials. These trials demonstrated that vaccines targeting EGFRvIII are capable of inducing potent T- and B-cell immunity in these patients, and lead to an unexpectedly long survival time. Most importantly, vaccines targeting EGFRvIII were universally successful at eliminating tumor cells expressing the targeted antigen without any evidence of symptomatic collateral toxicity. These studies establish the tumor-specific EGFRvIII mutation as a novel target for humoral- and cell-mediated immunotherapy in a variety of cancers. The recurrence of EGFRvIII-negative tumors in our patients, however, highlights the need for targeting a broader repertoire of tumor-specific antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- John H Sampson
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
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12
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Schmittling RJ, Archer GE, Mitchell DA, Heimberger A, Pegram C, Herndon JE, Friedman HS, Bigner DD, Sampson JH. Detection of humoral response in patients with glioblastoma receiving EGFRvIII-KLH vaccines. J Immunol Methods 2008; 339:74-81. [PMID: 18775433 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2008.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2008] [Revised: 08/08/2008] [Accepted: 08/12/2008] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRvIII) is a consistent tumor-specific mutation that is widely expressed in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and other neoplasms. As such it represents a truly tumor-specific target for antitumor immunotherapy. Although endogenous humoral responses to EGFRvIII have been reported in patients with EGFRvIII-expressing breast cancer, it is not known whether de novo responses can be generated or endogenous responses enhanced with an EGFRvIII-specific vaccine. To assess this in clinical trials, we have developed and validated an immunoassay to measure and isolate anti-EGFRvIII and anti-KLH antibodies from the serum of patients vaccinated with an EGFRvIII-specific peptide (PEPvIII) conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). Using magnetic beads with immobilized antigen we captured and detected anti-EGFRvIII and anti-KLH antibodies in serum from patients before and after vaccinations. Using this assay, we found that significant levels of antibody for tumor-specific antigen EGFRvIII (>4 microg/mL) and KLH could be induced after vaccination with PEPvIII-KLH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Schmittling
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
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13
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Blehm KN, Spiess PE, Bondaruk JE, Dujka ME, Villares GJ, Zhao YJ, Bogler O, Aldape KD, Grossman HB, Adam L, McConkey DJ, Czerniak BA, Dinney CP, Bar-Eli M. Mutations within the kinase domain and truncations of the epidermal growth factor receptor are rare events in bladder cancer: implications for therapy. Clin Cancer Res 2007; 12:4671-7. [PMID: 16899617 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-06-0407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE It has previously been reported that the patient response to gefitinib depends on the presence of mutations within the kinase domain of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) or the expression of its truncated form, EGFR variant III (EGFRvIII). The focus of this study was to determine if these alterations are present within the tyrosine kinase and ligand-binding domain of EGFR in urothelial carcinoma. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN The kinase domain found within exons 18 to 21 of the EGFR from 11 bladder cancer cell lines and 75 patient tumors were subjected to automated sequencing. EGFRvIII expression was determined by immunohistochemistry using a urothelial carcinoma tissue microarray, and its expression was subsequently verified by reverse transcription PCR, real-time PCR, and Western blot analysis, using an EGFRvIII-transfected glioblastoma cell line and glioblastoma tumors as positive controls. RESULTS Our analysis failed to detect mutations within the tyrosine kinase domain of EGFR in the 11 cell lines and 75 patients tested. The initial analysis of EGFRvIII expression by immunohistochemistry revealed that at least 50% of the patient tumors expressed EGFRvIII in a urothelial carcinoma tissue microarray. Conflicting reports exist, however, regarding the extent of EGFRvIII expression in tissues owing to the specificity of the antibodies and the methodologies used. Therefore, we sought to validate this observation by reverse transcription PCR, real-time PCR, and Western blot analysis. In these assays, none of the samples were positive for EGFRvIII except for control transfectants and glioblastomas. CONCLUSIONS When our results are taken together, we conclude that alterations within the tyrosine kinase domain and expression of EGFRvIII are rare events in bladder cancer. The present study has clinical implications in selecting tyrosine kinase inhibitors for the therapy of urothelial carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly N Blehm
- Department of Cancer Biology, Brain Tumor Center, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, 77030, USA
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14
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Boado RJ. Blood-brain barrier transport of non-viral gene and RNAi therapeutics. Pharm Res 2007; 24:1772-87. [PMID: 17554608 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-007-9321-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2007] [Accepted: 04/18/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The development of gene- and RNA interference (RNAi)-based therapeutics represents a challenge for the drug delivery field. The global brain distribution of DNA genes, as well as the targeting of specific regions of the brain, is even more complicated because conventional delivery systems, i.e. viruses, have poor diffusion in brain when injected in situ and do not cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which is only permeable to lipophilic molecules of less than 400 Da. Recent advances in the "Trojan Horse Liposome" (THL) technology applied to the transvascular non-viral gene therapy of brain disorders presents a promising solution to the DNA/RNAi delivery obstacle. The THL is comprised of immunoliposomes carrying either a gene for protein replacement or small hairpin RNA (shRNA) expression plasmids for RNAi effect, respectively. The THL is engineered with known lipids containing polyethyleneglycol (PEG), which stabilizes its structure in vivo in circulation. The tissue target specificity of THL is given by conjugation of approximately 1% of the PEG residues to peptidomimetic monoclonal antibodies (MAb) that bind to specific endogenous receptors (i.e. insulin and transferrin receptors) located on both the BBB and the brain cellular membranes, respectively. These MAbs mediate (a) receptor-mediated transcytosis of the THL complex through the BBB, (b) endocytosis into brain cells and (c) transport to the brain cell nuclear compartment. The present review presents an overview of the THL technology and its current application to gene therapy and RNAi, including experimental models of Parkinson's disease and brain tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben J Boado
- Department of Medicine, UCLA Warren Hall 13-164, 900 Veteran Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, USA.
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15
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Li QX, Tan P, Ke N, Wong-Staal F. Ribozyme technology for cancer gene target identification and validation. Adv Cancer Res 2007; 96:103-43. [PMID: 17161678 DOI: 10.1016/s0065-230x(06)96005-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Ribozymes are naturally occurring RNAs with catalytic activities including cis- or trans- cleavage of RNA at predefined sequence sites. This activity has been exploited for specific gene inactivation in cells during the last two decades, and ribozymes have been important functional genomics tools, especially in the pre-RNAi era. It has also been broadly applied in drug target identification and validation in pharmaceutical R&D. This chapter covers many application principles and case studies of ribozyme technology in the areas of cancer research. We also described RNAi applications in some of the same studies for comparison. Although RNAi may be more effective than ribozymes in many respects, they are nonetheless built on many of the same principles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Xiang Li
- Immusol, Inc., San Diego, California 92121, USA
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16
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Silva HAC, Abraúl E, Raimundo D, Dias MF, Marques C, Guerra C, de Oliveira CF, Regateiro FJ. Molecular detection of EGFRvIII-positive cells in the peripheral blood of breast cancer patients. Eur J Cancer 2006; 42:2617-22. [PMID: 16956761 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2006.03.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2006] [Revised: 03/21/2006] [Accepted: 03/27/2006] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study is to evaluate epidermal growth factor receptor variant III, EGFRvIII, a cancer specific mutant, as a possible marker for the diagnosis of breast cancer occult systemic disease. EGFRvIII mRNA was identified by an RT-nested PCR with a high sensitivity. In 102 women studied, the mutant was detected in the peripheral blood of 30% of 33 low risk, early stage patients, in 56% of 18 patients selected for neoadjuvant chemotherapy, in 63.6% of 11 patients with disseminated disease and 0% of 40 control women. In low risk, early stage patients, the presence of one or more tumour characteristics predicting recurrence such as the absence of oestrogen receptors and the presence of ERBB2 or histologic grades G2/G3 was significantly associated with EFGRvIII detection (p<0.05). EGFRvIII mRNA has characteristics to be a useful marker for the diagnosis of occult systemic disease in breast cancer. Follow-up studies will evaluate its clinical value as a decision criterion for systemic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henriqueta A C Silva
- Departamento de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina, and Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal.
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17
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Abstract
The human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays an oncogenic role in solid cancer, including brain primary and metastatic cancers. Transvascular nonviral gene therapy in combination with EGFR-RNA interference (RNAi) represents a new therapeutic approach to silencing oncogenic genes in solid cancers. This is achieved with pegylated immunoliposomes (PIL) carrying short hairpin RNA expression plasmids driven by the U6 RNA polymerase promoter and directed to target EGFR expression by RNAi. The PIL is comprised of a mixture of known lipids containing polyethyleneglycol (PEG), which stabilizes the PIL structure in vivo in circulation. The tissue target specificity of PILs is given by conjugation of approximately 1% of the PEG residues to monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that bind to specific endogenous receptors (i.e., insulin and transferrin receptors) located in the brain vascular endothelium, which forms the blood brain barrier (BBB), and brain cellular membranes, respectively. These mAbs are known to induce 1) receptor-mediated transcytosis of the PIL complex through the BBB and 2) transport to the brain cell nuclear compartment. Treatment of an experimental human brain tumor model in scid mice is possible with weekly intravenous RNAi gene therapy causing reduced tumor expression of EGFR and 88% increase in survival time of these mice with advanced intracranial brain cancer. The availability of additional RNAi tumor targets may improve the therapeutic efficacy of this new anticancer drug. The accessibility to chimeric and/or humanized mAbs directed to human BBB and brain cell specific-receptors may accelerate the application of this technology to the treatment of human tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben J Boado
- ArmaGen Technologies, Inc., Santa Monica, California 90401, USA.
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18
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Zhang Y, Zhang YF, Bryant J, Charles A, Boado RJ, Pardridge WM. Intravenous RNA interference gene therapy targeting the human epidermal growth factor receptor prolongs survival in intracranial brain cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2004; 10:3667-77. [PMID: 15173073 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-03-0740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 212] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays an oncogenic role in solid cancer, including brain cancer. The present study was designed to prolong survival in mice with intracranial human brain cancer with the weekly i.v. injection of nonviral gene therapy causing RNA interference (RNAi) of EGFR gene expression. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Human U87 gliomas were implanted in the brain of adult scid mice, and weekly i.v. gene therapy was started at day 5 after implantation of 500000 cells. An expression plasmid encoding a short hairpin RNA directed at nucleotides 2529-2557 within the human EGFR mRNA was encapsulated in pegylated immunoliposomes. The pegylated immunoliposome was targeted to brain cancer with 2 receptor-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAb), the murine 83-14 MAb to the human insulin receptor and the rat 8D3 MAb to the mouse transferrin receptor. RESULTS In cultured glioma cells, the delivery of the RNAi expression plasmid resulted in a 95% suppression of EGFR function, based on measurement of thymidine incorporation or intracellular calcium signaling. Weekly i.v. RNAi gene therapy caused reduced tumor expression of immunoreactive EGFR and an 88% increase in survival time of mice with advanced intracranial brain cancer. CONCLUSIONS Weekly i.v. nonviral RNAi gene therapy directed against the human EGFR is a new therapeutic approach to silencing oncogenic genes in solid cancers. This is enabled with a nonviral gene transfer technology that delivers liposome-encapsulated plasmid DNA across cellular barriers with receptor-specific targeting ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Zhang
- Departments of Medicine and Neurology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90024, USA
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19
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Rae JM, Scheys JO, Clark KM, Chadwick RB, Kiefer MC, Lippman ME. EGFR and EGFRvIII Expression in Primary Breast Cancer and Cell Lines. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2004; 87:87-95. [PMID: 15377854 DOI: 10.1023/b:brea.0000041585.26734.f9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
EGFRvIII is a constitutively activated truncated variant of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) which has been shown to increase tumorgenicity. There are conflicting reports on the extent of EGFRvIII expression in tissues which may in part stem from the use of different assay methodologies. We investigated the expression of both EGFRvIII and wild-type EGFR (EGFRwt) in cell lines and primary breast cancers. First, we used a RT-PCR assay that can simultaneously measure EGFRwt and EGFRvIII mRNA to screen 55 tumor cell lines. We show that except for EGFRvIII transfected cells, only EGFRwt was detected. We then validated a real-time PCR assay and used this to screen 170 formalin fixed paraffin-embedded primary breast cancers for evidence of EGFRwt and EGFRvIII expression. No samples were positive for EGFRvIII expression except for control transfectants and glioblastomas. In contrast, EGFRwt was expressed at varying levels in the majority of samples tested. We conclude that the expression of EGFRvIII is extremely rare in breast cancer and therefore it does not contribute to the malignant phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- James M Rae
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology Oncology, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0612, USA.
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20
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Whitney JA. Reference Systems for Kinase Drug Discovery: Chemical Genetic Approaches to Cell-Based Assays. Assay Drug Dev Technol 2004; 2:417-29. [PMID: 15357923 DOI: 10.1089/adt.2004.2.417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein kinases play key roles in a number of diseases, including cancer, inflammation, and diabetes. Disregulation of kinase-based signal transduction networks results in aberrant cell differentiation, activation, proliferation, and invasion. The growing importance of kinases as a major class of drug targets across multiple large clinical indications, together with the large number of kinases in the genome (~518), has generated a critical need for technologies that enable the identification of potent and selective kinase inhibitors with good drug-like properties. In this review, we describe methods used for developing cell-based assays for kinase inhibitors, discuss advantages and disadvantages of each approach, and describe new chemical genetic methods as reference systems for establishing cell-based assays and their use for functional selectivity profiling of kinase inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Andrew Whitney
- Department of Research Informatics, Cellular Genomics, Inc., Branford, CT, USA.
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Abstract
To investigate the antiangiogenic potential of 10-hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT), the proliferation of human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC) and seven human tumor cell lines were detected by SRB assay, and the endothelial cell migration and tube formation were assessed using two in vitro model systems. Also, inhibition of angiogenesis was determined with a modification of the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay in vivo. Morphological assessment of apoptosis was performed by fluorescence microscope. HCPT 0.313-5 micromol x L(-1) treatment resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of proliferation, migration and tube formation in HMEC cells, and HCPT 6.25-25 nmol x egg(-1) inhibited angiogenesis in CAM assay. HCPT 1.25-5 micromol x L(-1) elicited typical morphological changes of apoptosis including condensed chromatin, nuclear fragmentation, and reduction in volume in HMEC cells. HCPT significantly inhibited angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo at relatively low concentrations, and this effect was related with induction of apoptosis in HMEC cells. These results taken collectively suggest that HCPT may be a potent antiangiogenetic and cytotoxic drug and further investigation is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Xiao
- Division of Anti-tumor Pharmacology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, PR China
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