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Zhang J, Liu J, Yue Y, Wang L, He Q, Xu S, Li J, Liao Y, Chen Y, Wang S, Xie Y, Zhang B, Bian Y, Dimitrov DS, Yuan Y, Zhu J. The immunotoxin targeting PRLR increases tamoxifen sensitivity and enhances the efficacy of chemotherapy in breast cancer. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:173. [PMID: 38898487 PMCID: PMC11188579 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-024-03099-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Though tamoxifen achieves success in treating estrogen receptor α (ERα)-positive breast cancer, the followed development of tamoxifen resistance is a common challenge in clinic. Signals downstream of prolactin receptor (PRLR) could synergize with ERα in breast cancer progression. However, the potential effect of targeting PRL-PRLR axis combined with tamoxifen has not been thoroughly investigated. METHODS High-throughput RNA-seq data obtained from TCGA, Metabric and GEO datasets were analyzed to explore PRLR expression in breast cancer cell and the association of PRLR expression with tamoxifen treatment. Exogenous or PRL overexpression cell models were employed to investigate the role of activated PRLR pathway in mediating tamoxifen insensitivity. Immunotoxin targeting PRLR (N8-PE24) was constructed with splicing-intein technique, and the efficacy of N8-PE24 against breast cancer was evaluated using in vitro and in vivo methods, including analysis of cells growth or apoptosis, 3D spheroids culture, and animal xenografts. RESULTS PRLR pathway activated by PRL could significantly decrease sensitivity of ERα-positive breast cancer cells to tamoxifen. Tamoxifen treatment upregulated transcription of PRLR and could induce significant accumulation of PRLR protein in breast cancer cells by alkalizing lysosomes. Meanwhile, tamoxifen-resistant MCF7 achieved by long-term tamoxifen pressure exhibited both upregulated transcription and protein level of PRLR. Immunotoxin N8-PE24 enhanced sensitivity of breast cancer cells to tamoxifen both in vitro and in vivo. In xenograft models, N8-PE24 significantly enhanced the efficacy of tamoxifen and paclitaxel when treating PRLR-positive triple-negative breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS PRL-PRLR axis potentially associates with tamoxifen insensitivity in ERα-positive breast cancer cells. N8-PE24 could inhibit cell growth of the breast cancers and promote drug sensitivity of PRLR-positive breast cancer cells to tamoxifen and paclitaxel. Our study provides a new perspective for targeting PRLR to treat breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Zhang
- Engineering Research Center of Cell & Therapeutic Antibody, MOE, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Building 6, Room 208, 800 Dongchuan road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Junjun Liu
- Engineering Research Center of Cell & Therapeutic Antibody, MOE, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Building 6, Room 208, 800 Dongchuan road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Yali Yue
- Engineering Research Center of Cell & Therapeutic Antibody, MOE, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Building 6, Room 208, 800 Dongchuan road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Engineering Research Center of Cell & Therapeutic Antibody, MOE, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Building 6, Room 208, 800 Dongchuan road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Qunye He
- Engineering Research Center of Cell & Therapeutic Antibody, MOE, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Building 6, Room 208, 800 Dongchuan road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Shuyi Xu
- Engineering Research Center of Cell & Therapeutic Antibody, MOE, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Building 6, Room 208, 800 Dongchuan road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Junyan Li
- Engineering Research Center of Cell & Therapeutic Antibody, MOE, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Building 6, Room 208, 800 Dongchuan road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Yunji Liao
- Engineering Research Center of Cell & Therapeutic Antibody, MOE, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Building 6, Room 208, 800 Dongchuan road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Yu Chen
- Engineering Research Center of Cell & Therapeutic Antibody, MOE, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Building 6, Room 208, 800 Dongchuan road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | | | - Yueqing Xie
- Jecho Laboratories, Inc, Frederick, MD, 21704, USA
- Jecho Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd, Tianjin, 300467, China
| | - Baohong Zhang
- Engineering Research Center of Cell & Therapeutic Antibody, MOE, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Building 6, Room 208, 800 Dongchuan road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Yanlin Bian
- Engineering Research Center of Cell & Therapeutic Antibody, MOE, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Building 6, Room 208, 800 Dongchuan road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Dimiter S Dimitrov
- University of Pittsburgh Department of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
| | - Yunsheng Yuan
- Engineering Research Center of Cell & Therapeutic Antibody, MOE, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Building 6, Room 208, 800 Dongchuan road, Shanghai, 200240, China.
| | - Jianwei Zhu
- Engineering Research Center of Cell & Therapeutic Antibody, MOE, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Building 6, Room 208, 800 Dongchuan road, Shanghai, 200240, China.
- Jecho Laboratories, Inc, Frederick, MD, 21704, USA.
- Jecho Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd, Tianjin, 300467, China.
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Jabbour SK, Kumar R, Anderson B, Chino JP, Jethwa KR, McDowell L, Lo AC, Owen D, Pollom EL, Tree AC, Tsang DS, Yom SS. Combinatorial Approaches for Chemotherapies and Targeted Therapies With Radiation: United Efforts to Innovate in Patient Care. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2024; 118:1240-1261. [PMID: 38216094 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2024.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
Combinatorial therapies consisting of radiation therapy (RT) with systemic therapies, particularly chemotherapy and targeted therapies, have moved the needle to augment disease control across nearly all disease sites for locally advanced disease. Evaluating these important combinations to incorporate more potent therapies with RT will aid our understanding of toxicity and efficacy for patients. This article discusses multiple disease sites and includes a compilation of contributions from expert Red Journal editors from each disease site. Leveraging improved systemic control with novel agents, we must continue efforts to study novel treatment combinations with RT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salma K Jabbour
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Jersey.
| | - Ritesh Kumar
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Jersey
| | - Bethany Anderson
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Junzo P Chino
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Krishan R Jethwa
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Lachlan McDowell
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Andrea C Lo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, BC Cancer Vancouver Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Dawn Owen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Erqi L Pollom
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California
| | - Alison C Tree
- Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Derek S Tsang
- Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sue S Yom
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California San Francisco, California
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Tsuchikama K, Anami Y, Ha SYY, Yamazaki CM. Exploring the next generation of antibody-drug conjugates. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2024; 21:203-223. [PMID: 38191923 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-023-00850-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are a promising cancer treatment modality that enables the selective delivery of highly cytotoxic payloads to tumours. However, realizing the full potential of this platform necessitates innovative molecular designs to tackle several clinical challenges such as drug resistance, tumour heterogeneity and treatment-related adverse effects. Several emerging ADC formats exist, including bispecific ADCs, conditionally active ADCs (also known as probody-drug conjugates), immune-stimulating ADCs, protein-degrader ADCs and dual-drug ADCs, and each offers unique capabilities for tackling these various challenges. For example, probody-drug conjugates can enhance tumour specificity, whereas bispecific ADCs and dual-drug ADCs can address resistance and heterogeneity with enhanced activity. The incorporation of immune-stimulating and protein-degrader ADCs, which have distinct mechanisms of action, into existing treatment strategies could enable multimodal cancer treatment. Despite the promising outlook, the importance of patient stratification and biomarker identification cannot be overstated for these emerging ADCs, as these factors are crucial to identify patients who are most likely to derive benefit. As we continue to deepen our understanding of tumour biology and refine ADC design, we will edge closer to developing truly effective and safe ADCs for patients with treatment-refractory cancers. In this Review, we highlight advances in each ADC component (the monoclonal antibody, payload, linker and conjugation chemistry) and provide more-detailed discussions on selected examples of emerging novel ADCs of each format, enabled by engineering of one or more of these components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyoji Tsuchikama
- Texas Therapeutics Institute, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Yasuaki Anami
- Texas Therapeutics Institute, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Summer Y Y Ha
- Texas Therapeutics Institute, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Chisato M Yamazaki
- Texas Therapeutics Institute, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
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Zhuang W, Zhang W, Xie L, Wang L, Li Y, Wang Z, Zhang A, Qiu H, Feng J, Zhang B, Hu Y. Generation and Characterization of SORT1-Targeted Antibody-Drug Conjugate for the Treatment of SORT1-Positive Breast Tumor. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17631. [PMID: 38139459 PMCID: PMC10743877 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have greatly improved the outcomes of advanced breast tumors. However, the treatment of breast tumors with existing ADCs is still hindered by many issues, such as tumor antigen heterogeneity and drug resistance. Therefore, ADCs against new targets would provide options for the treatment of these challenges. Sortilin-1 (SORT1) may be a promising target for ADC as it is upregulated in breast cancer. To evaluate the possibility of SORT1 as an ADC target, a humanized antibody_8D302 with high affinity against SORT1 was generated. Additionally, 8D302 was conjugated with MMAE and DXd to generate two ADCs_8D302-MMAE and 8D302-DXd, respectively. Both 8D302-MMAE and 8D302-DXd showed effective cytotoxicity against SORT1 positive breast tumor cell lines and induced bystander killing. Consequently, 8D302-MMAE showed relatively better anti-tumor activity than 8D302-DXd both in vitro and in vivo, but 8D302-DXd had superior safety profile and pharmacokinetics profile over 8D302-MMAE. Furthermore, SORT1 induced faster internalization and lysosomal trafficking of antibodies and had a higher turnover compared with HER2. Also, 8D302-DXd exhibited superior cell cytotoxicity and tumor suppression over trastuzumab-DXd, a HER2-targeted ADC. We hypothesize that the high turnover of SORT1 enables SORT1-targeted ADC to be a powerful agent for the treatment of SORT1-positive breast tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiliang Zhuang
- Engineering Research Center of Cell & Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China; (W.Z.); (L.W.)
- China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, 285 Gebaini Road, Shanghai 201203, China; (W.Z.); (L.X.); (Y.L.); (Z.W.); (A.Z.); (H.Q.); (J.F.)
| | - Wei Zhang
- China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, 285 Gebaini Road, Shanghai 201203, China; (W.Z.); (L.X.); (Y.L.); (Z.W.); (A.Z.); (H.Q.); (J.F.)
| | - Liping Xie
- China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, 285 Gebaini Road, Shanghai 201203, China; (W.Z.); (L.X.); (Y.L.); (Z.W.); (A.Z.); (H.Q.); (J.F.)
| | - Lei Wang
- Engineering Research Center of Cell & Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China; (W.Z.); (L.W.)
| | - Yuan Li
- China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, 285 Gebaini Road, Shanghai 201203, China; (W.Z.); (L.X.); (Y.L.); (Z.W.); (A.Z.); (H.Q.); (J.F.)
| | - Ziyu Wang
- China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, 285 Gebaini Road, Shanghai 201203, China; (W.Z.); (L.X.); (Y.L.); (Z.W.); (A.Z.); (H.Q.); (J.F.)
| | - Ao Zhang
- China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, 285 Gebaini Road, Shanghai 201203, China; (W.Z.); (L.X.); (Y.L.); (Z.W.); (A.Z.); (H.Q.); (J.F.)
| | - Haitao Qiu
- China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, 285 Gebaini Road, Shanghai 201203, China; (W.Z.); (L.X.); (Y.L.); (Z.W.); (A.Z.); (H.Q.); (J.F.)
| | - Jun Feng
- China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, 285 Gebaini Road, Shanghai 201203, China; (W.Z.); (L.X.); (Y.L.); (Z.W.); (A.Z.); (H.Q.); (J.F.)
| | - Baohong Zhang
- Engineering Research Center of Cell & Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China; (W.Z.); (L.W.)
| | - Youjia Hu
- China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, 285 Gebaini Road, Shanghai 201203, China; (W.Z.); (L.X.); (Y.L.); (Z.W.); (A.Z.); (H.Q.); (J.F.)
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Alese OB, Wu C, Chapin WJ, Ulanja MB, Zheng-Lin B, Amankwah M, Eads J. Update on Emerging Therapies for Advanced Colorectal Cancer. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book 2023; 43:e389574. [PMID: 37155942 DOI: 10.1200/edbk_389574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy worldwide. It is projected to increase by 3.2 million new cases and account for 1.6 million deaths by 2040. Mortality is largely due to limited treatment options for patients who present with advanced disease. Thus, the development of effective and tolerable therapies is crucial. Chemotherapy has been the backbone of systemic treatment of advanced CRC, but utility has been limited because of invariable resistance to therapy, narrow mechanisms of action, and unfavorable toxicity profile. Tumors that are mismatch repair-deficient have demonstrated remarkable response to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. However, most CRC tumors are mismatch repair-proficient and represent an unmet medical need. Although ERBB2 amplification occurs only in a few cases, it is associated with left-sided tumors and a higher incidence of brain metastasis. Numerous combinations of HER2 inhibitors have demonstrated efficacy, and antibody-drug conjugates against HER2 represent innovative strategies in this area. The KRAS protein has been classically considered undruggable. Fortunately, new agents targeting KRAS G12C mutation represent a paradigm shift in the management of affected patients and could lead the advancement in drug development for the more common KRAS mutations. Furthermore, aberrant DNA damage response is present in 15%-20% of CRCs, and emerging innovative combinations with poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors could improve the current therapeutic landscape. Multiple novel biomarker-driven approaches in the management of patients with advanced CRC tumors are reviewed in this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olatunji B Alese
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | | | - William J Chapin
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Mark B Ulanja
- Christus Ochsner St Patrick Hospital, Lake Charles, LA
| | | | | | - Jennifer Eads
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
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Maecker H, Jonnalagadda V, Bhakta S, Jammalamadaka V, Junutula JR. Exploration of the antibody-drug conjugate clinical landscape. MAbs 2023; 15:2229101. [PMID: 37639687 PMCID: PMC10464553 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2023.2229101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) field has undergone a renaissance, with substantial recent developmental investment and subsequent drug approvals over the past 6 y. In November 2022, ElahereTM became the latest ADC to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To date, over 260 ADCs have been tested in the clinic against various oncology indications. Here, we review the clinical landscape of ADCs that are currently FDA approved (11), agents currently in clinical trials but not yet approved (164), and candidates discontinued following clinical testing (92). These clinically tested ADCs are further analyzed by their targeting tumor antigen(s), linker, payload choices, and highest clinical stage achieved, highlighting limitations associated with the discontinued drug candidates. Lastly, we discuss biologic engineering modifications preclinically demonstrated to improve the therapeutic index that if incorporated may increase the proportion of molecules that successfully transition to regulatory approval.
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Jones TE, La HS, Upadhyay-Baskota S, Bhargava R, Jones MW. The Potential Prognostic and Therapeutic Implications of Prolactin Receptor and Growth Hormone-releasing Hormone Receptor Expression in Uterine Leiomyosarcomas. Int J Gynecol Pathol 2022; 41:566-572. [PMID: 34856572 DOI: 10.1097/pgp.0000000000000844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The management of uterine leiomyosarcomas (uLMS) remains challenging. The rate of recurrence and metastasis is high, with 5-yr survival reaching only 40% to 50% in patients with tumor confined to the uterus (FIGO stage I or II). Prolactin receptor (PRLR) and growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor (GHRHR) have been implicated in the carcinogenesis of malignant tumors of the breast, endometrium, ovary, liver, and prostate. GHRHR antagonists inhibit in vitro growth of many human tumors and the expression of PRLR is associated with resistance to chemotherapy. The immunohistochemical expression of PRLR and GHRH in 24 primary and 2 recurrent uLMS was evaluated. Representative sections were stained with PRLR and GHRHR antibodies and immunoreactivity was calculated using H -score. The results were correlated with clinicopathologic data using Kaplan-Meier survival and multivariable Cox proportion hazard regression analyses. All tumors were positive for both markers with predominantly moderate to strong expression of PRLR (89%) and GHRHR (82%). Patients with tumors showing moderate to strong expression of PRLR were significantly less likely to achieve disease-free survival ( P =0.004) and significantly more likely to have a poor overall survival ( P =0.049). No significant difference in mean PRLR expression was found between tumors with higher mitotic counts (>20/10 hpf) and lower mitotic counts (20 or less/10 hpf). Furthermore, in 2 patients where the primary and recurrent tumors were tested, there was stronger expression of PRLR in the recurrence compared with the primary. This correlation was not found with GHRHR. Both PRLR and GHRHR may play a role in carcinogenesis in uLMS, as they do in other malignant neoplasms. To our knowledge, this study is the first evaluating the expression of these receptors in uLMS. Moderate or high expression of PRLR may serve as a prognostic marker associated with recurrences and increased mortality in uLMS patients.
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Standing D, Dandawate P, Anant S. Prolactin receptor signaling: A novel target for cancer treatment - Exploring anti-PRLR signaling strategies. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:1112987. [PMID: 36714582 PMCID: PMC9880166 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1112987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Prolactin (PRL) is a peptide hormone mainly secreted from the anterior pituitary gland. PRL is reported to play a role in pregnancy, mammary gland development, immune modulation, reproduction, and differentiation of islet cells. PRL binds to its receptor PRLR, which belongs to a superfamily of the class I cytokine receptor that has no intrinsic kinase activity. In canonical signaling, PRL binding to PRLR induces downstream signaling including JAK-STAT, AKT and MAPK pathways. This leads to increased cell proliferation, stemness, migration, apoptosis inhibition, and resistance to chemotherapy. PRL-signaling is upregulated in numerous hormone-dependent cancers including breast, prostate, ovarian, and endometrial cancer. However, more recently, the pathway has been reported to play a tumor-promoting role in other cancer types such as colon, pancreas, and hepatocellular cancers. Hence, the signaling pathway is an attractive target for drug development with blockade of the receptor being a potential therapeutic approach. Different strategies have been developed to target this receptor including modification of PRL peptides (Del1-9-G129R-hPRL, G129R-Prl), growth hormone receptor/prolactin receptor bispecific antibody antagonist, neutralizing antibody LFA102, an antibody-drug conjugate (ABBV-176) of the humanized antibody h16f (PR-1594804) and pyrrolobenzodiazepine dimer, a bispecific antibody targeting both PRLR and CD3, an in vivo half-life extended fusion protein containing PRLR antagonist PrlRA and albumin binding domain. There have also been attempts to discover and develop small molecular inhibitors targeting PRLR. Recently, using structure-based virtual screening, we identified a few antipsychotic drugs including penfluridol as a molecule that inhibits PRL-signaling to inhibit PDAC tumor progression. In this review, we will summarize the recent advances in the biology of this receptor in cancer and give an account of PRLR antagonist development for the treatment of cancer.
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Abstract
Prolactin coordinates with the ovarian steroids to orchestrate mammary development and lactation, culminating in nourishment and an increasingly appreciated array of other benefits for neonates. Its central activities in mammary epithelial growth and differentiation suggest that it plays a role(s) in breast cancer, but it has been challenging to identify its contributions, essential for incorporation into prevention and treatment approaches. Large prospective epidemiologic studies have linked higher prolactin exposure to increased risk, particularly for ER+ breast cancer in postmenopausal women. However, it has been more difficult to determine its actions and clinical consequences in established tumors. Here we review experimental data implicating multiple mechanisms by which prolactin may increase the risk of breast cancer. We then consider the evidence for role(s) of prolactin and its downstream signaling cascades in disease progression and treatment responses, and discuss how new approaches are beginning to illuminate the biology behind the seemingly conflicting epidemiologic and experimental studies of prolactin actions across diverse breast cancers.
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Anderson MG, Zhang Q, Rodriguez LE, Hecquet CM, Donawho CK, Ansell PJ, Reilly EB. ABBV-176, a PRLR antibody drug conjugate with a potent DNA-damaging PBD cytotoxin and enhanced activity with PARP inhibition. BMC Cancer 2021; 21:681. [PMID: 34107902 PMCID: PMC8191021 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-08403-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prolactin receptor (PRLR) is an attractive antibody therapeutic target with expression across a broad population of breast cancers. Antibody efficacy, however, may be limited to subtypes with either PRLR overexpression and/or those where estradiol no longer functions as a mitogen and are, therefore, reliant on PRLR signaling for growth. In contrast a potent PRLR antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) may provide improved therapeutic outcomes extending beyond either PRLR overexpressing or estradiol-insensitive breast cancer populations. METHODS We derived a novel ADC targeting PRLR, ABBV-176, that delivers a pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) dimer cytotoxin, an emerging class of warheads with enhanced potency and broader anticancer activity than the clinically validated auristatin or maytansine derivatives. This agent was tested in vitro and in vivo cell lines and patient derived xenograft models. RESULTS In both in vitro and in vivo assays, ABBV-176 exhibits potent cytotoxicity against multiple cell line and patient-derived xenograft breast tumor models, including triple negative and low PRLR expressing models insensitive to monomethyl auristatin (MMAE) based PRLR ADCs. ABBV-176, which cross links DNA and causes DNA breaks by virtue of its PBD warhead, also demonstrates enhanced anti-tumor activity in several breast cancer models when combined with a poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, a potentiator of DNA damage. CONCLUSIONS Collectively the efficacy and safety profile of ABBV-176 suggest it may be an effective therapy across a broad range of breast cancers and other cancer types where PRLR is expressed with the potential to combine with other therapeutics including PARP inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark G Anderson
- AbbVie Inc., Oncology Discovery, 1 North Waukegan Rd., North Chicago, IL, 60064-6099, USA.
| | - Qian Zhang
- AbbVie Inc., Oncology Discovery, 1 North Waukegan Rd., North Chicago, IL, 60064-6099, USA
| | - Luis E Rodriguez
- AbbVie Inc., Oncology Discovery, 1 North Waukegan Rd., North Chicago, IL, 60064-6099, USA
| | - Claudie M Hecquet
- AbbVie Inc., Oncology Discovery, 1 North Waukegan Rd., North Chicago, IL, 60064-6099, USA
| | - Cherrie K Donawho
- Formerly AbbVie, Oncology Discovery, 1 North Waukegan Rd., North Chicago, IL, 60064, USA
| | - Peter J Ansell
- AbbVie Inc., Oncology Discovery, 1 North Waukegan Rd., North Chicago, IL, 60064-6099, USA
| | - Edward B Reilly
- AbbVie Inc., Oncology Discovery, 1 North Waukegan Rd., North Chicago, IL, 60064-6099, USA
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Suppression of Breast Cancer by Small Molecules That Block the Prolactin Receptor. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13112662. [PMID: 34071395 PMCID: PMC8198871 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13112662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Unabated tumor growth, metastasis, and resistance to hormone therapy and/or to chemotherapy constitute serious impediments for combating breast cancer (BC). With the exception of targeted anti-HER2/neu therapy and combination therapies, there have been no radical changes in the standard of care for BC patients in the past two decades. In addition, there are only limited options for treating BC-derived brain metastases that cause high morbidity and mortality. This report describes the use of high throughput screening (HTS) for identifying novel small molecules that blocked the prolactin receptor (PRLR) and suppressed BC in a laboratory setting. These small molecules have a great potential to become effective therapeutics in patients with BC. Abstract Prolactin (PRL) is a protein hormone which in humans is secreted by pituitary lactotrophs as well as by many normal and malignant non-pituitary sites. Many lines of evidence demonstrate that both circulating and locally produced PRL increase breast cancer (BC) growth and metastases and confer chemoresistance. Our objective was to identify and then characterize small molecules that block the tumorigenic actions of PRL in BC. We employed three cell-based assays in high throughput screening (HTS) of 51,000 small molecules and identified two small molecule inhibitors (SMIs), named SMI-1 and SMI-6. Both compounds bound to the extracellular domain (ECD) of the PRL receptor (PRLR) at 1–3 micromolar affinity and abrogated PRL-induced breast cancer cell (BCC) invasion and malignant lymphocyte proliferation. SMI-6 effectively reduced the viability of multiple BCC types, had much lower activity against various non-malignant cells, displayed high selectivity, and showed no apparent in vitro or in vivo toxicity. In athymic nude mice, SMI-6 rapidly and dramatically suppressed the growth of PRL-expressing BC xenografts. This report represents a pre-clinical phase of developing novel anti-cancer agents with the potential to become effective therapeutics in breast cancer patients.
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Prolactin: A hormone with diverse functions from mammary gland development to cancer metastasis. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2020; 114:159-170. [PMID: 33109441 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2020.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Prolactin has a rich mechanistic set of actions and signaling in order to elicit developmental effects in mammals. Historically, prolactin has been appreciated as an endocrine peptide hormone that is responsible for final, functional mammary gland development and lactation. Multiple signaling pathways impacted upon by the microenvironment contribute to cell function and differentiation. Endocrine, autocrine and paracrine signaling are now apparent in not only mammary development, but also in cancer, and involve multiple cell types including those of the immune system. Multiple ligands agonists are capable of binding to the prolactin receptor, potentially expanding receptor function. Prolactin has an important role not only in tumorigenesis of the breast, but also in a number of hormonally responsive cancers such as prostate, ovarian and endometrial cancer, as well as pancreatic and lung cancer. Although pituitary and extra-pituitary sources of prolactin such as the epithelium are important, stromal sourced prolactin is now also being recognized as an important factor in tumor progression, all of which potentially signal to multiple cell types in the tumor microenvironment. While prolactin has important roles in milk production including calcium and bone homeostasis, in the disease state it can also affect bone homeostasis. Prolactin also impacts metastatic cancer of the breast to modulate the bone microenvironment and promote bone damage. Prolactin has a fascinating contribution in both physiologic and pathologic settings of mammals.
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