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Ceci C, Lacal PM, Graziani G. Antibody-drug conjugates: Resurgent anticancer agents with multi-targeted therapeutic potential. Pharmacol Ther 2022; 236:108106. [PMID: 34990642 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.108106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) constitute a relatively new group of anticancer agents, whose first appearance took place about two decades ago, but a renewed interest occurred in recent years, following the success of anti-cancer immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies. Indeed, an ADC combines the selectivity of a monoclonal antibody with the cell killing properties of a chemotherapeutic agent (payload), joined together through an appropriate linker. The antibody moiety targets a specific cell surface antigen expressed by tumor cells and/or cells of the tumor microenvironment and acts as a carrier that delivers the cytotoxic payload within the tumor mass. Despite advantages in terms of selectivity and potency, the development of ADCs is not devoid of challenges, due to: i) low tumor selectivity when the target antigens are not exclusively expressed by cancer cells; ii) premature release of the cytotoxic drug into the bloodstream as a consequence of linker instability; iii) development of tumor resistance mechanisms to the payload. All these factors may result in lack of efficacy and/or in no safety improvement compared to unconjugated cytotoxic agents. Nevertheless, the development of antibodies engineered to remain inert until activated in the tumor (e.g., antibodies activated proteolytically after internalization or by the acidic conditions of the tumor microenvironment) together with the discovery of innovative targets and cytotoxic or immunomodulatory payloads, have allowed the design of next-generation ADCs that are expected to possess improved therapeutic properties. This review provides an overview of approved ADCs, with related advantages and limitations, and of novel targets exploited by ADCs that are presently under clinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Ceci
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Grazia Graziani
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; IDI-IRCCS, Via Monti di Creta 104, 00167 Rome, Italy.
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Falgàs A, Pallarès V, Unzueta U, Núñez Y, Sierra J, Gallardo A, Alba-Castellón L, Mangues MA, Álamo P, Villaverde A, Vázquez E, Mangues R, Casanova I. Specific Cytotoxic Effect of an Auristatin Nanoconjugate Towards CXCR4 + Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Cells. Int J Nanomedicine 2021; 16:1869-1888. [PMID: 33716502 PMCID: PMC7944372 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s289733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Around 40-50% of diffuse large-B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients suffer from refractory disease or relapse after R-CHOP first-line treatment. Many ongoing clinical trials for DLBCL patients involve microtubule targeting agents (MTAs), however, their anticancer activity is limited by severe side effects. Therefore, we chose to improve the therapeutic window of the MTA monomethyl auristatin E developing a nanoconjugate, T22-AUR, that selectively targets the CXCR4 receptor, which is overexpressed in many DLBCL cells (CXCR4+) and associated with poor prognosis. METHODS The T22-AUR specificity towards CXCR4 receptor was performed by flow cytometry in different DLBCL cell lines and running biodistribution assays in a subcutaneous mouse model bearing CXCR4+ DLBCL cells. Moreover, we determined T22-AUR cytotoxicity using cell viability assays, cell cycle analysis, DAPI staining and immunohistochemistry. Finally, the T22-AUR antineoplastic effect was evaluated in vivo in an extranodal CXCR4+ DLBCL mouse model whereas the toxicity analysis was assessed by histopathology in non-infiltrated mouse organs and by in vitro cytotoxic assays in human PBMCs. RESULTS We demonstrate that the T22-AUR nanoconjugate displays CXCR4-dependent targeting and internalization in CXCR4+ DLBCL cells in vitro as well as in a subcutaneous DLBCL mouse model. Moreover, it shows high cytotoxic effect in CXCR4+ DLBCL cells, including induction of G2/M mitotic arrest, DNA damage, mitotic catastrophe and apoptosis. Furthermore, the nanoconjugate shows a potent reduction in lymphoma mouse dissemination without histopathological alterations in non-DLBCL infiltrated organs. Importantly, T22-AUR also exhibits lack of toxicity in human PBMCs. CONCLUSION T22-AUR exerts in vitro and in vivo anticancer effect on CXCR4+ DLBCL cells without off-target toxicity. Thus, T22-AUR promises to become an effective therapy for CXCR4+ DLBCL patients.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology
- Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use
- Cell Death/drug effects
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Disease Models, Animal
- Endocytosis/drug effects
- Female
- Humans
- Leukocytes, Mononuclear/drug effects
- Leukocytes, Mononuclear/pathology
- Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/drug therapy
- Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/genetics
- Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/pathology
- Lysosomes/drug effects
- Lysosomes/metabolism
- Mice, Inbred NOD
- Mice, SCID
- Nanoconjugates/therapeutic use
- Oligopeptides/pharmacology
- Oligopeptides/therapeutic use
- Receptors, CXCR4/metabolism
- Signal Transduction/drug effects
- Subcutaneous Tissue/drug effects
- Subcutaneous Tissue/pathology
- Tissue Distribution/drug effects
- Mice
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Affiliation(s)
- Aïda Falgàs
- Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB-Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, 08025, Spain
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Barcelona, 08916, Spain
- CIBER de Bioingeniería Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - Victor Pallarès
- Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB-Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, 08025, Spain
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Barcelona, 08916, Spain
- CIBER de Bioingeniería Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - Ugutz Unzueta
- Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB-Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, 08025, Spain
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Barcelona, 08916, Spain
- CIBER de Bioingeniería Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, 28029, Spain
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, 08193, Spain
| | - Yáiza Núñez
- Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB-Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, 08025, Spain
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Barcelona, 08916, Spain
| | - Jorge Sierra
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Barcelona, 08916, Spain
- Department of Hematology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, 08025, Spain
| | - Alberto Gallardo
- Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB-Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, 08025, Spain
| | - Lorena Alba-Castellón
- Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB-Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, 08025, Spain
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Barcelona, 08916, Spain
| | - Maria Antonia Mangues
- CIBER de Bioingeniería Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, 28029, Spain
- Department of Pharmacy, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, 08025, Spain
| | - Patricia Álamo
- Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB-Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, 08025, Spain
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Barcelona, 08916, Spain
- CIBER de Bioingeniería Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - Antonio Villaverde
- CIBER de Bioingeniería Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, 28029, Spain
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, 08193, Spain
- Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, 08193, Spain
| | - Esther Vázquez
- CIBER de Bioingeniería Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, 28029, Spain
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, 08193, Spain
- Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, 08193, Spain
| | - Ramon Mangues
- Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB-Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, 08025, Spain
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Barcelona, 08916, Spain
- CIBER de Bioingeniería Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - Isolda Casanova
- Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB-Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, 08025, Spain
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Barcelona, 08916, Spain
- CIBER de Bioingeniería Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, 28029, Spain
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Burke JM, Morschhauser F, Andorsky D, Lee C, Sharman JP. Antibody-drug conjugates for previously treated aggressive lymphomas: focus on polatuzumab vedotin. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2020; 13:1073-1083. [PMID: 32985934 DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2020.1826303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are immunoconjugates and comprise a monoclonal antibody that is chemically attached to a cytotoxic drug (or payload) via a stable chemical linker. Since the approval of the first ADC in 2000, there are now nine different approved agents and over 100 ADCs in the drug-development pipeline. AREAS COVERED This review briefly describes the ADCs approved for treatment of lymphoma and their distinguishing factors in terms of target, linker and payload. The clinical implications of the use of ADCs are also considered. Here, we focus on polatuzumab vedotin, an ADC targeted to CD79b, which is approved for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (R/R DLBCL) who have received at least one (EU approval) or two (US approval) prior therapies and are not eligible for bone marrow transplantation. The characteristics of polatuzumab vedotin are discussed and clinical data are presented. The future of polatuzumab vedotin clinical development, and ADCs in general, are also considered. EXPERT OPINION ADCs represent a significant advance in the treatment of lymphoma. Polatuzumab vedotin has shown clinical efficacy and a tolerable safety profile in both first-line and R/R DLBCL; future studies are planned to further investigate this ADC.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Burke
- The US Oncology Network, Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers , Aurora, CO, USA
| | - F Morschhauser
- Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire De Lille, Université Lille , Lille, France
| | - D Andorsky
- The US Oncology Network, Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers , Boulder, CO, USA
| | - C Lee
- Genentech , South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - J P Sharman
- The US Oncology Network, Willamette Valley Cancer Institute , Springfield, OR, USA
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Geller JI, Pressey JG, Smith MA, Kudgus RA, Cajaiba M, Reid JM, Hall D, Barkauskas DA, Voss SD, Cho SY, Berg SL, Dome JS, Fox E, Weigel BJ. ADVL1522: A phase 2 study of lorvotuzumab mertansine (IMGN901) in children with relapsed or refractory wilms tumor, rhabdomyosarcoma, neuroblastoma, pleuropulmonary blastoma, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, or synovial sarcoma-A Children's Oncology Group study. Cancer 2020; 126:5303-5310. [PMID: 32914879 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.33195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lorvotuzumab mertansine (IMGN901) is an antibody-drug conjugate linking an antimitotic agent (DM1) to an anti-CD56 antibody (lorvotuzumab). Preclinical efficacy has been noted in Wilms tumor, rhabdomyosarcoma, and neuroblastoma. Synovial sarcoma, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST), and pleuropulmonary blastoma also express CD56. A phase 2 trial of lorvotuzumab mertansine was conducted to assess its efficacy, recommended phase 2 dose, and toxicities. METHODS Eligible patients had relapsed after or progressed on standard therapy for their tumor type. Lorvotuzumab mertansine (110 mg/m2 per dose) was administered at the adult recommended phase 2 dose intravenously on days 1 and 8 of 21-day cycles. Dexamethasone premedication was used. Pharmacokinetic samples, peripheral blood CD56-positive cell counts, and tumor CD56 expression were assessed. RESULTS Sixty-two patients enrolled. The median age was 14.3 years (range, 2.8-29.9 years); 35 were male. Diagnoses included Wilms tumor (n = 17), rhabdomyosarcoma (n = 17), neuroblastoma (n = 12), synovial sarcoma (n = 10), MPNST (n = 5), and pleuropulmonary blastoma (n = 1). Five patients experienced 9 dose-limiting toxicities: hyperglycemia (n = 1), colonic fistula (n = 1) with perforation (n = 1), nausea (n = 1) with vomiting (n = 1), increased alanine aminotransferase in cycle 1 (n = 2), and increased alanine aminotransferase in cycle 2 (n = 1) with increased aspartate aminotransferase (n = 1). Non-dose-limiting toxicities (grade 3 or higher) attributed to lorvotuzumab mertansine were rare. The median values of the maximum concentration, half-life, and area under the curve from zero to infinity for DM1 were 0.87 µg/mL, 35 hours, and 27.9 µg/mL h, respectively. Peripheral blood CD56+ leukocytes decreased by 71.9% on day 8. One patient with rhabdomyosarcoma had a partial response, and 1 patient with synovial sarcoma achieved a delayed complete response. CONCLUSIONS Lorvotuzumab mertansine (110 mg/m2 ) is tolerated in children at the adult recommended phase 2 dose; clinical activity is limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- James I Geller
- Division of Oncology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Joseph G Pressey
- Division of Oncology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Malcolm A Smith
- Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Rachel A Kudgus
- Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, Rochester, Minnesota
| | | | - Joel M Reid
- Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - David Hall
- Children's Oncology Group, Monrovia, California
| | - Donald A Barkauskas
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | | | - Steve Y Cho
- University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Stacey L Berg
- Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | | | - Elizabeth Fox
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Brenda J Weigel
- University of Minnesota Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Crisci S, Di Francia R, Mele S, Vitale P, Ronga G, De Filippi R, Berretta M, Rossi P, Pinto A. Overview of Targeted Drugs for Mature B-Cell Non-hodgkin Lymphomas. Front Oncol 2019; 9:443. [PMID: 31214498 PMCID: PMC6558009 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The improved knowledge of pathogenetic mechanisms underlying lymphomagenesis and the discovery of the critical role of tumor microenvironments have enabled the design of new drugs against cell targets and pathways. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and small molecule inhibitors (SMIs) for targeted therapy in hematology. This review focuses on the efficacy results of the currently available targeted agents and recaps the main ongoing trials in the setting of mature B-Cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas. The objective is to summarize the different classes of novel agents approved for mature B-cell lymphomas, to describe in synoptic tables the results they achieved and, finally, to draw future scenarios as we glimpse through the ongoing clinical trials. Characteristics and therapeutic efficacy are summarized for the currently approved mAbs [i.e., anti-Cluster of differentiation (CD) mAbs, immune checkpoint inhibitors, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, and bispecific antibodies] as well as for SMIs i.e., inhibitors of B-cell receptor signaling, proteasome, mTOR BCL-2 HDAC pathways. The biological disease profiling of B-cell lymphoma subtypes may foster the discovery of innovative drug strategies for improving survival outcome in lymphoid neoplasms, as well as the trade-offs between efficacy and toxicity. The hope for clinical advantages should carefully be coupled with mindful awareness of the potential pitfalls and the occurrence of uneven, sometimes severe, toxicities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Crisci
- Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Fondazione “G. Pascale” IRCCS, Naples, Italy
| | - Raffaele Di Francia
- Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Fondazione “G. Pascale” IRCCS, Naples, Italy
| | - Sara Mele
- Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Fondazione “G. Pascale” IRCCS, Naples, Italy
| | - Pasquale Vitale
- Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Fondazione “G. Pascale” IRCCS, Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Ronga
- Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Fondazione “G. Pascale” IRCCS, Naples, Italy
| | - Rosaria De Filippi
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Paola Rossi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani,” University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Antonio Pinto
- Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Fondazione “G. Pascale” IRCCS, Naples, Italy
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Acquired Resistance to Antibody-Drug Conjugates. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11030394. [PMID: 30897808 PMCID: PMC6468698 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11030394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) combine the tumor selectivity of antibodies with the potency of cytotoxic small molecules thereby constituting antibody-mediated chemotherapy. As this inherently limits the adverse effects of the chemotherapeutic, such approaches are heavily pursued by pharma and biotech companies and have resulted in four FDA (Food and Drug Administration)-approved ADCs. However, as with other cancer therapies, durable responses are limited by the fact that under cell stress exerted by these drugs, tumors can acquire mechanisms of escape. Resistance can develop against the antibody component of ADCs by down-regulation/mutation of the targeted cell surface antigen or against payload toxicity by up-regulation of drug efflux transporters. Unique resistance mechanisms specific for the mode of action of ADCs have also emerged, like altered internalization or cell surface recycling of the targeted tumor antigen, changes in the intracellular routing or processing of ADCs, and impaired release of the toxic payload into the cytosol. These evasive changes are tailored to the specific nature and interplay of the three ADC constituents: the antibody, the linker, and the payload. Hence, they do not necessarily endow broad resistance to ADC therapy. This review summarizes preclinical and clinical findings that shed light on the mechanisms of acquired resistance to ADC therapies.
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