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Lu Y, Huang Y, Jin J, Yu J, Lu W, Zhu S. Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of cathepsin B cleavage albumin-binding SN38 prodrug in breast cancer. Bioorg Chem 2024; 147:107370. [PMID: 38621338 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107370] [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: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Here, we introduce a novel and effective approach utilizing a cathepsin B cleavage albumin-binding SN38 prodrug specifically designed for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Termed Mal-va-mac-SN38, our prodrug exhibits a unique ability to rapidly and covalently bind with endogenous albumin, resulting in the formation of HSA-va-mac-SN38. This prodrug demonstrates exceptional stability in human plasma. Importantly, HSA-va-mac-SN38 showcases an impressive enhancement in cellular uptake by 4T1 breast cancer cells, primarily facilitated through caveolin-mediated endocytosis. Intriguingly, the release of the active SN38, is triggered by the enzymatic activity of cathepsin B within the lysosomal environment. In vivo studies employing a lung metastasis 4T1 breast cancer model underscore the potency of HSA-va-mac-SN38. Histological immunohistochemical analyses further illuminate the multifaceted impact of our prodrug, showcasing elevated levels of apoptosis, downregulated expression of matrix metalloproteinases, and inhibition of angiogenesis, all critical factors contributing to the anti-metastatic effect observed. Biodistribution studies elucidate the capacity of Mal-va-mac-SN38 to augment tumor accumulation through covalent binding to serum albumin, presenting a potential avenue for targeted therapeutic interventions. Collectively, our findings propose a promising therapeutic avenue for metastatic breast cancer, through the utilization of a cathepsin B-cleavable albumin-binding prodrug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingxin Lu
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, 3663 North Zhongshan Road, Shanghai 200062, PR China
| | - Ying Huang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, 3663 North Zhongshan Road, Shanghai 200062, PR China
| | - Jiyu Jin
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, 3663 North Zhongshan Road, Shanghai 200062, PR China
| | - Jiahui Yu
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, 3663 North Zhongshan Road, Shanghai 200062, PR China
| | - Wei Lu
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, 3663 North Zhongshan Road, Shanghai 200062, PR China.
| | - Shulei Zhu
- Innovation Center for AI and Drug Discovery, East China Normal University, 3663 North Zhongshan Road, Shanghai 200062, PR China.
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2
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Cheng Z, Huang Y, Shao P, Wang L, Zhu S, Yu J, Lu W. Hypoxia-Activated Albumin-Binding Exatecan Prodrug for Cancer Therapy. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:1082-1089. [PMID: 35036771 PMCID: PMC8757358 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c05671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
As an effective drug delivery strategy for traditional antitumor drugs, the stimulus-responsive albumin-based prodrugs are getting more and more attention. These prodrugs only release drugs in specific tumor microenvironments, which can prevent premature release of the drug in the circulation. Tumor hypoxia is a fundamental feature of the solid tumor microenvironment. As a hypoxia-activated linker, the 5-position branched linker of 1-methyl-2-nitro-5-hydroxymethylimidazole can be a trigger for albumin-based prodrugs. In this study, we report the synthesis and biological evaluation of the hypoxia-activated albumin-binding prodrug Mal-azo-Exatecan. After intravenous administration, the maleimide on the side chain can rapidly bind to endogenous albumin, enabling the prodrugs to accumulate in tumors, where tumor-associated hypoxia microenvironments trigger the selective release of Exatecan. The 5-position branched linker of 1-methyl-2-nitro-5-hydroxymethylimidazole as a cleavable linker has high plasma stability and does not cause Exatecan release from HSA-azo-Exatecan during circulation in vivo, avoiding systemic side effects caused by Exatecan.
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3
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Lin WW, Lu YC, Chuang CH, Cheng TL. Ab locks for improving the selectivity and safety of antibody drugs. J Biomed Sci 2020; 27:76. [PMID: 32586313 PMCID: PMC7318374 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-020-00652-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are a major targeted therapy for malignancies, infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, transplant rejection and chronic inflammatory diseases due to their antigen specificity and longer half-life than conventional drugs. However, long-term systemic antigen neutralization by mAbs may cause severe adverse events. Improving the selectivity of mAbs to distinguish target antigens at the disease site from normal healthy tissue and reducing severe adverse events caused by the mechanisms-of-action of mAbs is still a pressing need. Development of pro-antibodies (pro-Abs) by installing a protease-cleavable Ab lock is a novel and advanced recombinant Ab-based strategy that efficiently masks the antigen binding ability of mAbs in the normal state and selectively "turns on" the mAb activity when the pro-Ab reaches the proteolytic protease-overexpressed diseased tissue. In this review, we discuss the design and advantages/disadvantages of different Ab lock strategies, focusing particularly on spatial-hindrance-based and affinity peptide-based approaches. We expect that the development of different masking strategies for mAbs will benefit the local reactivity of mAbs at the disease site, increase the therapeutic efficacy and safety of long-term treatment with mAbs in chronic diseases and even permit scientists to develop Ab drugs for formerly undruggable targets and satisfy the unmet medical needs of mAb therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Wei Lin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Drug Development and Value Creation Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Chi Lu
- Drug Development and Value Creation Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Biomedical and Environmental Biology, Kaohsiung Medical University, 100 Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Hung Chuang
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Drug Development and Value Creation Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Tian-Lu Cheng
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
- Drug Development and Value Creation Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
- Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
- Department of Biomedical and Environmental Biology, Kaohsiung Medical University, 100 Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan.
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4
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Poreba M. Protease-activated prodrugs: strategies, challenges, and future directions. FEBS J 2020; 287:1936-1969. [PMID: 31991521 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Proteases play critical roles in virtually all biological processes, including proliferation, cell death and survival, protein turnover, and migration. However, when dysregulated, these enzymes contribute to the progression of multiple diseases, with cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, inflammation, and blood disorders being the most prominent examples. For a long time, disease-associated proteases have been used for the activation of various prodrugs due to their well-characterized catalytic activity and ability to selectively cleave only those substrates that strictly correspond with their active site architecture. To date, versatile peptide sequences that are cleaved by proteases in a site-specific manner have been utilized as bioactive linkers for the targeted delivery of multiple types of cargo, including fluorescent dyes, photosensitizers, cytotoxic drugs, antibiotics, and pro-antibodies. This platform is highly adaptive, as multiple protease-labile conjugates have already been developed, some of which are currently in clinical use for cancer treatment. In this review, recent advancements in the development of novel protease-cleavable linkers for selective drug delivery are described. Moreover, the current limitations regarding the selectivity of linkers are discussed, and the future perspectives that rely on the application of unnatural amino acids for the development of highly selective peptide linkers are also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Poreba
- Department of Chemical Biology and Bioimaging, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Poland
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Enhanced anti-tumor activity of the Multi-Leu peptide PACE4 inhibitor transformed into an albumin-bound tumor-targeting prodrug. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2118. [PMID: 30765725 PMCID: PMC6376031 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37568-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The proprotein convertase PACE4 has been validated as a potential target to develop new therapeutic interventions in prostate cancer (PCa). So far, the most effective compound blocking the activity of this enzyme has been designed based on the structure of a small peptide Ac-LLLLRVKR-NH2 known as the Multi-Leu (ML) peptide. Optimization of this scaffold led to the synthesis of compound C23 (Ac-[DLeu]LLLRVK-amidinobenzylamide) with a potent in vivo inhibitory effect on the tumor growth. However, further developments of PACE4 inhibitors may require additional improvements to counter their rapid renal clearance and to increase their tumor targeting efficiency. Herein, we explored the transformation of the ML-peptide into an albumin-binding prodrug containing a tumor specific release mechanism based on the prostate-specific antigen. Our data confirms that intravenous treatment using the ML-peptide alone has little effect on tumor growth, whereas by using the ML-prodrug in LNCaP xenograft-bearing mice it was significantly reduced. Additionally, excellent in vivo stability and tumor-targeting efficiency was demonstrated using a radiolabelled version of this compound. Taken together, these results provide a solid foundation for further development of targeted PACE4 inhibition in PCa.
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Chen W, Zhou S, Ge L, Wu W, Jiang X. Translatable High Drug Loading Drug Delivery Systems Based on Biocompatible Polymer Nanocarriers. Biomacromolecules 2018; 19:1732-1745. [PMID: 29690764 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.8b00218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Most nanocarriers possess low drug loading, resulting in frequently repeated administration and thereby high cost and increased side effects. Furthermore, the characteristics of nanocarrier materials, especially the drug loading capacity, plays a vital role in the drug delivery efficacy. In this review, we focus on the readily translatable polymeric drug delivery systems with high drug loading, which are comprised of biocompatible polymers such as poly(ethylene glycol), poly( N-vinylpyrrolidone), polyoxazoline, natural proteins like albumin and casein, non-natural proteins such as recombinant elastin-like polypeptides, as well as nucleic acids. At the end of this review, applications of these polymeric nanocarriers on the delivery of proteins and gene drugs are also briefly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weizhi Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory of High Performance Polymer Materials and Technology, Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, College of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Nanotechnology , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210093 , P. R. China
| | - Sensen Zhou
- MOE Key Laboratory of High Performance Polymer Materials and Technology, Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, College of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Nanotechnology , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210093 , P. R. China
| | - Lei Ge
- MOE Key Laboratory of High Performance Polymer Materials and Technology, Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, College of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Nanotechnology , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210093 , P. R. China
| | - Wei Wu
- MOE Key Laboratory of High Performance Polymer Materials and Technology, Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, College of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Nanotechnology , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210093 , P. R. China
| | - Xiqun Jiang
- MOE Key Laboratory of High Performance Polymer Materials and Technology, Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, College of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Nanotechnology , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210093 , P. R. China
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7
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Walther R, Rautio J, Zelikin AN. Prodrugs in medicinal chemistry and enzyme prodrug therapies. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2017; 118:65-77. [PMID: 28676386 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2017.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 182] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2017] [Revised: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 06/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Prodrugs are cunning derivatives of therapeutic agents designed to improve the pharmacokinetics profile of the drug. Within a prodrug, pharmacological activity of the drug is masked and is recovered within the human body upon bioconversion of the prodrug, a process that is typically mediated by enzymes. This concept is highly successful and a significant fraction of marketed therapeutic formulations is based on prodrugs. An advanced subset of prodrugs can be engineered such as to achieve site-specific bioconversion of the prodrug - to comprise the highly advantageous "enzyme prodrug therapy", EPT. Design of prodrugs for EPT is similar to the prodrugs in general medicinal use in that the pharmacological activity of the drug is masked, but differs significantly in that site-specific bioconversion is a prime consideration, and the enzymes typically used for EPT are non-mammalian and/or with low systemic abundance in the human body. This review focuses on the design of prodrugs for EPT in terms of the choice of an enzyme and the corresponding prodrug for bioconversion. We also discuss the recent success of "self immolative linkers" which significantly empower and diversify the prodrug design, and present methodologies for the design of prodrugs with extended blood residence time. The review aims to be of specific interest for medicinal chemists, biomedical engineers, and pharmaceutical scientists.
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8
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Chung SW, Choi JU, Lee BS, Byun J, Jeon OC, Kim SW, Kim IS, Kim SY, Byun Y. Albumin-binding caspase-cleavable prodrug that is selectively activated in radiation exposed local tumor. Biomaterials 2016; 94:1-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2016.03.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2016] [Revised: 03/11/2016] [Accepted: 03/28/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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9
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Braun GB, Sugahara KN, Yu OM, Kotamraju VR, Mölder T, Lowy AM, Ruoslahti E, Teesalu T. Urokinase-controlled tumor penetrating peptide. J Control Release 2016; 232:188-95. [PMID: 27106816 PMCID: PMC5359125 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2016.04.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2015] [Revised: 03/30/2016] [Accepted: 04/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Tumor penetrating peptides contain a cryptic (R/K)XX(R/K) CendR element that must be C-terminally exposed to trigger neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) binding, cellular internalization and malignant tissue penetration. The specific proteases that are involved in processing of tumor penetrating peptides identified using phage display are not known. Here we design de novo a tumor-penetrating peptide based on consensus cleavage motif of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA). We expressed the peptide, uCendR (RPARSGR↓SAGGSVA, ↓ shows cleavage site), on phage or coated it onto silver nanoparticles and showed that it is cleaved by uPA, and that the cleavage triggers binding to recombinant NRP-1 and to NPR-1-expressing cells. Upon systemic administration to mice bearing uPA-overexpressing breast tumors, FAM-labeled uCendR peptide and uCendR-coated nanoparticles preferentially accumulated in tumor tissue. We also show that uCendR phage internalization into cultured cancer cells and its penetration in explants of murine tumors and clinical tumor explants can be potentiated by combining the uCendR peptide with tumor-homing module, CRGDC. Our work demonstrates the feasibility of designing tumor-penetrating peptides that are activated by a specific tumor protease. As upregulation of protease expression is one of the hallmarks of cancer, and numerous tumor proteases have substrate specificities compatible with proteolytic unmasking of cryptic CendR motifs, the strategy described here may provide a generic approach for designing proteolytically-actuated peptides for tumor-penetrative payload delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary B Braun
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, Cancer Research Center, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Kazuki N Sugahara
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, Cancer Research Center, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - Olivia M Yu
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, Cancer Research Center, La Jolla, CA, USA; Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, USA
| | | | - Tarmo Mölder
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Andrew M Lowy
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Erkki Ruoslahti
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, Cancer Research Center, La Jolla, CA, USA; Center for Nanomedicine, Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Tambet Teesalu
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, Cancer Research Center, La Jolla, CA, USA; Center for Nanomedicine, Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA; Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
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10
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Liu Z, Chen X. Simple bioconjugate chemistry serves great clinical advances: albumin as a versatile platform for diagnosis and precision therapy. Chem Soc Rev 2016; 45:1432-56. [PMID: 26771036 PMCID: PMC5227548 DOI: 10.1039/c5cs00158g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 286] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Albumin is the most abundant circulating protein in plasma and has recently emerged as a versatile protein carrier for drug targeting and for improving the pharmacokinetic profile of peptide or protein based drugs. Three drug delivery technologies related to albumin have been developed, which include the coupling of low-molecular weight drugs to exogenous or endogenous albumin, conjugating bioactive proteins by albumin fusion technology (AFT), and encapsulation of drugs into albumin nanoparticles. This review article starts with a brief introduction of human serum albumin (HSA), and then summarizes the mainstream chemical strategies of developing HSA binding molecules for coupling with drug molecules. Moreover, we also concisely condense the recent progress of the most important clinical applications of HSA-binding platforms, and specify the current challenges that need to be met for a bright future of HSA-binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhibo Liu
- Laboratory of Molecular Imaging and Nanomedicine, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Xiaoyuan Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Imaging and Nanomedicine, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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Protein– and Peptide–Drug Conjugates. ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2015; 98:1-55. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2014.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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12
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Cheng W, Gu L, Ren W, Liu Y. Stimuli-responsive polymers for anti-cancer drug delivery. MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. C, MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 2014; 45:600-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2014.05.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2014] [Accepted: 05/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Yewale C, Baradia D, Vhora I, Misra A. Proteins: emerging carrier for delivery of cancer therapeutics. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2013; 10:1429-48. [DOI: 10.1517/17425247.2013.805200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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14
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Zuluaga MF, Sekkat N, Gabriel D, van den Bergh H, Lange N. Selective Photodetection and Photodynamic Therapy for Prostate Cancer through Targeting of Proteolytic Activity. Mol Cancer Ther 2012; 12:306-13. [DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-12-0780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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15
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Metz S, Panke C, Haas AK, Schanzer J, Lau W, Croasdale R, Hoffmann E, Schneider B, Auer J, Gassner C, Bossenmaier B, Umana P, Sustmann C, Brinkmann U. Bispecific antibody derivatives with restricted binding functionalities that are activated by proteolytic processing. Protein Eng Des Sel 2012; 25:571-80. [PMID: 22976197 PMCID: PMC3449404 DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzs064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We have designed bispecific antibodies that bind one target (anti-Her3) in a bivalent IgG-like manner and contain one additional binding entity (anti-cMet) composed of one V(H) and one V(L) domain connected by a disulfide bond. The molecules are assembled by fusing a V(H,Cys44) domain via flexible connector peptides to the C-terminus of one H-chain (heavy chain), and a V(L,Cys100) to another H-chain. To ensure heterodimerization during expression in mammalian cells, we introduced complementary knobs-into-holes mutations into the different H-chains. The IgG-shaped trivalent molecules carry as third binding entity one disulfide-stabilized Fv (dsFv) without a linker between V(H) and V(L). Tethering the V(H) and V(L) domains at the C-terminus of the C(H)3 domain decreases the on-rates of the dsFv to target antigens without affecting off-rates. Steric hindrance resolves upon removal of one side of the double connection by proteolysis: this improves flexibility and accessibility of the dsFv and fully restores antigen access and affinity. This technology has multiple applications: (i) in cases where single-chain linkers are not desired, dsFvs without linkers can be generated by addition of furin site(s) in the connector that are processed during expression within mammalian cells; (ii) highly active (toxic) entities which affect expression can be produced as inactive dsFvs and subsequently be activated (e.g. via PreScission cleavage) during purification; (iii) entities can be generated which are targeted by the unrestricted binding entity and can be activated by proteases in target tissues. For example, Her3-binding molecules containing linkers with recognition sequences for matrix metalloproteases or urokinase, whose inactivated cMet binding site is activated by proteolytic processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silke Metz
- Roche Pharma Research & Early Development, Large Molecule Research, Nonnenwald 2, D-82372 Penzberg, Germany
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Hochdörffer K, Abu Ajaj K, Schäfer-Obodozie C, Kratz F. Development of novel bisphosphonate prodrugs of doxorubicin for targeting bone metastases that are cleaved pH dependently or by cathepsin B: synthesis, cleavage properties, and binding properties to hydroxyapatite as well as bone matrix. J Med Chem 2012; 55:7502-15. [PMID: 22882004 DOI: 10.1021/jm300493m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Bone metastases are a frequent cause of morbidity in cancer patients. The present palliative therapeutic options are chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and the administration of bisphosphonates. The affinity between bisphosphonates and the apatite structure of bone metastases is strong. Thus, we designed two low-molecular-weight and water-soluble prodrugs which incorporate a bisphosphonate group as a bone targeting ligand, doxorubicin as the anticancer agent, and either an acid-sensitive bond (1) or a cathepsin B cleavable bond (3) for ensuring an effective release of doxorubicin at the site of action. Cleavage studies of both prodrugs showed a fast release of doxorubicin but sufficient stability over several hours in human plasma. Effective binding of prodrug 1 and 3 was demonstrated with hydroxyapatite and with native bone. In orientating toxicity studies in nude mice, the MTD of 1 was 3-fold higher compared to conventional doxorubicin, whereas 3 showed essentially the same MTD as doxorubicin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Hochdörffer
- Division of Macromolecular Prodrugs, Tumor Biology Center, Breisacher Strasse 117, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
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Choi KY, Swierczewska M, Lee S, Chen X. Protease-activated drug development. Am J Cancer Res 2012; 2:156-78. [PMID: 22400063 PMCID: PMC3296471 DOI: 10.7150/thno.4068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 190] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2012] [Accepted: 01/28/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In this extensive review, we elucidate the importance of proteases and their role in drug development in various diseases with an emphasis on cancer. First, key proteases are introduced along with their function in disease progression. Next, we link these proteases as targets for the development of prodrugs and provide clinical examples of protease-activatable prodrugs. Finally, we provide significant design considerations needed for the development of the next generation protease-targeted and protease-activatable prodrugs.
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18
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Murphy DJ, Walker B, Greer B, Harriott P, Martin SL. A modified Tat peptide for selective intracellular delivery of macromolecules. J Pharm Pharmacol 2011; 63:611-8. [PMID: 21492162 DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-7158.2011.01265.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The Tat peptide has been widely used for the intracellular delivery of macromolecules. The aim of this study was to modify the peptide to enable regulation of cellular uptake through a dependency on activation by proteases present in the local environment. METHODS The native Tat peptide sequence was altered to inhibit the initial interaction of the peptide with the cell membrane through the addition of the consensus sequence for urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA). uPA expression was characterised and semi-quantitatively rated in three cell lines (U251mg, MDA-MB-231 and HeLa). The modified peptide was incubated with both recombinant enzyme and with cells varying in uPA activity. Cellular uptake of the modified Tat peptide line was compared with that of the native peptide and rated according to uPA activity measured in each cell line. KEY FINDINGS uPA activity was observed to be high in U251mg and MDA-MB-231 and low in HeLa. In MDA-MB-231 and HeLa, uptake of the modified peptide correlated with the level of uPA expression detected (93 and 52%, respectively). In U251mg, however, the uptake of the modified peptide was much less (19% observed reduction) than the native peptide despite a high level of uPA activity detected. CONCLUSIONS Proteolytic activation represents an interesting strategy for the targeted delivery of macromolecules using peptide-based carriers and holds significant potential for further exploitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diarmaid J Murphy
- School of Pharmacy, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
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Elsadek B, Graeser R, Esser N, Schäfer-Obodozie C, Ajaj KA, Unger C, Warnecke A, Saleem T, El-Melegy N, Madkor H, Kratz F. Development of a novel prodrug of paclitaxel that is cleaved by prostate-specific antigen: An in vitro and in vivo evaluation study. Eur J Cancer 2010; 46:3434-44. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2010.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2010] [Accepted: 08/24/2010] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Elsadek B, Graeser R, Warnecke A, Unger C, Saleem T, El-Melegy N, Madkor H, Kratz F. Optimization of an albumin-binding prodrug of Doxorubicin that is cleaved by prostate-specific antigen. ACS Med Chem Lett 2010; 1:234-8. [PMID: 24900200 DOI: 10.1021/ml100060m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2010] [Accepted: 05/03/2010] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
We have developed a novel albumin-binding prodrug of doxorubicin that incorporates p-aminobenzyloxycarbonyl (PABC) as a 1,6 self-immolative spacer in addition to the heptapeptide, Arg-Ser-Ser-Tyr-Tyr-Ser-Leu, as a substrate for the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) that is overexpressed in prostate carcinoma and represents a molecular target for selectively releasing an anticancer agent from a prodrug formulation. The prodrug exhibited good water solubility and was bound rapidly to the cysteine-34 position of human serum albumin. Incubation studies with PSA demonstrated that the albumin-bound form of the prodrug was cleaved rapidly at the P1-P1' scissile bond, releasing H-Ser-Leu-PABC-DOXO, which was further degraded to release doxorubicin as a final cleavage product within a few hours in prostate tumor tissue homogenates as well as in PSA-positive LNCaP LN cell lysates. Moreover, our prodrug exhibited antiproliferative activity in a low micromolar range against a PSA-expressing prostate cancer cell line (LNCaP).
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Affiliation(s)
- Bakheet Elsadek
- Tumor Biology Center, Division of Macromolecular Prodrugs, Breisacher Strasse 117, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, P.O. Box No. 71524, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Ralph Graeser
- ProQinase GmbH, Breisacher Strasse 117, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - André Warnecke
- Tumor Biology Center, Division of Macromolecular Prodrugs, Breisacher Strasse 117, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Clemens Unger
- Tumor Biology Center, Division of Macromolecular Prodrugs, Breisacher Strasse 117, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Tahia Saleem
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, P.O. Box No. 71526, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Nagla El-Melegy
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, P.O. Box No. 71526, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Hafez Madkor
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, P.O. Box No. 71524, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Felix Kratz
- Tumor Biology Center, Division of Macromolecular Prodrugs, Breisacher Strasse 117, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
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Abu Ajaj K, Graeser R, Fichtner I, Kratz F. In vitro and in vivo study of an albumin-binding prodrug of doxorubicin that is cleaved by cathepsin B. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2009; 64:413-8. [DOI: 10.1007/s00280-009-0942-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2008] [Accepted: 01/16/2009] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Development of dual-acting prodrugs for circumventing multidrug resistance. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2009; 19:995-1000. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2008.11.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2008] [Revised: 11/17/2008] [Accepted: 11/18/2008] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Ajaj KA, Biniossek ML, Kratz F. Development of Protein-Binding Bifunctional Linkers for a New Generation of Dual-Acting Prodrugs. Bioconjug Chem 2009; 20:390-6. [DOI: 10.1021/bc800429q] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Khalid Abu Ajaj
- Tumor Biology Center, Breisacher Strasse 117, 79106 Freiburg, and Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research, Zentrum für Biochemie and Molekulare Zellforschung, Stefan-Meier-Strasse 17, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Martin L. Biniossek
- Tumor Biology Center, Breisacher Strasse 117, 79106 Freiburg, and Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research, Zentrum für Biochemie and Molekulare Zellforschung, Stefan-Meier-Strasse 17, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Felix Kratz
- Tumor Biology Center, Breisacher Strasse 117, 79106 Freiburg, and Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research, Zentrum für Biochemie and Molekulare Zellforschung, Stefan-Meier-Strasse 17, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
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Gabriel D, Zuluaga MF, Martinez MN, Campo M, Lange N. Urokinase-plasminogen-activator sensitive polymeric photosensitizer prodrugs: design, synthesis and in vitro evaluation. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/s1773-2247(09)50002-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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Dierickx KME, Morandini R, Nguyen TH, Salès F, Kauffmann JM, Ghanem GE. A novel transport and delivery mechanism underpins the effectiveness of prolyl-m-sarcolysyl-p-fluorophenylalanine (PSF) in a human melanoma xenograft nude-mouse model. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2008; 21:439-50. [PMID: 18627526 DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-148x.2008.00471.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The alkylating peptide PSF shows very promising results in vitro on different cancer cells but its efficacy in animals has not been assessed. Here we evaluate the efficacy of PSF in human melanoma-bearing nude mice and examine the underlying mechanism. In melanoma-bearing nude mice, escalating doses of PSF showed dose-dependent responses and reached tumor regression with an optimal dose of 20 mg/kg for 1 month. A comparison of PSF with its free moiety m-sarcolysin and melphalan showed a highly significant advantage of PSF. Furthermore, dose fractionation yielded an even better control of tumor regrowth. In vitro studies unraveled an original delivery mechanism based on the rapid binding of PSF mainly due to red blood cells to form a pro-drug complex and the subsequent release of active metabolites by tumor-associated proteolytic enzymes. Blood kinetics showed one major metabolite partially released over time, while in the presence of melanoma cells three additional metabolites are generated. Interestingly, tumor-shed proteases also induce the production of these metabolites and varying combinations of enzyme inhibitors indicate the involvement of metallo- and other families of proteases in the delivery process. This particular transport and delivery of such an alkylating agent may have several benefits, mainly lowering the drug-free moiety in plasma and at the same time increasing its concentration in protease rich areas such as tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen M E Dierickx
- Laboratory of Oncology and Experimental Surgery, Institut J Bordet, Université libre de Bruxelles, Belgium.
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Kratz F. Albumin as a drug carrier: design of prodrugs, drug conjugates and nanoparticles. J Control Release 2008; 132:171-83. [PMID: 18582981 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2008.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1547] [Impact Index Per Article: 96.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2008] [Revised: 05/05/2008] [Accepted: 05/07/2008] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Albumin is playing an increasing role as a drug carrier in the clinical setting. Principally, three drug delivery technologies can be distinguished: coupling of low-molecular weight drugs to exogenous or endogenous albumin, conjugation with bioactive proteins and encapsulation of drugs into albumin nanoparticles. The accumulation of albumin in solid tumors forms the rationale for developing albumin-based drug delivery systems for tumor targeting. Clinically, a methotrexate-albumin conjugate, an albumin-binding prodrug of doxorubicin, i.e. the (6-maleimido)caproylhydrazone derivative of doxorubicin (DOXO-EMCH), and an albumin paclitaxel nanoparticle (Abraxane) have been evaluated clinically. Abraxane has been approved for treating metastatic breast cancer. An alternative strategy is to bind a therapeutic peptide or protein covalently or physically to albumin to enhance its stability and half-life. This approach has been applied to peptides with antinociceptive, antidiabetes, antitumor or antiviral activity: Levemir, a myristic acid derivative of insulin that binds to the fatty acid binding sites of circulating albumin, has been approved for the treatment of diabetes. Furthermore, Albuferon, a fusion protein of albumin and interferon, is currently being assessed in phase III clinical trials for the treatment of hepatitis C and could become an alternative to pegylated interferon. This review gives an account of the different drug delivery systems which make use of albumin as a drug carrier with a focus on those systems that have reached an advanced stage of preclinical evaluation or that have entered clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Kratz
- Head of Macromolecular Prodrugs, Tumor Biology Center, Breisacher Strasse 117, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany.
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Alley SC, Benjamin DR, Jeffrey SC, Okeley NM, Meyer DL, Sanderson RJ, Senter PD. Contribution of Linker Stability to the Activities of Anticancer Immunoconjugates. Bioconjug Chem 2008; 19:759-65. [DOI: 10.1021/bc7004329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 351] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen C. Alley
- Seattle Genetics, Inc., 21823 30th Drive SE, Bothell, Washington 98021
| | | | - Scott C. Jeffrey
- Seattle Genetics, Inc., 21823 30th Drive SE, Bothell, Washington 98021
| | - Nicole M. Okeley
- Seattle Genetics, Inc., 21823 30th Drive SE, Bothell, Washington 98021
| | - Damon L. Meyer
- Seattle Genetics, Inc., 21823 30th Drive SE, Bothell, Washington 98021
| | | | - Peter D. Senter
- Seattle Genetics, Inc., 21823 30th Drive SE, Bothell, Washington 98021
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Kratz F, Müller I, Ryppa C, Warnecke A. Prodrug Strategies in Anticancer Chemotherapy. ChemMedChem 2008; 3:20-53. [DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.200700159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 374] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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Schmid B, Warnecke A, Fichtner I, Jung M, Kratz F. Development of Albumin-Binding Camptothecin Prodrugs Using a Peptide Positional Scanning Library. Bioconjug Chem 2007; 18:1786-99. [DOI: 10.1021/bc0700842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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30
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Graeser R, Chung DE, Esser N, Moor S, Schächtele C, Unger C, Kratz F. Synthesis and biological evaluation of an albumin-binding prodrug of doxorubicin that is cleaved by prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in a PSA-positive orthotopic prostate carcinoma model (LNCaP). Int J Cancer 2007; 122:1145-54. [DOI: 10.1002/ijc.23050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Warnecke A, Fichtner I, Sass G, Kratz F. Synthesis, Cleavage Profile, and Antitumor Efficacy of an Albumin-Binding Prodrug of Methotrexate that is Cleaved by Plasmin and Cathepsin B. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2007; 340:389-95. [PMID: 17628030 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.200700025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Cathepsin B and plasmin are intra- or extracellular proteases that are overexpressed by several solid tumors. In order to exploit both proteases as molecular targets for tumor-specific cleavage of prodrugs, an albumin-binding formulation of methotrexate was developed that incorporated the peptide sequence D-Ala-Phe-Lys as the protease substrate. Albumin is a suitable carrier for cytostatic agents due to passive accumulation in solid tumors. Synthesis was performed by coupling the peptide linker EMC-D-Ala-Phe-Lys(Boc)-Lys-OH (EMC = epsilon-maleimidocaproic acid) to the gamma-COOH group of alpha-tert-butyl protected methotrexate. After cleavage of the protective groups and purification on reverse phase HPLC, a highly water-soluble methotrexate-peptide derivative was obtained that binds rapidly and selectively to human serum albumin. The albumin-bound form of the prodrug was shown to be efficiently cleaved by cathepsin B and plasmin as well as in an ovarian carcinoma homogenate (OVCAR-3) liberating a methotrexate-lysine derivative. In an OVCAR-3 xenograft model, the prodrug at a dose of 4x15 mg/kg methotrexate equivalents demonstrated distinctly superior antitumor efficacy compared to free methotrexate at a dose of 4x100 mg/kg [T/C(%) for MTX = 69; T/C(%) for MTX prodrug = 29]. The data provide a further proof of concept for the development of albumin-binding, enzymatically cleavable prodrugs of anticancer drugs.
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