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Canals Hernaez D, Hughes MR, Li Y, Mainero Rocca I, Dean P, Brassard J, Bell EM, Samudio I, Mes-Masson AM, Narimatsu Y, Clausen H, Blixt O, Roskelley CD, McNagny KM. Targeting a Tumor-Specific Epitope on Podocalyxin Increases Survival in Human Tumor Preclinical Models. Front Oncol 2022; 12:856424. [PMID: 35600398 PMCID: PMC9115113 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.856424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Podocalyxin (Podxl) is a CD34-related cell surface sialomucin that is normally highly expressed by adult vascular endothelia and kidney podocytes where it plays a key role in blocking adhesion. Importantly, it is also frequently upregulated on a wide array of human tumors and its expression often correlates with poor prognosis. We previously showed that, in xenograft studies, Podxl plays a key role in metastatic disease by making tumor initiating cells more mobile and invasive. Recently, we developed a novel antibody, PODO447, which shows exquisite specificity for a tumor-restricted glycoform of Podxl but does not react with Podxl expressed by normal adult tissue. Here we utilized an array of glycosylation defective cell lines to further define the PODO447 reactive epitope and reveal it as an O-linked core 1 glycan presented in the context of the Podxl peptide backbone. Further, we show that when coupled to monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) toxic payload, PODO447 functions as a highly specific and effective antibody drug conjugate (ADC) in killing ovarian, pancreatic, glioblastoma and leukemia cell lines in vitro. Finally, we demonstrate PODO447-ADCs are highly effective in targeting human pancreatic and ovarian tumors in xenografted NSG and Nude mouse models. These data reveal PODO447-ADCs as exquisitely tumor-specific and highly efficacious immunotherapeutic reagents for the targeting of human tumors. Thus, PODO447 exhibits the appropriate characteristics for further development as a targeted clinical immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Canals Hernaez
- The Biomedical Research Centre and School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Michael R Hughes
- The Biomedical Research Centre and School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Yicong Li
- The Biomedical Research Centre and School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ilaria Mainero Rocca
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Pamela Dean
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Julyanne Brassard
- The Biomedical Research Centre and School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Erin M Bell
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ismael Samudio
- Centre for Drug Research and Development, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | - Yoshiki Narimatsu
- Copenhagen Center for Glycomics, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (ICMM), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Henrik Clausen
- Copenhagen Center for Glycomics, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (ICMM), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ola Blixt
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Calvin D Roskelley
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kelly M McNagny
- The Biomedical Research Centre and School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Podocalyxin in Normal Tissue and Epithelial Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13122863. [PMID: 34201212 PMCID: PMC8227556 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13122863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Podocalyxin (PODXL), a glycosylated cell surface sialomucin of the CD34 family, is normally expressed in kidney podocytes, vascular endothelial cells, hematopoietic progenitors, mesothelium, as well as a subset of neurons. In the kidney, PODXL functions primarily as an antiadhesive molecule in podocyte epithelial cells, regulating adhesion and cell morphology, and playing an essential role in the development and function of the organ. Outside the kidney, PODXL plays subtle roles in tissue remodelling and development. Furthermore, many cancers, especially those that originated from the epithelium, have been reported to overexpress PODXL. Collective evidence suggests that PODXL overexpression is linked to poor prognosis, more aggressive tumour progression, unfavourable treatment outcomes, and possibly chemoresistance. This review summarises our current knowledge of PODXL in normal tissue function and epithelial cancer, with a particular focus on its underlying roles in cancer metastasis, likely involvement in chemoresistance, and potential use as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker.
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Impact of histological response after neoadjuvant therapy on podocalyxin as a prognostic marker in pancreatic cancer. Sci Rep 2021; 11:9896. [PMID: 33972616 PMCID: PMC8110523 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89134-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Podocalyxin overexpression associates with poor survival in pancreatic cancer (PDAC). We investigated whether podocalyxin expression correlates with treatment response or survival in neoadjuvant-treated PDAC. Through immunohistochemistry, we evaluated podocalyxin expression in 88 neoadjuvant and 143 upfront surgery patients using two antibodies. We developed a six-tier grading scheme for neoadjuvant responses evaluating the remaining tumor cells in surgical specimens. Strong podocalyxin immunopositivity associated with poor survival in the patients responding poorly to the neoadjuvant treatment (HR 4.16, 95% CI 1.56–11.01, p = 0.004), although neoadjuvant patients exhibited generally low podocalyxin expression (p = 0.017). Strong podocalyxin expression associated with perineural invasion (p = 0.003) and lack of radiation (p = 0.036). Two patients exhibited a complete neoadjuvant response, while a strong neoadjuvant response (≤ 5% of residual tumor cells) significantly associated with lower stage, pT-class and grade, less spread to the regional lymph nodes, less perineural invasion, and podocalyxin negativity (p < 0.05, respectively). A strong response predicted better survival (HR 0.28, 95% CI 0.09–0.94, p = 0.039). In conclusion, strong podocalyxin expression associates with poor survival among poorly responding neoadjuvant patients. A good response associates with podocalyxin negativity. A strong response associates with better outcome.
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Canals Hernaez D, Hughes MR, Dean P, Bergqvist P, Samudio I, Blixt O, Wiedemeyer K, Li Y, Bond C, Cruz E, Köbel M, Gilks B, Roskelley CD, McNagny KM. PODO447: a novel antibody to a tumor-restricted epitope on the cancer antigen podocalyxin. J Immunother Cancer 2020; 8:jitc-2020-001128. [PMID: 33243933 PMCID: PMC7692987 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-001128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The success of new targeted cancer therapies has been dependent on the identification of tumor-specific antigens. Podocalyxin (Podxl) is upregulated on tumors with high metastatic index and its presence is associated with poor outcome, thus emerging as an important prognostic and theragnostic marker in several human cancers. Moreover, in human tumor xenograft models, Podxl expression promotes tumor growth and metastasis. Although a promising target for immunotherapy, the expression of Podxl on normal vascular endothelia and kidney podocytes could hamper efforts to therapeutically target this molecule. Since pathways regulating post-translational modifications are frequently perturbed in cancer cells, we sought to produce novel anti-Podxl antibodies (Abs) that selectively recognize tumor-restricted glycoepitopes on the extracellular mucin domain of Podxl. Methods Splenic B cells were isolated from rabbits immunized with a Podxl-expressing human tumor cell line. Abs from these B cells were screened for potent reactivity to Podxl+ neoplastic cell lines but not Podxl+ primary endothelial cells. Transcripts encoding heavy and light chain variable regions from promising B cells were cloned and expressed as recombinant proteins. Tumor specificity was assessed using primary normal tissue and an ovarian cancer tissue microarray (TMA). Mapping of the tumor-restricted epitope was performed using enzyme-treated human tumor cell lines and a glycan array. Results One mAb (PODO447) showed strong reactivity with a variety of Podxl+ tumor cell lines but not with normal primary human tissue including Podxl+ kidney podocytes and most vascular endothelia. Screening of an ovarian carcinoma TMA (219 cases) revealed PODO447 reactivity with the majority of tumors, including 65% of the high-grade serous histotype. Subsequent biochemical analyses determined that PODO447 reacts with a highly unusual terminal N-acetylgalactosamine beta-1 (GalNAcβ1) motif predominantly found on the Podxl protein core. Finally, Ab–drug conjugates showed specific efficacy in killing tumor cells in vitro. Conclusions We have generated a novel and exquisitely tumor-restricted mAb, PODO447, that recognizes a glycoepitope on Podxl expressed at high levels by a variety of tumors including the majority of life-threatening high-grade serous ovarian tumors. Thus, tumor-restricted PODO447 exhibits the appropriate specificity for further development as a targeted immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Canals Hernaez
- The Biomedical Research Centre and School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Michael R Hughes
- The Biomedical Research Centre and School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Pamela Dean
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Peter Bergqvist
- Centre for Drug Research and Development, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Ismael Samudio
- Centre for Drug Research and Development, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Ola Blixt
- Copenhagen Center for Glycomics and Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (ICMM), University of Copenhagen, Kobenhavn, Denmark
| | - Katharina Wiedemeyer
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Yicong Li
- The Biomedical Research Centre and School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Chris Bond
- Centre for Drug Research and Development, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Eric Cruz
- Centre for Drug Research and Development, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Martin Köbel
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Blake Gilks
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Calvin D Roskelley
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kelly M McNagny
- The Biomedical Research Centre and School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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A cancer-specific anti-podocalyxin monoclonal antibody (60-mG 2a-f) exerts antitumor effects in mouse xenograft models of pancreatic carcinoma. Biochem Biophys Rep 2020; 24:100826. [PMID: 33088928 PMCID: PMC7559861 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2020.100826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Overexpression of podocalyxin (PODXL) is associated with progression, metastasis, and poor outcomes in several cancers. PODXL also plays an important role in the development of normal tissues. For antibody-based therapy to target PODXL-expressing cancers using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), cancer-specificity is necessary to reduce the risk of adverse effects to normal tissues. In this study, we developed an anti-PODXL cancer-specific mAb (CasMab), named as PcMab-60 (IgM, kappa) by immunizing mice with soluble PODXL, which is overexpressed in LN229 glioblastoma cells. The PcMab-60 reacted with the PODXL-overexpressing LN229 (LN229/PODXL) cells and MIA PaCa-2 pancreatic cancer cells in flow cytometry but did not react with normal vascular endothelial cells (VECs), whereas one of non-CasMabs, PcMab-47 showed high reactivity for not only LN229/PODXL and MIA PaCa-2 cells but also VECs, indicating that PcMab-60 is a CasMab. Next, we engineered PcMab-60 into a mouse IgG2a-type mAb, named as 60-mG2a, to add antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). We further developed a core fucose-deficient type of 60-mG2a, named as 60-mG2a-f, to augment its ADCC activity. In vivo analysis revealed that 60-mG2a-f exerted antitumor activity in MIA PaCa-2 xenograft models at a dose of 100 μg/mouse/week administered three times. These results suggested that 60-mG2a-f could be useful for antibody-based therapy against PODXL-expressing pancreatic cancers. PODXL is associated with poor outcomes in several cancers. We developed an anti-PODXL cancer-specific mAb (PcMab-60). A core fucose-deficient IgG2a type of PcMab-60 (60-mG2a-f) exerted antitumor activity in MIA PaCa-2 xenograft models. 60-mG2a-f could be useful for antibody-based therapy against PODXL-expressing pancreatic cancers.
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Tamayo-Orbegozo E, Amo L, Díez-García J, Amutio E, Riñón M, Alonso M, Arana P, Maruri N, Larrucea S. Emerging Role of Podocalyxin in the Progression of Mature B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12020396. [PMID: 32046309 PMCID: PMC7072361 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12020396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Revised: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Mature B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) constitutes a group of heterogeneous malignant lymphoproliferative diseases ranging from indolent to highly aggressive forms. Although the survival after chemo-immunotherapy treatment of mature B-NHL has increased over the last years, many patients relapse or remain refractory due to drug resistance, presenting an unfavorable prognosis. Hence, there is an urgent need to identify new prognostic markers and therapeutic targets. Podocalyxin (PODXL), a sialomucin overexpressed in a variety of tumor cell types and associated with their aggressiveness, has been implicated in multiple aspects of cancer progression, although its participation in hematological malignancies remains unexplored. New evidence points to a role for PODXL in mature B-NHL cell proliferation, survival, migration, drug resistance, and metabolic reprogramming, as well as enhanced levels of PODXL in mature B-NHL. Here, we review the current knowledge on the contribution of PODXL to tumorigenesis, highlighting and discussing its role in mature B-NHL progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estíbaliz Tamayo-Orbegozo
- Regulation of the Immune System Group, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Plaza de Cruces 12, 48903 Barakaldo, Bizkaia, Spain; (E.T.-O.); (L.A.)
| | - Laura Amo
- Regulation of the Immune System Group, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Plaza de Cruces 12, 48903 Barakaldo, Bizkaia, Spain; (E.T.-O.); (L.A.)
| | - Javier Díez-García
- Microscopy Facility, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Plaza de Cruces 12, 48903 Barakaldo, Bizkaia, Spain;
| | - Elena Amutio
- Blood Cancer Group, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Hospital Universitario Cruces, Plaza de Cruces 12, 48903 Barakaldo, Bizkaia, Spain;
| | - Marta Riñón
- Regulation of the Immune System Group, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Hospital Universitario Cruces, Plaza de Cruces 12, 48903 Barakaldo, Bizkaia, Spain; (M.R.); (M.A.); (P.A.); (N.M.)
| | - Marta Alonso
- Regulation of the Immune System Group, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Hospital Universitario Cruces, Plaza de Cruces 12, 48903 Barakaldo, Bizkaia, Spain; (M.R.); (M.A.); (P.A.); (N.M.)
| | - Paula Arana
- Regulation of the Immune System Group, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Hospital Universitario Cruces, Plaza de Cruces 12, 48903 Barakaldo, Bizkaia, Spain; (M.R.); (M.A.); (P.A.); (N.M.)
| | - Natalia Maruri
- Regulation of the Immune System Group, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Hospital Universitario Cruces, Plaza de Cruces 12, 48903 Barakaldo, Bizkaia, Spain; (M.R.); (M.A.); (P.A.); (N.M.)
| | - Susana Larrucea
- Regulation of the Immune System Group, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Hospital Universitario Cruces, Plaza de Cruces 12, 48903 Barakaldo, Bizkaia, Spain; (M.R.); (M.A.); (P.A.); (N.M.)
- Correspondence:
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Itai S, Yamada S, Kaneko MK, Kato Y. Determination of critical epitope of PcMab-47 against human podocalyxin. Biochem Biophys Rep 2018; 14:78-82. [PMID: 29872738 PMCID: PMC5986553 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2018.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Podocalyxin (PODXL) is a type I transmembrane protein, which is highly glycosylated. PODXL is expressed in some types of human cancer tissues including oral, breast, and lung cancer tissues and may promote tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. We previously produced PcMab-47, a novel anti-PODXL monoclonal antibody (mAb) which reacts with endogenous PODXL-expressing cancer cell lines and normal cells independently of glycosylation in Western blot, flow cytometry, and immunohistochemical analysis. In this study, we used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), flow cytometry, and immunohistochemical analysis to determine the epitope of PcMab-47. The minimum epitope of PcMab-47 was found to be Asp207, His208, Leu209, and Met210. A blocking peptide containing this minimum epitope completely neutralized PcMab-47 reaction against oral cancer cells by flow cytometry and immunohistochemical analysis. These findings could lead to the production of more functional anti-PODXL mAbs, which are advantageous for antitumor activities. PODXL is involved in cancer growth, invasion, and metastasis. PcMab-47 mAb against PODXL shows high ADCC/CDC and antitumor activities. PcMab-47 epitope was determined to be Asp207, His208, Leu209, and Met210. A blocking peptide completely neutralized PcMab-47 reaction by FCM and IHC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunsuke Itai
- Department of Antibody Drug Development, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Shinji Yamada
- Department of Antibody Drug Development, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Mika K Kaneko
- Department of Antibody Drug Development, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Yukinari Kato
- Department of Antibody Drug Development, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan.,New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University, 2-1, Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
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