1
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Liao JM, Hong ST, Wang YT, Cheng YA, Ho KW, Toh SI, Shih O, Jeng US, Lyu PC, Hu IC, Huang MY, Chang CY, Cheng TL. Integrating molecular dynamics simulation with small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering to unravel the flexibility, antigen-blocking, and protease-restoring functions in a hindrance-based pro-antibody. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e5124. [PMID: 39145427 PMCID: PMC11325194 DOI: 10.1002/pro.5124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
Spatial hindrance-based pro-antibodies (pro-Abs) are engineered antibodies to reduce monoclonal antibodies' (mAbs) on-target toxicity using universal designed blocking segments that mask mAb antigen-binding sites through spatial hindrance. By linking through protease substrates and linkers, these blocking segments can be removed site-specifically. Although many types of blocking segments have been developed, such as coiled-coil and hinge-based Ab locks, the molecular structure of the pro-Ab, particularly the region showing how the blocking fragment blocks the mAb, has not been elucidated by X-ray crystallography or cryo-EM. To achieve maximal effect, a pro-Ab must have high antigen-blocking and protease-restoring efficiencies, but the unclear structure limits its further optimization. Here, we utilized molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study the dynamic structures of a hinge-based Ab lock pro-Ab, pro-Nivolumab, and validated the simulated structures with small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SWAXS). The MD results were closely consistent with SWAXS data (χ2 best-fit = 1.845, χ2 allMD = 3.080). The further analysis shows a pronounced flexibility of the Ab lock (root-mean-square deviation = 10.90 Å), yet it still masks the important antigen-binding residues by 57.3%-88.4%, explaining its 250-folded antigen-blocking efficiency. The introduced protease accessible surface area method affirmed better protease efficiency for light chain (33.03 Å2) over heavy chain (5.06 Å2), which aligns with the experiments. Overall, we developed MD-SWAXS validation method to study the dynamics of flexible blocking segments and introduced methodologies to estimate their antigen-blocking and protease-restoring efficiencies, which would potentially be advancing the clinical applications of any spatial hindrance-based pro-Ab.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Min Liao
- Drug Development and Value Creation Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Ting Hong
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yeng-Tseng Wang
- Department of Biochemistry, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yi-An Cheng
- Drug Development and Value Creation Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Biomedical Science and Environmental Biology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Precisemab Biotech Co. Ltd, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kai-Wen Ho
- Drug Development and Value Creation Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Ing Toh
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Orion Shih
- National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center, Hsinchu Science Park, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - U-Ser Jeng
- National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center, Hsinchu Science Park, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Department of Chemical Engineering &College of Semiconductor Research, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Ping-Chiang Lyu
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - I-Chen Hu
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Yii Huang
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chin-Yuan Chang
- Department of Biomedical Science and Environmental Biology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Center for Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-devices, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Tian-Lu Cheng
- Drug Development and Value Creation Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Biomedical Science and Environmental Biology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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2
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Isoda Y, Ohtake K, Piao W, Oashi T, Kiku F, Uchida A, Ikeda M, Masuda K, Sakamoto K, Shiraishi Y. Rational design of environmentally responsive antibodies with pH-sensing synthetic amino acids. Sci Rep 2024; 14:19428. [PMID: 39169153 PMCID: PMC11339442 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-70271-3] [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: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Antibodies are widely used as therapeutic agents to tackle various diseases. In the present study, to enhance their clinical values, we rationally designed pH-responsivity by exploiting the idiosyncratic protonation/deprotonation profiles of non-natural amino acids. 3-Nitro-L-tyrosine, 3-cyano-L-tyrosine, and 3, 5-halogenated-L-tyrosine, each with near neutral pKa, were thus incorporated into Fab fragments in place of tyrosines and other residues in the variable regions. Cell-based assays showed that these modifications achieved up to 140-fold tighter binding to antigens and several-fold tighter cytotoxicity to antigen-expressing cell at pH 6.0 than pH 7.4. The pH-dependent binding effect was retained in full-length antibodies. In silico structural analyses revealed electrostatic repulsion at neutral pH between antigens and antibodies or inside the antibody as the underlying mechanisms of the acid preference, and this finding increases the designability of pH-dependent antigen binding. The development of antibodies responsive to the microenvironments of diseased tissues will allow more disease-related antigens to be targeted in treatments, because of the reduced cross-reactivity toward healthy tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuya Isoda
- Research Division, Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd, Tokyo, 100-0004, Japan
| | - Kazumasa Ohtake
- Division of Structural and Synthetic Biology, RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, 230-0045, Japan
- RIKEN Systems and Structural Biology Center, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, 230-0045, Japan
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Bioscience, Waseda University, 2-2 Wakamatsu-cho, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 162-8480, Japan
- RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Wen Piao
- Research Division, Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd, Tokyo, 100-0004, Japan
| | - Taiji Oashi
- Research Division, Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd, Tokyo, 100-0004, Japan
| | - Fumika Kiku
- Research Division, Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd, Tokyo, 100-0004, Japan
| | - Aiko Uchida
- Research Division, Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd, Tokyo, 100-0004, Japan
| | - Masahiro Ikeda
- Research Division, Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd, Tokyo, 100-0004, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Masuda
- Research Division, Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd, Tokyo, 100-0004, Japan
| | - Kensaku Sakamoto
- Division of Structural and Synthetic Biology, RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, 230-0045, Japan.
- RIKEN Systems and Structural Biology Center, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, 230-0045, Japan.
- Department of Drug Target Protein Research, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Asahi 3-1-1, Matsumoto, Nagano, 390-8621, Japan.
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3
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Chen M, Li H, Qu B, Huang X. The Roles of T cells in Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Induced Arthritis. Aging Dis 2024:AD.2024.0546. [PMID: 39122457 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2024.0546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy, a novel anti-tumor strategy, can specifically eliminate tumors by activating the immune system and inhibiting tumor immune escape. However, ICI therapy can lead to notable negative outcomes known as immune-related adverse events (irAEs). ICI-induced arthritis, also known as ICI arthritis, stands as the prevailing form of irAEs. The purpose of this review is to highlight the crucial functions of T cells in the progression of ICI arthritis. Under the influence of different signaling molecules, T cells could gather in large numbers within the synovial membrane of joints, releasing inflammatory substances and enzymes that harm healthy tissues, ultimately causing ICI arthritis. Moreover, considering the functions of T cells in triggering ICI arthritis, this review suggests several treatments to prevent ICI arthritis, including inhibiting the overstimulation of T cells at the synovial sac of joints, enhancing the precision of ICI medications, and directing ICI drugs specifically towards tumor tissues instead of joints. Collectively, T lymphocytes play a vital role in the onset of ICI arthritis, offering a hopeful perspective on treating ICI arthritis through the specific targeting of T cells within the affected joints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maike Chen
- Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Huili Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Baicheng Qu
- Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Xin Huang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
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4
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Fenis A, Demaria O, Gauthier L, Vivier E, Narni-Mancinelli E. New immune cell engagers for cancer immunotherapy. Nat Rev Immunol 2024; 24:471-486. [PMID: 38273127 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-023-00982-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
There have been major advances in the immunotherapy of cancer in recent years, including the development of T cell engagers - antibodies engineered to redirect T cells to recognize and kill cancer cells - for the treatment of haematological malignancies. However, the field still faces several challenges to develop agents that are consistently effective in a majority of patients and cancer types, such as optimizing drug dose, overcoming treatment resistance and improving efficacy in solid tumours. A new generation of T cell-targeted molecules was developed to tackle these issues that are potentially more effective and safer. In addition, agents designed to engage the antitumour activities of other immune cells, including natural killer cells and myeloid cells, are showing promise and have the potential to treat a broader range of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurore Fenis
- Innate Pharma Research Laboratories, Innate Pharma, Marseille, France
- Aix Marseille Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Olivier Demaria
- Innate Pharma Research Laboratories, Innate Pharma, Marseille, France
| | - Laurent Gauthier
- Innate Pharma Research Laboratories, Innate Pharma, Marseille, France
| | - Eric Vivier
- Innate Pharma Research Laboratories, Innate Pharma, Marseille, France
- Aix Marseille Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille Immunopôle, Marseille, France
| | - Emilie Narni-Mancinelli
- Aix Marseille Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France.
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5
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Ippolito A, Wang H, Zhang Y, Vakil V, Popel AS. Virtual clinical trials via a QSP immuno-oncology model to simulate the response to a conditionally activated PD-L1 targeting antibody in NSCLC. J Pharmacokinet Pharmacodyn 2024:10.1007/s10928-024-09928-5. [PMID: 38858306 DOI: 10.1007/s10928-024-09928-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Recently, immunotherapies for antitumoral response have adopted conditionally activated molecules with the objective of reducing systemic toxicity. Amongst these are conditionally activated antibodies, such as PROBODY® activatable therapeutics (Pb-Tx), engineered to be proteolytically activated by proteases found locally in the tumor microenvironment (TME). These PROBODY® therapeutics molecules have shown potential as PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitors in several cancer types, including both effectiveness and locality of action of the molecule as shown by several clinical trials and imaging studies. Here, we perform an exploratory study using our recently published quantitative systems pharmacology model, previously validated for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), to computationally predict the effectiveness and targeting specificity of a PROBODY® therapeutics drug compared to the non-modified antibody. We begin with the analysis of anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). As a first contribution, we have improved previous virtual patient selection methods using the omics data provided by the iAtlas database portal compared to methods previously published in literature. Furthermore, our results suggest that masking an antibody maintains its efficacy while improving the localization of active therapeutic in the TME. Additionally, we generalize the model by evaluating the dependence of the response to the tumor mutational burden, independently of cancer type, as well as to other key biomarkers, such as CD8/Treg Tcell and M1/M2 macrophage ratio. While our results are obtained from simulations on NSCLC, our findings are generalizable to other cancer types and suggest that an effective and highly selective conditionally activated PROBODY® therapeutics molecule is a feasible option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Ippolito
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| | - Hanwen Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Vahideh Vakil
- Clinical and Quantitative Pharmacology, CytomX Therapeutics, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Aleksander S Popel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Oncology, and the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
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6
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Paul S, Konig MF, Pardoll DM, Bettegowda C, Papadopoulos N, Wright KM, Gabelli SB, Ho M, van Elsas A, Zhou S. Cancer therapy with antibodies. Nat Rev Cancer 2024; 24:399-426. [PMID: 38740967 PMCID: PMC11180426 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-024-00690-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
The greatest challenge in cancer therapy is to eradicate cancer cells with minimal damage to normal cells. Targeted therapy has been developed to meet that challenge, showing a substantially increased therapeutic index compared with conventional cancer therapies. Antibodies are important members of the family of targeted therapeutic agents because of their extraordinarily high specificity to the target antigens. Therapeutic antibodies use a range of mechanisms that directly or indirectly kill the cancer cells. Early antibodies were developed to directly antagonize targets on cancer cells. This was followed by advancements in linker technologies that allowed the production of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) that guide cytotoxic payloads to the cancer cells. Improvement in our understanding of the biology of T cells led to the production of immune checkpoint-inhibiting antibodies that indirectly kill the cancer cells through activation of the T cells. Even more recently, bispecific antibodies were synthetically designed to redirect the T cells of a patient to kill the cancer cells. In this Review, we summarize the different approaches used by therapeutic antibodies to target cancer cells. We discuss their mechanisms of action, the structural basis for target specificity, clinical applications and the ongoing research to improve efficacy and reduce toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suman Paul
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Maximilian F Konig
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Drew M Pardoll
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Chetan Bettegowda
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Katharine M Wright
- Discovery Chemistry, Merck Research Laboratory, Merck and Co, West Point, PA, USA
| | - Sandra B Gabelli
- Discovery Chemistry, Merck Research Laboratory, Merck and Co, West Point, PA, USA.
| | - Mitchell Ho
- Antibody Engineering Program, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | | | - Shibin Zhou
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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7
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Journeaux T, Bernardes GJL. Homogeneous multi-payload antibody-drug conjugates. Nat Chem 2024; 16:854-870. [PMID: 38760431 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-024-01507-y] [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: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Many systemic cancer chemotherapies comprise a combination of drugs, yet all clinically used antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) contain a single-drug payload. These combination regimens improve treatment outcomes by producing synergistic anticancer effects and slowing the development of drug-resistant cell populations. In an attempt to replicate these regimens and improve the efficacy of targeted therapy, the field of ADCs has moved towards developing techniques that allow for multiple unique payloads to be attached to a single antibody molecule with high homogeneity. However, the methods for generating such constructs-homogeneous multi-payload ADCs-are both numerous and complex owing to the plethora of reactive functional groups that make up the surface of an antibody. Here, by summarizing and comparing the methods of both single- and multi-payload ADC generation and their key preclinical and clinical results, we provide a timely overview of this relatively new area of research. The methods discussed range from branched linker installation to the incorporation of unnatural amino acids, with a generalized comparison tool of the most promising modification strategies also provided. Finally, the successes and challenges of this rapidly growing field are critically evaluated, and from this, future areas of research and development are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toby Journeaux
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Gonçalo J L Bernardes
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
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8
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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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9
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Monteiro MR, Nunes NCC, Junior AADS, Fêde ABDS, Bretas GDO, Souza CDP, Mano M, da Silva JL. Antibody-Drug Conjugates in Breast Cancer: A Comprehensive Review of How to Selectively Deliver Payloads. BREAST CANCER (DOVE MEDICAL PRESS) 2024; 16:51-70. [PMID: 38434801 PMCID: PMC10909371 DOI: 10.2147/bctt.s448191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have surfaced as a promising group of anticancer agents employing the precise targeting capacity of monoclonal antibodies to transport highly effective cytotoxic payloads. Compared to conventional chemotherapy, they aim to selectively eradicate cancer cells while minimizing off-target toxicity on healthy tissues. An increasing body of evidence has provided support for the efficacy of ADCs in treating breast cancer across various contexts and tumor subtypes, resulting in significant changes in clinical practice. Nevertheless, unlocking the full potential of these therapeutic agents demands innovative molecular designs to address complex clinical challenges, including drug resistance, tumor heterogeneity, and treatment-related adverse events. This thorough review provides an in-depth analysis of the clinical data on ADCs, offering crucial insights from pivotal clinical trials that assess the efficacy of ADCs in diverse breast cancer settings. This aids in providing a comprehensive understanding of the current state of ADCs in breast cancer therapy, while also providing valuable perspectives for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Max Mano
- Grupo Oncoclínicas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jesse Lopes da Silva
- Grupo Oncoclínicas, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Divisão de Pesquisa Clínica e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Instituto Nacional do Câncer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Hospital da Força Aérea do Galeão, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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10
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Subbaiah MAM, Rautio J, Meanwell NA. Prodrugs as empowering tools in drug discovery and development: recent strategic applications of drug delivery solutions to mitigate challenges associated with lead compounds and drug candidates. Chem Soc Rev 2024; 53:2099-2210. [PMID: 38226865 DOI: 10.1039/d2cs00957a] [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: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
The delivery of a drug to a specific organ or tissue at an efficacious concentration is the pharmacokinetic (PK) hallmark of promoting effective pharmacological action at a target site with an acceptable safety profile. Sub-optimal pharmaceutical or ADME profiles of drug candidates, which can often be a function of inherently poor physicochemical properties, pose significant challenges to drug discovery and development teams and may contribute to high compound attrition rates. Medicinal chemists have exploited prodrugs as an informed strategy to productively enhance the profiles of new chemical entities by optimizing the physicochemical, biopharmaceutical, and pharmacokinetic properties as well as selectively delivering a molecule to the site of action as a means of addressing a range of limitations. While discovery scientists have traditionally employed prodrugs to improve solubility and membrane permeability, the growing sophistication of prodrug technologies has enabled a significant expansion of their scope and applications as an empowering tool to mitigate a broad range of drug delivery challenges. Prodrugs have emerged as successful solutions to resolve non-linear exposure, inadequate exposure to support toxicological studies, pH-dependent absorption, high pill burden, formulation challenges, lack of feasibility of developing solid and liquid dosage forms, first-pass metabolism, high dosing frequency translating to reduced patient compliance and poor site-specific drug delivery. During the period 2012-2022, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 50 prodrugs, which amounts to 13% of approved small molecule drugs, reflecting both the importance and success of implementing prodrug approaches in the pursuit of developing safe and effective drugs to address unmet medical needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murugaiah A M Subbaiah
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Biocon Bristol Myers Squibb R&D Centre, Biocon Park, Bommasandra Phase IV, Bangalore, PIN 560099, India.
| | - Jarkko Rautio
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Nicholas A Meanwell
- The Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, Doylestown, PA 18902, USA
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, The College of Pharmacy, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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11
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van der Wulp W, Luu W, Ressing ME, Schuurman J, van Kasteren SI, Guelen L, Hoeben RC, Bleijlevens B, Heemskerk MHM. Antibody-epitope conjugates deliver immunogenic T-cell epitopes more efficiently when close to cell surfaces. MAbs 2024; 16:2329321. [PMID: 38494955 PMCID: PMC10950288 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2024.2329321] [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: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Antibody-mediated delivery of immunogenic viral CD8+ T-cell epitopes to redirect virus-specific T cells toward cancer cells is a promising new therapeutic avenue to increase the immunogenicity of tumors. Multiple strategies for viral epitope delivery have been shown to be effective. So far, most of these have relied on a free C-terminus of the immunogenic epitope for extracellular delivery. Here, we demonstrate that antibody-epitope conjugates (AECs) with genetically fused epitopes to the N-terminus of the antibody can also sensitize tumors for attack by virus-specific CD8+ T cells. AECs carrying epitopes genetically fused at the N-terminus of the light chains of cetuximab and trastuzumab demonstrate an even more efficient delivery of the T-cell epitopes compared to AECs with the epitope fused to the C-terminus of the heavy chain. We demonstrate that this increased efficiency is not caused by the shift in location of the cleavage site from the N- to the C-terminus, but by its increased proximity to the cell surface. We hypothesize that this facilitates more efficient epitope delivery. These findings not only provide additional insights into the mechanism of action of AECs but also broaden the possibilities for genetically fused AECs as an avenue for the redirection of multiple virus-specific T cells toward tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- W. van der Wulp
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - W. Luu
- Genmab, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - M. E. Ressing
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - S. I. van Kasteren
- Division of Bio-organic Synthesis, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - R. C. Hoeben
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - M. H. M. Heemskerk
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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12
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Ippolito A, Wang H, Zhang Y, Vakil V, Bazzazi H, Popel AS. Eliciting the antitumor immune response with a conditionally activated PD-L1 targeting antibody analyzed with a quantitative systems pharmacology model. CPT Pharmacometrics Syst Pharmacol 2024; 13:93-105. [PMID: 38058278 PMCID: PMC10787208 DOI: 10.1002/psp4.13060] [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: 06/17/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Conditionally activated molecules, such as Probody therapeutics (PbTx), have recently been investigated to improve antitumoral response while reducing systemic toxicity. PbTx are engineered to be proteolytically activated by proteases that are preferentially active locally in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Here, we perform an exploratory study using our recently published quantitative systems pharmacology model, previously validated for other drugs, to evaluate the effectiveness and targeting specificity of an anti-PD-L1 PbTx compared to the non-modified antibody. We have informed the model using the PbTx dynamics and pharmacokinetics published in the literature for anti-PD-L1 in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Our results suggest masking of the antibody slightly decreases its efficacy, while increasing the localization of active therapeutic component in the TME. We also perform a parameter optimization for the PbTx design and drug dosing regimens to maximize the response rate. Although our results are specific to the case of TNBC, our findings are generalizable to any conditionally activated PbTx molecule in solid tumors and suggest that design of a highly effective and selective PbTx is feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Ippolito
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Hanwen Wang
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Vahideh Vakil
- Clinical and Quantitative PharmacologyCytomX Therapeutics, Inc.South San FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Hojjat Bazzazi
- Clinical and Quantitative PharmacologyCytomX Therapeutics, Inc.South San FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Present address:
Moderna TherapeuticsCambridgeMAUSA
| | - Aleksander S. Popel
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Department of Oncology, and the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer CenterJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
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13
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van der Wulp W, Remst DFG, Kester MGD, Hagedoorn RS, Parren PWHI, van Kasteren SI, Schuurman J, Hoeben RC, Ressing ME, Bleijlevens B, Heemskerk MHM. Antibody-mediated delivery of viral epitopes to redirect EBV-specific CD8 + T-cell immunity towards cancer cells. Cancer Gene Ther 2024; 31:58-68. [PMID: 37945970 PMCID: PMC10794138 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-023-00681-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Antibody-mediated delivery of immunogenic epitopes to redirect virus-specific CD8+ T-cells towards cancer cells is an emerging and promising new therapeutic strategy. These so-called antibody-epitope conjugates (AECs) rely on the proteolytic release of the epitopes close to the tumor surface for presentation by HLA class I molecules to eventually redirect and activate virus-specific CD8+ T-cells towards tumor cells. We fused the immunogenic EBV-BRLF1 epitope preceded by a protease cleavage site to the C-terminus of the heavy and/or light chains of cetuximab and trastuzumab. We evaluated these AECs and found that, even though all AECs were able to redirect the EBV-specific T-cells, AECs with an epitope fused to the C-terminus of the heavy chain resulted in higher levels of T-cell activation compared to AECs with the same epitope fused to the light chain of an antibody. We observed that all AECs were depending on the presence of the antibody target, that the level of T-cell activation correlated with expression levels of the antibody target, and that our AECs could efficiently deliver the BRLF1 epitope to cancer cell lines from different origins (breast, ovarian, lung, and cervical cancer and a multiple myeloma). Moreover, in vivo, the AECs efficiently reduced tumor burden and increased the overall survival, which was prolonged even further in combination with immune checkpoint blockade. We demonstrate the potential of these genetically fused AECs to redirect the potent EBV-specific T-cells towards cancer in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willemijn van der Wulp
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - Dennis F G Remst
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Michel G D Kester
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Renate S Hagedoorn
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Paul W H I Parren
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Sander I van Kasteren
- Division of Bio-organic Synthesis, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | - Rob C Hoeben
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Maaike E Ressing
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | - Mirjam H M Heemskerk
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
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14
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Lucchi R, Lucana MC, Escobar-Rosales M, Díaz-Perlas C, Oller-Salvia B. Site-specific antibody masking enables conditional activation with different stimuli. N Biotechnol 2023; 78:76-83. [PMID: 37820830 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2023.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Antibody therapeutics show great potential to treat a variety of diseases. Often, the dose that can be safely administered is limited by side effects that arise from the interaction with the target outside the diseased tissue. Conditionally-active antibodies provide an additional layer of selectivity to improve safety. Distinct external stimuli or internal cues enable different control strategies and applications. However, current antibody masking strategies have low transferability across stimuli. Here we propose a versatile approach to conditionally mask antibody derivatives and its application to a single chain variable fragment (scFv) against a receptor expressed on cancer stem cells in several tumours. Our strategy relies on the site-specific conjugation of a polymer to an engineered cysteine residue through a chemically-synthesised linker that can be cleaved in response to the target stimulus. We show that the masking efficiency depends on the conjugation site and the size of the mask. An optimised mask decreases antigen binding by up to 20-fold and affinity can be fully recovered upon activation by exposure to light at 365 nm or by incubation with matrix metalloproteinases overexpressed in solid tumours. This approach opens up the possibility to rapidly engineer antibodies activatable with any internal or external stimulus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Lucchi
- Department of Bioengineering, Institut Químic de Sarrià (IQS), Universitat Ramon Llull, Via Augusta 390, 08017 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria C Lucana
- Department of Bioengineering, Institut Químic de Sarrià (IQS), Universitat Ramon Llull, Via Augusta 390, 08017 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Montserrat Escobar-Rosales
- Department of Bioengineering, Institut Químic de Sarrià (IQS), Universitat Ramon Llull, Via Augusta 390, 08017 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Díaz-Perlas
- Department of Bioengineering, Institut Químic de Sarrià (IQS), Universitat Ramon Llull, Via Augusta 390, 08017 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Benjamí Oller-Salvia
- Department of Bioengineering, Institut Químic de Sarrià (IQS), Universitat Ramon Llull, Via Augusta 390, 08017 Barcelona, Spain.
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15
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Ma X, Jiang J, An X, Zu W, Ma C, Zhang Z, Lu Y, Zhao L, Wang L. Advances in research based on antibody-cell conjugation. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1310130. [PMID: 38162639 PMCID: PMC10755917 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1310130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Antibody-cell conjugation (ACC) technology is a new research direction in medicine and biotechnology in recent years. The concept of ACC was proposed by Hsiao et al. and developed into a viable cell therapy technology, which refers to the cells with specific functions. Such as natural killer cells (NK cells), cytokine induced killer cells (CIK) and other immune cells and monoclonal antibodies through the linker together formed conjugate. ACC directly modifies specific antibodies on the cell surface through a simple and effective chemical coupling method to enable cells to have new functions. ACC has been developed for the treatment of various diseases, including cancers of the blood system and solid tumors. This paper reviews the current ACC construction methods, challenges and future development directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxuan Ma
- Department of Rehabilitation, School of Nursing, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jian Jiang
- Department of Rehabilitation, School of Nursing, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiaoye An
- Department of Pharmacy, Tacheng People's Hospital, Tacheng City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Wanting Zu
- Department of Rehabilitation, School of Nursing, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Chi Ma
- Department of Rehabilitation, School of Nursing, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Zhuo Zhang
- Department of Rehabilitation, School of Nursing, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yaci Lu
- Department of Rehabilitation, School of Nursing, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Lijing Zhao
- Department of Rehabilitation, School of Nursing, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Lisheng Wang
- Department of Rehabilitation, School of Nursing, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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16
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Joest EF, Tampé R. Design principles for engineering light-controlled antibodies. Trends Biotechnol 2023; 41:1501-1517. [PMID: 37507295 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.06.006] [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: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Engineered antibodies are essential tools for research and advanced pharmacy. In the development of therapeutics, antibodies are excellent candidates as they offer both target recognition and modulation. Thanks to the latest advances in biotechnology, light-activated antibody fragments can be constructed to control spontaneous antigen interaction with high spatiotemporal precision. To implement conditional antigen binding, several optogenetic and optochemical engineering concepts have recently been developed. Here, we highlight the various strategies and discuss the features of opto-conditional antibodies. Each concept offers intrinsic advantages beneficial to different applications. In summary, the novel design approaches constitute a complementary toolset to promote current and upcoming antibody technologies with ultimate precision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eike F Joest
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biocenter, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt a.M., Germany.
| | - Robert Tampé
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biocenter, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt a.M., Germany.
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17
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Smith FD, Pierce RH, Thisted T, van der Horst EH. Conditionally Active, pH-Sensitive Immunoregulatory Antibodies Targeting VISTA and CTLA-4 Lead an Emerging Class of Cancer Therapeutics. Antibodies (Basel) 2023; 12:55. [PMID: 37753969 PMCID: PMC10525963 DOI: 10.3390/antib12030055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoints and other immunoregulatory targets can be difficult to precisely target due to expression on non-tumor immune cells critical to maintaining immune homeostasis in healthy tissues. On-target/off-tumor binding of therapeutics results in significant pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic problems. Target-mediated drug disposition (TMDD) significantly limits effective intratumoral drug levels and adversely affects anti-tumor efficacy. Target engagement outside the tumor environment may lead to severe immune-related adverse events (irAEs), resulting in a narrowing of the therapeutic window, sub-optimal dosing, or cessation of drug development altogether. Overcoming these challenges has become tractable through recent advances in antibody engineering and screening approaches. Here, we review the discovery and development of conditionally active antibodies with minimal binding to target at physiologic pH but high-affinity target binding at the low pH of the tumor microenvironment by focusing on the discovery and improved properties of pH-dependent mAbs targeting two T cell checkpoints, VISTA and CTLA-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- F. Donelson Smith
- Sensei Biotherapeutics, Inc., 1405 Research Blvd., Suite 125, Rockville, MD 20850, USA;
| | | | - Thomas Thisted
- Sensei Biotherapeutics, Inc., 1405 Research Blvd., Suite 125, Rockville, MD 20850, USA;
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18
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Xu K, Han J, Yang L, Cao L, Li S, Hong Z. Tumor Site-Specific Cleavage Improves the Antitumor Efficacy of Antibody-Drug Conjugates. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11011. [PMID: 37446189 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241311011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) play important roles in tumor therapy. However, traditional ADCs are limited by the extremely large molecular weight of the antibody molecules, which results in low permeability into solid tumors. The use of small ADCs may be expected to alleviate this problem, but this switch brings the new limitation of a greatly shortened blood circulation half-life. Here, we propose a new cleavable ADC design with excellent tumor tissue permeability and a long circulation half-life by fusing the small ADC ZHER2-MMAE with the Fc domain of the antibody for circulation half-life extension, and inserting a digestion sequence between them to release the small ADC inside tumors for better tumor penetration. The experimental results showed that the designed molecule Fc-U-ZHER2-MMAE has a significantly increased blood circulation half-life (7.1 h, 59-fold longer) compared to the small ADC ZHER2-MMAE, and significantly improved drug accumulation ability at tumor sites compared to the conventional full-length antibody-coupled ADC Herceptin-MMAE. These combined effects led to Fc-U-ZHER2-MMAE having significantly enhanced tumor treatment ability, as shown in mouse models of NCI-N87 gastric cancer and SK-OV-3 ovarian cancer, where Fc-U-ZHER2-MMAE treatment achieved complete regression of tumors in all or a portion of animals with no obvious side effects and an MTD exceeding 90 mg/kg. These data demonstrate the therapeutic advantages of this cleavable ADC strategy, which could provide a new approach for ADC design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keyuan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Jiani Han
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Liu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Li Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Shuang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Zhangyong Hong
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
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19
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van der Wulp W, Gram AM, Bleijlevens B, Hagedoorn RS, Araman C, Kim RQ, Drijfhout JW, Parren PWHI, Hibbert RG, Hoeben RC, van Kasteren SI, Schuurman J, Ressing ME, Heemskerk MHM. Comparison of methods generating antibody-epitope conjugates for targeting cancer with virus-specific T cells. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1183914. [PMID: 37261346 PMCID: PMC10227578 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1183914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic antibody-epitope conjugates (AECs) are promising new modalities to deliver immunogenic epitopes and redirect virus-specific T-cell activity to cancer cells. Nevertheless, many aspects of these antibody conjugates require optimization to increase their efficacy. Here we evaluated different strategies to conjugate an EBV epitope (YVL/A2) preceded by a protease cleavage site to the antibodies cetuximab and trastuzumab. Three approaches were taken: chemical conjugation (i.e. a thiol-maleimide reaction) to reduced cysteine side chains, heavy chain C-terminal enzymatic conjugation using sortase A, and genetic fusions, to the heavy chain (HC) C-terminus. All three conjugates were capable of T-cell activation and target-cell killing via proteolytic release of the EBV epitope and expression of the antibody target was a requirement for T-cell activation. Moreover, AECs generated with a second immunogenic epitope derived from CMV (NLV/A2) were able to deliver and redirect CMV specific T-cells, in which the amino sequence of the attached peptide appeared to influence the efficiency of epitope delivery. Therefore, screening of multiple protease cleavage sites and epitopes attached to the antibody is necessary. Taken together, our data demonstrated that multiple AECs could sensitize cancer cells to virus-specific T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willemijn van der Wulp
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Anna M. Gram
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Renate S. Hagedoorn
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Can Araman
- Division of Bio-organic Synthesis, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Robbert Q. Kim
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Rob C. Hoeben
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Sander I. van Kasteren
- Division of Bio-organic Synthesis, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Maaike E. Ressing
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
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20
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Song SH, Ghosh T, You DG, Joo H, Lee J, Lee J, Kim CH, Jeon J, Shin S, Park JH. Functionally Masked Antibody to Uncouple Immune-Related Toxicities in Checkpoint Blockade Cancer Therapy. ACS NANO 2023. [PMID: 37184643 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c12532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Of the existing immunotherapy drugs in oncology, monoclonal antibodies targeting the immune checkpoint axis are preferred because of the durable responses observed in selected patients. However, the associated immune-related adverse events (irAEs), causing uncommon fatal events, often require specialized management and medication discontinuation. The study aim was to investigate our hypothesis that masking checkpoint antibodies with tumor microenvironment (TME)-responsive polymer chains can mitigate irAEs and selectively target tumors by limiting systemic exposure to patients. We devised a broadly applicable strategy that functionalizes immune checkpoint-blocking antibodies with a mildly acidic pH-cleavable poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) shell to prevent inflammatory side effects in normal tissues. Conjugation of pH-sensitive PEG to anti-CD47 antibodies (αCD47) minimized antibody-cell interactions by inhibiting their binding ability and functionality at physiological pH, leading to prevention of αCD47-induced anemia in tumor-bearing mice. When conjugated to anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 antibodies, double checkpoint blockade-induced colitis was also ameliorated. Notably, removal of the protective shell in response to an acidic TME restored the checkpoint antibody activities, accompanied by effective tumor regression and long-term survival in the mouse model. Our results support a feasible strategy for antibody-based therapies to uncouple toxicity from efficacy and show the translational potential for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seok Ho Song
- School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Torsha Ghosh
- School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Gil You
- School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeyeon Joo
- School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeongjin Lee
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul 06351, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaeah Lee
- School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Chan Ho Kim
- School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Jueun Jeon
- School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Sol Shin
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul 06351, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Hyung Park
- School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul 06351, Republic of Korea
- Biomedical Institute for Convergence at SKKU (BICS), Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
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21
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Mestre Borras A, Dahlsson Leitao C, Ståhl S, Löfblom J. Generation of an anti-idiotypic affibody-based masking domain for conditional activation of EGFR-targeting. N Biotechnol 2023; 73:9-18. [PMID: 36526248 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2022.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Conditional activation of engineered affinity proteins by proteolytic processing is an interesting approach for a wide range of applications. We have generated an anti-idiotypic masking domain with specificity for the binding surface of an EGFR-targeting affibody molecule using an in-house developed staphylococcal display method. The masking domain could specifically abrogate EGFR-binding on cancer cells when fused to the EGFR-targeting affibody molecule via a linker comprising a protease cleavage site. EGFR-binding was restored by proteolytic cleavage of the linker region resulting in release of the masking domain. A saturation mutagenesis study provided detailed information on the interaction between the EGFR-targeting affibody molecule and the masking domain. Introducing an anti-idiotypic masking affibody domain is a viable approach for blocking EGFR-binding and allows for conditional activation by proteolytic processing. The results warrant further studies evaluating the therapeutic and diagnostic applicability both in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Mestre Borras
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Charles Dahlsson Leitao
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stefan Ståhl
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - John Löfblom
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.
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22
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Rosenkranz AA, Slastnikova TA. Prospects of Using Protein Engineering for Selective Drug Delivery into a Specific Compartment of Target Cells. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15030987. [PMID: 36986848 PMCID: PMC10055131 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15030987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
A large number of proteins are successfully used to treat various diseases. These include natural polypeptide hormones, their synthetic analogues, antibodies, antibody mimetics, enzymes, and other drugs based on them. Many of them are demanded in clinical settings and commercially successful, mainly for cancer treatment. The targets for most of the aforementioned drugs are located at the cell surface. Meanwhile, the vast majority of therapeutic targets, which are usually regulatory macromolecules, are located inside the cell. Traditional low molecular weight drugs freely penetrate all cells, causing side effects in non-target cells. In addition, it is often difficult to elaborate a small molecule that can specifically affect protein interactions. Modern technologies make it possible to obtain proteins capable of interacting with almost any target. However, proteins, like other macromolecules, cannot, as a rule, freely penetrate into the desired cellular compartment. Recent studies allow us to design multifunctional proteins that solve these problems. This review considers the scope of application of such artificial constructs for the targeted delivery of both protein-based and traditional low molecular weight drugs, the obstacles met on the way of their transport to the specified intracellular compartment of the target cells after their systemic bloodstream administration, and the means to overcome those difficulties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrey A Rosenkranz
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Intracellular Transport, Institute of Gene Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences, 34/5 Vavilov St., 119334 Moscow, Russia
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1-12 Leninskie Gory St., 119234 Moscow, Russia
| | - Tatiana A Slastnikova
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Intracellular Transport, Institute of Gene Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences, 34/5 Vavilov St., 119334 Moscow, Russia
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23
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Tang Z, Wang X, Tang M, Wu J, Zhang J, Liu X, Gao F, Fu Y, Tang P, Li C. Overcoming the On-Target Toxicity in Antibody-Mediated Therapies via an Indirect Active Targeting Strategy. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2206912. [PMID: 36683161 PMCID: PMC10037698 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202206912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Antibody-based therapies could be led astray when target receptors are expressed on nontarget sites, and the on-target toxicity poses critical challenges to clinical applications. Here, a biomimetic indirect active targeting (INTACT) strategy is proposed based on receptor expression disparities between nontarget sites and the targets. By prebinding the antibodies using cell membrane vesicles with appropriate receptor expressions, the INTACT strategy could filter out the interactions on nontarget sites due to their inferior receptor expression, whereas ensure on-demand release at the targets by competitive binding. The strategy is verified on CD47 antibody, realizing drastic alleviation of its clinically concerned hematotoxicity on a series of animal models including humanized patient-derived xenograft platforms, accompanied by preferable therapeutic effects. Furthermore, the INTACT strategy proves extensive applicability for various systems including antibody, antibody-drug conjugate, and targeted delivery systems, providing a potential platform refining the specificity for frontier antibody-related therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongjie Tang
- Medical Research InstituteCollege of Pharmaceutical SciencesSouthwest UniversityChongqing400715P. R. China
| | - Xiaoyou Wang
- Medical Research InstituteCollege of Pharmaceutical SciencesSouthwest UniversityChongqing400715P. R. China
| | - Mei Tang
- Medical Research InstituteCollege of Pharmaceutical SciencesSouthwest UniversityChongqing400715P. R. China
| | - Jin Wu
- Department of Breast and Thyroid SurgerySouthwest HospitalChongqing400038P. R. China
| | - Jiexuan Zhang
- Medical Research InstituteCollege of Pharmaceutical SciencesSouthwest UniversityChongqing400715P. R. China
| | - Xinlong Liu
- Medical Research InstituteCollege of Pharmaceutical SciencesSouthwest UniversityChongqing400715P. R. China
| | - Feiyan Gao
- Medical Research InstituteCollege of Pharmaceutical SciencesSouthwest UniversityChongqing400715P. R. China
| | - Yu Fu
- Medical Research InstituteCollege of Pharmaceutical SciencesSouthwest UniversityChongqing400715P. R. China
| | - Peng Tang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid SurgerySouthwest HospitalChongqing400038P. R. China
| | - Chong Li
- Medical Research InstituteCollege of Pharmaceutical SciencesSouthwest UniversityChongqing400715P. R. China
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24
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Nadendla K, Simpson GG, Becher J, Journeaux T, Cabeza-Cabrerizo M, Bernardes GJL. Strategies for Conditional Regulation of Proteins. JACS AU 2023; 3:344-357. [PMID: 36873677 PMCID: PMC9975842 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.2c00654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Design of the next-generation of therapeutics, biosensors, and molecular tools for basic research requires that we bring protein activity under control. Each protein has unique properties, and therefore, it is critical to tailor the current techniques to develop new regulatory methods and regulate new proteins of interest (POIs). This perspective gives an overview of the widely used stimuli and synthetic and natural methods for conditional regulation of proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karthik Nadendla
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, CB2 1EW, Cambridge, U.K.
| | - Grant G. Simpson
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, CB2 1EW, Cambridge, U.K.
| | - Julie Becher
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, CB2 1EW, Cambridge, U.K.
| | - Toby Journeaux
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, CB2 1EW, Cambridge, U.K.
| | - Mar Cabeza-Cabrerizo
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, CB2 1EW, Cambridge, U.K.
| | - Gonçalo J. L. Bernardes
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, CB2 1EW, Cambridge, U.K.
- Instituto
de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
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25
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Abstract
As a natural function, antibodies defend the host from infected cells and pathogens by recognizing their pathogenic determinants. Antibodies (Abs) gained wide acceptance with an enormous impact on human health and have predominantly captured the arena of bio-therapeutics and bio-diagnostics. The scope of Ab-based biologics is vast, and it is likely to solve many unmet clinical needs in future. The majority of attention is now devoted to developing innovative technologies for manufacturing and engineering Abs, better suited to satisfy human needs. The advent of Ab engineering technologies (AET) led to phenomenal developments leading to the generation of Abs-/Ab-derived molecules with desirable functional properties proportional to their expanding requirements. Evolution brought by AET, from the naturally occurring Ab forms to several advanced Ab formats and derivatives, was much needed as it is of great interest to the pharmaceutical industry. Thus, numerous advancements in AET have propelled success in therapeutic Ab development, along with the potential for ever-increasing improvements. Unique characteristics of Abs, such as its diversity, specificity, structural integrity and an array of possible applications, together inspire continuous innovation in the field. Overall, the AET could assist in conquer of several limitations of Abs in terms of their applicability in the field of therapeutics, diagnostics and research; AET has so far led to the production of next-generation Abs, which have revolutionized these arenas. Here in this review, we discuss the various distinguished engineering platforms for Ab development and the progress in modern therapeutics by the so-called "next-generation Abs."
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya Kandari
- Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering Laboratory, School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Rakesh Bhatnagar
- Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering Laboratory, School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.,Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.,Amity University Rajasthan, Jaipur, India
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26
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Bridge T, Wegmann U, Crack JC, Orman K, Shaikh SA, Farndon W, Martins C, Saalbach G, Sachdeva A. Site-specific encoding of photoactivity and photoreactivity into antibody fragments. Nat Chem Biol 2023; 19:740-749. [PMID: 36797401 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-022-01251-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Design of biomolecules that perform two or more distinct functions in response to light remains challenging. Here, we have introduced concurrent photoactivity and photoreactivity into an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeting antibody fragment, 7D12. This was achieved by site-specific incorporation of photocaged tyrosine (pcY) for photoactivity and p-benzoyl-ʟ-phenylalanine (Bpa) for photoreactivity into 7D12. We identified a position for installing Bpa in 7D12 that has minimal effect on 7D12-EGFR binding affinity in the absence of light. Upon exposure to 365-nm light, this Bpa-containing 7D12 mutant forms a covalent bond with EGFR in an antigen-specific manner. We then developed a method for site-specific incorporation of pcY and Bpa at two distinct sites in 7D12. Finally, we demonstrated that in the absence of light, this pcY- and Bpa-containing mutant of 7D12 does not bind to EGFR, but irradiation with 365-nm light activates (1) specific binding and (2) covalent bond formation with EGFR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Bridge
- School of Chemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Udo Wegmann
- School of Chemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Jason C Crack
- School of Chemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Kate Orman
- School of Chemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Saher A Shaikh
- School of Chemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | | | - Carlo Martins
- Proteomics Facility, The John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK
| | | | - Amit Sachdeva
- School of Chemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
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27
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Jiang FY, Zhang YZ, Tai YH, Chou CY, Hsieh YC, Chang YC, Huang HC, Li ZQ, Hsieh YC, Chen IJ, Huang BC, Su YC, Lin WW, Lin HC, Chao JI, Yuan SSF, Wang YM, Cheng TL, Tzou SC. A lesion-selective albumin-CTLA4Ig as a safe and effective treatment for collagen-induced arthritis. Inflamm Regen 2023; 43:13. [PMID: 36797799 PMCID: PMC9933273 DOI: 10.1186/s41232-023-00264-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND CTLA4Ig is a dimeric fusion protein of the extracellular domain of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte protein 4 (CTLA4) and an Fc (Ig) fragment of human IgG1 that is approved for treating rheumatoid arthritis. However, CTLA4Ig may induce adverse effects. Developing a lesion-selective variant of CTLA4Ig may improve safety while maintaining the efficacy of the treatment. METHODS We linked albumin to the N-terminus of CTLA4Ig (termed Alb-CTLA4Ig) via a substrate sequence of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP). The binding activities and the biological activities of Alb-CTLA4Ig before and after MMP digestion were analyzed by a cell-based ELISA and an in vitro Jurkat T cell activation assay. The efficacy and safety of Alb-CTLA4Ig in treating joint inflammation were tested in mouse collagen-induced arthritis. RESULTS Alb-CTLA4Ig is stable and inactive under physiological conditions but can be fully activated by MMPs. The binding activity of nondigested Alb-CTLA4Ig was at least 10,000-fold weaker than that of MMP-digested Alb-CTLA4Ig. Nondigested Alb-CTLA4Ig was unable to inhibit Jurkat T cell activation, whereas MMP-digested Alb-CTLA4Ig was as potent as conventional CTLA4Ig in inhibiting the T cells. Alb-CTLA4Ig was converted to CTLA4Ig in the inflamed joints to treat mouse collagen-induced arthritis, showing similar efficacy to that of conventional CTLA4Ig. In contrast to conventional CTLA4Ig, Alb-CTLA4Ig did not inhibit the antimicrobial responses in the spleens of the treated mice. CONCLUSIONS Our study indicates that Alb-CTLA4Ig can be activated by MMPs to suppress tissue inflammation in situ. Thus, Alb-CTLA4Ig is a safe and effective treatment for collagen-induced arthritis in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu-Yao Jiang
- grid.260539.b0000 0001 2059 7017Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Yan-Zhu Zhang
- grid.260539.b0000 0001 2059 7017Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Yuan-Hong Tai
- grid.260539.b0000 0001 2059 7017Institute of Molecular Medicine and Bioengineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Chien-Yu Chou
- grid.260539.b0000 0001 2059 7017Institute of Molecular Medicine and Bioengineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Yu-Ching Hsieh
- grid.260539.b0000 0001 2059 7017Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Ya-Chi Chang
- grid.260539.b0000 0001 2059 7017Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Hsiao-Chen Huang
- grid.260539.b0000 0001 2059 7017Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Zhi-Qin Li
- grid.260539.b0000 0001 2059 7017Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Yuan-Chin Hsieh
- grid.411447.30000 0004 0637 1806School of Medicine for International Students, I-Shou University, Kaoshiung, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - I-Ju Chen
- grid.411447.30000 0004 0637 1806School of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Bo-Cheng Huang
- grid.412036.20000 0004 0531 9758Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Yu-Cheng Su
- grid.260539.b0000 0001 2059 7017Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China ,grid.412019.f0000 0000 9476 5696Drug Development and Value Creation Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Wen-Wei Lin
- grid.412019.f0000 0000 9476 5696Drug Development and Value Creation Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China ,grid.412019.f0000 0000 9476 5696Department of Laboratory Medicine, Post Baccalaureate Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Hsin-Chieh Lin
- grid.260539.b0000 0001 2059 7017Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Jui-I Chao
- grid.260539.b0000 0001 2059 7017Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China ,grid.260539.b0000 0001 2059 7017Institute of Molecular Medicine and Bioengineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Shyng-Shiou F. Yuan
- grid.412027.20000 0004 0620 9374Translational Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, and Faculty and College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Yun-Ming Wang
- grid.260539.b0000 0001 2059 7017Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China ,grid.260539.b0000 0001 2059 7017Institute of Molecular Medicine and Bioengineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China ,grid.260539.b0000 0001 2059 7017Center for Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-devices (IDS2B), National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Tian-Lu Cheng
- grid.412019.f0000 0000 9476 5696Drug Development and Value Creation Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China ,grid.412019.f0000 0000 9476 5696Department of Biomedical Science and Environmental Biology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China ,grid.412019.f0000 0000 9476 5696Graduate Institute of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Shey-Cherng Tzou
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China. .,Institute of Molecular Medicine and Bioengineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China. .,Drug Development and Value Creation Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China. .,Department of Biomedical Science and Environmental Biology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China. .,Center for Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-devices (IDS2B), National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China.
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28
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Holt BA, Lim HS, Sivakumar A, Phuengkham H, Su M, Tuttle M, Xu Y, Liakakos H, Qiu P, Kwong GA. Embracing enzyme promiscuity with activity-based compressed biosensing. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2023; 3:100372. [PMID: 36814844 PMCID: PMC9939361 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2022.100372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The development of protease-activatable drugs and diagnostics requires identifying substrates specific to individual proteases. However, this process becomes increasingly difficult as the number of target proteases increases because most substrates are promiscuously cleaved by multiple proteases. We introduce a method-substrate libraries for compressed sensing of enzymes (SLICE)-for selecting libraries of promiscuous substrates that classify protease mixtures (1) without deconvolution of compressed signals and (2) without highly specific substrates. SLICE ranks substrate libraries using a compression score (C), which quantifies substrate orthogonality and protease coverage. This metric is predictive of classification accuracy across 140 in silico (Pearson r = 0.71) and 55 in vitro libraries (r = 0.55). Using SLICE, we select a two-substrate library to classify 28 samples containing 11 enzymes in plasma (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUROC] = 0.93). We envision that SLICE will enable the selection of libraries that capture information from hundreds of enzymes using fewer substrates for applications like activity-based sensors for imaging and diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Alexander Holt
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech College of Engineering and Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Hong Seo Lim
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech College of Engineering and Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Anirudh Sivakumar
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech College of Engineering and Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Hathaichanok Phuengkham
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech College of Engineering and Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Melanie Su
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech College of Engineering and Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - McKenzie Tuttle
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech College of Engineering and Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Yilin Xu
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech College of Engineering and Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Haley Liakakos
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech College of Engineering and Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Peng Qiu
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech College of Engineering and Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Gabriel A. Kwong
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech College of Engineering and Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
- Parker H. Petit Institute of Bioengineering and Bioscience, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
- Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology, Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
- Integrated Cancer Research Center, Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
- Georgia ImmunoEngineering Consortium, Georgia Tech and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
- Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
- Emory Winship Cancer Institute, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
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29
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Donoso‐Meneses D, Figueroa‐Valdés AI, Georges N, Tobar HE, Alcayaga‐Miranda F. Turning adversity into opportunity: Small extracellular vesicles as nanocarriers for tumor-associated macrophages re-education. Bioeng Transl Med 2023; 8:e10349. [PMID: 36684102 PMCID: PMC9842057 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Currently, small extracellular vesicles (sEV) as a nanoscale drug delivery system, are undergoing biotechnological scaling and clinical validation. Nonetheless, preclinical pharmacokinetic studies revealed that sEV are predominantly uptaken by macrophages. Although this "sEV-macrophage" propensity represents a disadvantage in terms of sEV targeting and their bioavailability as nanocarriers, it also represents a strategic advantage for those therapies that involve macrophages. Such is the case of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), which can reprogram/repolarize their predominantly immunosuppressive and tumor-supportive phenotype toward an immunostimulatory and anti-tumor phenotype using sEV as nanocarriers of TAMs reprogramming molecules. In this design, sEV represents an advantageous delivery system, providing precision to the therapy by simultaneously matching their tropism to the therapeutic cell target. Here, we review the current knowledge of the role of TAMs in the tumoral microenvironment and the effect generated by the reprogramming of these phagocytic cells fate using sEV. Finally, we discuss how these vesicles can be engineered by different bioengineering techniques to improve their therapeutic cargo loading and preferential uptake by TAMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dario Donoso‐Meneses
- Laboratory of Nano‐Regenerative Medicine, Centro de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica (CIIB), Faculty of MedicineUniversidad de Los AndesSantiagoChile
- Consorcio RegeneroChilean Consortium for Regenerative MedicineSantiagoChile
- IMPACTCenter of Interventional Medicine for Precision and Advanced Cellular TherapySantiagoChile
| | - Aliosha I. Figueroa‐Valdés
- Laboratory of Nano‐Regenerative Medicine, Centro de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica (CIIB), Faculty of MedicineUniversidad de Los AndesSantiagoChile
- Consorcio RegeneroChilean Consortium for Regenerative MedicineSantiagoChile
- IMPACTCenter of Interventional Medicine for Precision and Advanced Cellular TherapySantiagoChile
| | - Nicolás Georges
- Laboratory of Nano‐Regenerative Medicine, Centro de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica (CIIB), Faculty of MedicineUniversidad de Los AndesSantiagoChile
- Consorcio RegeneroChilean Consortium for Regenerative MedicineSantiagoChile
- IMPACTCenter of Interventional Medicine for Precision and Advanced Cellular TherapySantiagoChile
| | - Hugo E. Tobar
- Laboratory of Nano‐Regenerative Medicine, Centro de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica (CIIB), Faculty of MedicineUniversidad de Los AndesSantiagoChile
- IMPACTCenter of Interventional Medicine for Precision and Advanced Cellular TherapySantiagoChile
| | - Francisca Alcayaga‐Miranda
- Laboratory of Nano‐Regenerative Medicine, Centro de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica (CIIB), Faculty of MedicineUniversidad de Los AndesSantiagoChile
- Consorcio RegeneroChilean Consortium for Regenerative MedicineSantiagoChile
- IMPACTCenter of Interventional Medicine for Precision and Advanced Cellular TherapySantiagoChile
- School of Medicine, Faculty of MedicineUniversidad de Los AndesSantiagoChile
- Cells for CellsSantiagoChile
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30
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Brasino M, Wagnell E, Hamilton S, Ranganathan S, Gomes MM, Branchaud B, Messmer B, Ibsen SD. Turning antibodies off and on again using a covalently tethered blocking peptide. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1357. [PMID: 36496512 PMCID: PMC9741643 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04094-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In their natural form, antibodies are always in an "on-state" and are capable of binding to their targets. This leads to undesirable interactions in a wide range of therapeutic, analytical, and synthetic applications. Modulating binding kinetics of antibodies to turn them from an "off-state" to an "on-state" with temporal and spatial control can address this. Here we demonstrate a method to modulate binding activity of antibodies in a predictable and reproducible way. We designed a blocking construct that uses both covalent and non-covalent interactions with the antibody. The construct consisted of a Protein L protein attached to a flexible linker ending in a blocking-peptide designed to interact with the antibody binding site. A mutant Protein L was developed to enable photo-triggered covalent crosslinking to the antibody at a specific location. The covalent bond anchored the linker and blocking peptide to the antibody light chain keeping the blocking peptide close to the antibody binding site. This effectively put the antibody into an "off-state". We demonstrate that protease-cleavable and photocleavable moieties in the tether enable controlled antibody activation to the "on-state" for anti-FLAG and cetuximab antibodies. Protein L can bind a range of antibodies used therapeutically and in research for wide applicability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Brasino
- grid.5288.70000 0000 9758 5690Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97201 USA
| | - Eli Wagnell
- grid.5288.70000 0000 9758 5690Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97201 USA
| | - Sean Hamilton
- grid.5288.70000 0000 9758 5690Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97201 USA ,grid.5288.70000 0000 9758 5690Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97201 USA
| | - Srivathsan Ranganathan
- grid.5288.70000 0000 9758 5690Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97201 USA
| | - Michelle M. Gomes
- grid.5288.70000 0000 9758 5690Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97201 USA
| | - Bruce Branchaud
- grid.5288.70000 0000 9758 5690Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97201 USA
| | | | - Stuart D. Ibsen
- grid.5288.70000 0000 9758 5690Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97201 USA ,grid.5288.70000 0000 9758 5690Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97201 USA
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31
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Liu Y, Nguyen AW, Maynard JA. Engineering antibodies for conditional activity in the solid tumor microenvironment. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2022; 78:102809. [PMID: 36182870 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Antibody-based therapeutics enjoy considerable clinical and commercial successes as cancer treatments. However, they can also cause serious toxicities due to recognition of tumor-associated antigens in noncancerous tissues, which can prevent antibody use in certain patient populations and therapeutic modalities. Here, we discuss recent efforts to develop advanced antibody therapeutics with activities restricted to the solid tumor microenvironment. With the intent of decreasing toxicities and expanding therapeutic windows, protein engineering strategies can render ligand binding sensitive to multiple tumor-specific characteristics. These triggers can be intrinsic to solid tumor microenvironments, such as low pH, high extracellular ATP, and the presence of specific proteases. Emerging strategies rely instead on exogenous triggers such as light and ultrasound to provide spatial and temporal control over antibody activation. These multilayered approaches to targeting diseased tissues are expected to usher in a new generation of precision therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutong Liu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Annalee W Nguyen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
| | - Jennifer A Maynard
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
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32
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Liu L, Chen J. Therapeutic antibodies for precise cancer immunotherapy: current and future perspectives. MEDICAL REVIEW (BERLIN, GERMANY) 2022; 2:555-569. [PMID: 37724258 PMCID: PMC10471122 DOI: 10.1515/mr-2022-0033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/25/2022] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Antibodies, as one of the most important components of host adaptive immune system, play an important role in defense of infectious disease, immune surveillance, and autoimmune disease. Due to the development of recombinant antibody technology, antibody therapeutics become the largest and rapidly expanding drug to provide major health benefits to patients, especially for the treatment of cancer patients. Many antibody-based therapeutic strategies have been developed including monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, bispecific and trispecific antibodies and pro-antibodies with promising results from both clinical and pre-clinical trials. However, the response rate and side-effect still vary between patients with undefined mechanisms. Here, we summarized the current and future perspectives of antibody-based cancer immunotherapeutic strategies for designing next-generation drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longchao Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiahui Chen
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
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33
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Biasizzo M, Javoršek U, Vidak E, Zarić M, Turk B. Cysteine cathepsins: A long and winding road towards clinics. Mol Aspects Med 2022; 88:101150. [PMID: 36283280 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2022.101150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Biomedical research often focuses on properties that differentiate between diseased and healthy tissue; one of the current focuses is elevated expression and altered localisation of proteases. Among these proteases, dysregulation of cysteine cathepsins can frequently be observed in inflammation-associated diseases, which tips the functional balance from normal physiological to pathological manifestations. Their overexpression and secretion regularly exhibit a strong correlation with the development and progression of such diseases, making them attractive pharmacological targets. But beyond their mostly detrimental role in inflammation-associated diseases, cysteine cathepsins are physiologically highly important enzymes involved in various biological processes crucial for maintaining homeostasis and responding to different stimuli. Consequently, several challenges have emerged during the efforts made to translate basic research data into clinical applications. In this review, we present both physiological and pathological roles of cysteine cathepsins and discuss the clinical potential of cysteine cathepsin-targeting strategies for disease management and diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Biasizzo
- Jozef Stefan Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; International Postgraduate School Jozef Stefan, Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Urban Javoršek
- Jozef Stefan Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; International Postgraduate School Jozef Stefan, Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Eva Vidak
- Jozef Stefan Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; International Postgraduate School Jozef Stefan, Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Miki Zarić
- Jozef Stefan Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; International Postgraduate School Jozef Stefan, Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Boris Turk
- Jozef Stefan Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Vecna pot 113, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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34
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Boustany LM, LaPorte SL, Wong L, White C, Vinod V, Shen J, Yu W, Koditek D, Winter MB, Moore SJ, Mei L, Diep L, Huang Y, Liu S, Vasiljeva O, West J, Richardson J, Irving B, Belvin M, Kavanaugh WM. A Probody T Cell-Engaging Bispecific Antibody Targeting EGFR and CD3 Inhibits Colon Cancer Growth with Limited Toxicity. Cancer Res 2022; 82:4288-4298. [PMID: 36112781 PMCID: PMC9664135 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-2483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
T cell-engaging bispecific antibodies (TCB) are highly potent therapeutics that can recruit and activate cytotoxic T cells to stimulate an antitumor immune response. However, the development of TCBs against solid tumors has been limited by significant on-target toxicity to normal tissues. Probody therapeutics have been developed as a novel class of recombinant, protease-activated antibody prodrugs that are "masked" to reduce antigen binding in healthy tissues but can become conditionally unmasked by proteases that are preferentially active in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Here, we describe the preclinical efficacy and safety of CI107, a Probody TCB targeting EGFR and CD3. In vitro, the protease-activated, unmasked CI107 effectively bound EGFR and CD3 expressed on the surface of cells and induced T-cell activation, cytokine release, and cytotoxicity toward tumor cells. In contrast, dually masked CI107 displayed a >500-fold reduction in antigen binding and >15,000-fold reduction in cytotoxic activity. In vivo, CI107 potently induced dose-dependent tumor regression of established colon cancer xenografts in mice engrafted with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Furthermore, the MTD of CI107 in cynomolgus monkeys was more than 60-fold higher than that of the unmasked TCB, and much lower levels of toxicity were observed in animals receiving CI107. Therefore, by localizing activity to the TME and thus limiting toxicity to normal tissues, this Probody TCB demonstrates the potential to expand clinical opportunities for TCBs as effective anticancer therapies for solid tumor indications. SIGNIFICANCE A conditionally active EGFR-CD3 T cell-engaging Probody therapeutic expands the safety window of bispecific antibodies while maintaining efficacy in preclinical solid tumor settings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Laurie Wong
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, California
| | - Clayton White
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, California
| | - Veena Vinod
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, California
| | - Joel Shen
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, California
| | - Wendy Yu
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, California
| | - David Koditek
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, California
| | | | | | - Li Mei
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, California
| | - Linnea Diep
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, California
| | | | - Shouchun Liu
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, California
| | - Olga Vasiljeva
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, California
| | - Jim West
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, California
| | | | - Bryan Irving
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, California
| | - Marcia Belvin
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, California.,Corresponding Author: Marcia Belvin, CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, CA 94080. Phone: 650-892-9803, E-mail:
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35
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Wei J, Yang Y, Wang G, Liu M. Current landscape and future directions of bispecific antibodies in cancer immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1035276. [PMID: 36389699 PMCID: PMC9650279 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1035276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 07/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in cancer immunotherapy using monoclonal antibodies have dramatically revolutionized the therapeutic strategy against advanced malignancies, inspiring the exploration of various types of therapeutic antibodies. Bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) are recombinant molecules containing two different antigens or epitopes identifying binding domains. Bispecific antibody-based tumor immunotherapy has gained broad potential in preclinical and clinical investigations in a variety of tumor types following regulatory approval of newly developed technologies involving bispecific and multispecific antibodies. Meanwhile, a series of challenges such as antibody immunogenicity, tumor heterogeneity, low response rate, treatment resistance, and systemic adverse effects hinder the application of BsAbs. In this review, we provide insights into the various architecture of BsAbs, focus on BsAbs' alternative different mechanisms of action and clinical progression, and discuss relevant approaches to overcome existing challenges in BsAbs clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wei
- Gastric Cancer Center/Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yueyao Yang
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Gang Wang
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ming Liu
- Gastric Cancer Center/Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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36
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Goodman R, Johnson DB. Antibody-Drug Conjugates for Melanoma and Other Skin Malignancies. Curr Treat Options Oncol 2022; 23:1428-1442. [PMID: 36125618 DOI: 10.1007/s11864-022-01018-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OPINION STATEMENT While most skin malignancies are successfully treated with surgical excision, advanced and metastatic skin malignancies still often have poor long-term outcomes despite therapeutic advances. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) serve as a potentially promising novel therapeutic approach to treat advanced skin cancers as they combine antibody-associated antigen specificity with cytotoxic anti-tumor effects, thereby maximizing efficacy and minimizing systemic toxicity. While no ADCs have gained regulatory approval for advanced skin cancers, several promising agents are undergoing preclinical and clinical investigation. In addition to identifying and validating skin cancer antigen targets, the key to maximizing therapeutic success is the careful development of each component of the ADC complex: antibodies, cytotoxic drugs, and linkers. It is the optimization of each of these components that will be integral in overcoming resistance, maximizing safety, and improving long-term clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Goodman
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Douglas B Johnson
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, 1161 21st Ave S, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
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37
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Lou H, Cao X. Antibody variable region engineering for improving cancer immunotherapy. Cancer Commun (Lond) 2022; 42:804-827. [PMID: 35822503 PMCID: PMC9456695 DOI: 10.1002/cac2.12330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 04/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The efficacy and specificity of conventional monoclonal antibody (mAb) drugs in the clinic require further improvement. Currently, the development and application of novel antibody formats for improving cancer immunotherapy have attracted much attention. Variable region-retaining antibody fragments, such as antigen-binding fragment (Fab), single-chain variable fragment (scFv), bispecific antibody, and bi/trispecific cell engagers, are engineered with humanization, multivalent antibody construction, affinity optimization and antibody masking for targeting tumor cells and killer cells to improve antibody-based therapy potency, efficacy and specificity. In this review, we summarize the application of antibody variable region engineering and discuss the future direction of antibody engineering for improving cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hantao Lou
- Ludwig Institute of Cancer ResearchUniversity of OxfordOxfordOX3 7DRUK
- Chinese Academy for Medical Sciences Oxford InstituteNuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordOX3 7FZUK
| | - Xuetao Cao
- Chinese Academy for Medical Sciences Oxford InstituteNuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordOX3 7FZUK
- Department of ImmunologyCentre for Immunotherapy, Institute of Basic Medical SciencesChinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijing100005P. R. China
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38
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Kaupbayeva B, Murata H, Rule GS, Matyjaszewski K, Russell AJ. Rational Control of Protein-Protein Interactions with Protein-ATRP-Generated Protease-Sensitive Polymer Cages. Biomacromolecules 2022; 23:3831-3846. [PMID: 35984406 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c00679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Protease-protease interactions lie at the heart of the biological cascades that provide rapid molecular responses to living systems. Blood clotting cascades, apoptosis signaling networks, bacterial infection, and virus trafficking have all evolved to be activated and sustained by protease-protease interactions. Biomimetic strategies designed to target drugs to specific locations have generated proprotein drugs that can be activated by proteolytic cleavage to release native protein. We have previously demonstrated that the modification of enzymes with a custom-designed comb-shaped polymer nanoarmor can shield the enzyme surface and eliminate almost all protein-protein interactions. We now describe the synthesis and characterization of protease-sensitive comb-shaped nanoarmor cages using poly(ethylene glycol) [Sundy, J. S. Arthritis Rheum. 2008, 58(9), 2882-2891]methacrylate macromonomers where the PEG tines of the comb are connected to the backbone of the growing polymer chain by peptide linkers. Protease-induced cleavage of the tines of the comb releases a polymer-modified protein that can once again participate in protein-protein interactions. Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was used to copolymerize the macromonomer and carboxybetaine methacrylate from initiator-labeled chymotrypsin and trypsin enzymes, yielding proprotease conjugates that retained activity toward small peptide substrates but prevented activity against proteins. Native proteases triggered the release of the PEG side chains from the polymer backbone within 20 min, thereby increasing the activity of the conjugate toward larger protein substrates by 100%. Biomimetic cascade initiation of nanoarmored protease-sensitive protein-polymer conjugates may open the door to a new class of responsive targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bibifatima Kaupbayeva
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States.,Center for Polymer-Based Protein Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States.,National Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan City 010000, Kazakhstan
| | - Hironobu Murata
- Center for Polymer-Based Protein Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States.,Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Gordon S Rule
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States.,Center for Polymer-Based Protein Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Krzysztof Matyjaszewski
- Center for Polymer-Based Protein Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States.,Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Alan J Russell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States.,Center for Polymer-Based Protein Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States.,Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States.,Amgen, 1 Amgen Center Drive, Thousand Oaks, California 91320, United States
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39
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Mussafi O, Mei J, Mao W, Wan Y. Immune checkpoint inhibitors for PD-1/PD-L1 axis in combination with other immunotherapies and targeted therapies for non-small cell lung cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:948405. [PMID: 36059606 PMCID: PMC9430651 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.948405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been widely acknowledged that the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) is an effective therapeutic treatment in many late-stage cancers. However, not all patients could benefit from ICI therapy. Several biomarkers, such as high expression of PD-L1, high mutational burden, and higher number of tumor infiltration lymphocytes have shown to predict clinical benefit from immune checkpoint therapies. One approach using ICI in combination with other immunotherapies and targeted therapies is now being investigated to enhance the efficacy of ICI alone. In this review, we summarized the use of other promising immunotherapies and targeted therapies in combination with ICI in treatment of lung cancers. The results from multiple animals and clinical trials were reviewed. We also briefly discussed the possible outlooks for future treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ofek Mussafi
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Wuxi People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
- The Pq Laboratory of BiomeDx/Rx, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Binghamton University-SUNY, Binghamton, NY, United States
| | - Jie Mei
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Wuxi People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
| | - Wenjun Mao
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Wuxi People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
| | - Yuan Wan
- The Pq Laboratory of BiomeDx/Rx, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Binghamton University-SUNY, Binghamton, NY, United States
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40
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Singh S, Serwer L, DuPage A, Elkins K, Chauhan N, Ravn M, Buchanan F, Wang L, Krimm M, Wong K, Sagert J, Tipton K, Moore SJ, Huang Y, Jang A, Ureno E, Miller A, Patrick S, Duvur S, Liu S, Vasiljeva O, Li Y, Henriques T, Badagnani I, Jeffries S, Schleyer S, Leanna R, Krebber C, Viswanathan S, Desnoyers L, Terrett J, Belvin M, Morgan-Lappe S, Kavanaugh WM, Richardson J. Nonclinical Efficacy and Safety of CX-2029, an Anti-CD71 Probody-Drug Conjugate. Mol Cancer Ther 2022; 21:1326-1336. [PMID: 35666803 PMCID: PMC9662867 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-21-0193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Probody therapeutics (Pb-Txs) are conditionally activated antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) designed to remain inactive until proteolytically activated in the tumor microenvironment, enabling safer targeting of antigens expressed in both tumor and normal tissue. Previous attempts to target CD71, a highly expressed tumor antigen, have failed to establish an acceptable therapeutic window due to widespread normal tissue expression. This study evaluated whether a probody-drug conjugate targeting CD71 can demonstrate a favorable efficacy and tolerability profile in preclinical studies for the treatment of cancer. CX-2029, a Pb-Tx conjugated to maleimido-caproyl-valine-citrulline-p-aminobenzyloxycarbonyl-monomethyl auristatin E, was developed as a novel cancer therapeutic targeting CD71. Preclinical studies were performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this anti-CD71 PDC in patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse models and cynomolgus monkeys, respectively. CD71 expression was detected at high levels by IHC across a broad range of tumor and normal tissues. In vitro, the masked Pb-Tx form of the anti-CD71 PDC displayed a >50-fold reduced affinity for binding to CD71 on cells compared with protease-activated, unmasked anti-CD71 PDC. Potent in vivo tumor growth inhibition (stasis or regression) was observed in >80% of PDX models (28/34) at 3 or 6 mg/kg. Anti-CD71 PDC remained mostly masked (>80%) in circulation throughout dosing in cynomolgus monkeys at 2, 6, and 12 mg/kg and displayed a 10-fold improvement in tolerability compared with an anti-CD71 ADC, which was lethal. Preclinically, anti-CD71 PDC exhibits a highly efficacious and acceptable safety profile that demonstrates the utility of the Pb-Tx platform to target CD71, an otherwise undruggable target. These data support further clinical development of the anti-CD71 PDC CX-2029 as a novel cancer therapeutic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shweta Singh
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, California
| | - Laura Serwer
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, California
| | - Amy DuPage
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, California
| | - Kristi Elkins
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, California
| | | | | | | | - Leyu Wang
- AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, Illinois
| | - Michael Krimm
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, California
| | - Ken Wong
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, California
| | - Jason Sagert
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, California
| | | | | | - Yuanhui Huang
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, California
| | - Andrew Jang
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, California
| | - Eric Ureno
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, California
| | - Adam Miller
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, California
| | - Sarah Patrick
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, California
| | - Shanti Duvur
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, California
| | - Shouchun Liu
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, California
| | - Olga Vasiljeva
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, California
| | | | | | | | | | - Siew Schleyer
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, California
| | | | - Claus Krebber
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, California
| | | | - Luc Desnoyers
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, California
| | | | - Marcia Belvin
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, California
- Corresponding Author: Marcia Belvin, CytomX Therapeutics, Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080. Phone: (650)-892-9803; E-mail:
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41
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Designing antibodies as therapeutics. Cell 2022; 185:2789-2805. [PMID: 35868279 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.05.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Antibody therapeutics are a large and rapidly expanding drug class providing major health benefits. We provide a snapshot of current antibody therapeutics including their formats, common targets, therapeutic areas, and routes of administration. Our focus is on selected emerging directions in antibody design where progress may provide a broad benefit. These topics include enhancing antibodies for cancer, antibody delivery to organs such as the brain, gastrointestinal tract, and lungs, plus antibody developability challenges including immunogenicity risk assessment and mitigation and subcutaneous delivery. Machine learning has the potential, albeit as yet largely unrealized, for a transformative future impact on antibody discovery and engineering.
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42
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Chen TT. Conditionally active T cell engagers for the treatment of solid tumors: rationale and clinical development. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2022; 22:955-963. [PMID: 35857922 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2022.2098674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION T cell engagers are a class of bispecific molecules that induce highly potent T cell-dependent cytotoxicity by bringing T cell activating receptors into proximity with cancer-associated cell surface antigens. However, because of their high potency, there is a greater risk of on-target/off-tumor toxicity owing to normal tissues having tumor antigen expression even at low levels. To reduce these adverse events, the dysregulated activity of proteases within the tumor microenvironment has recently been explored to create inert prodrugs that become conditionally active engagers after their cleavage by these enzymes. AREAS COVERED T-cell engagers that have been introduced for clinical use, and their respective successes and failures are reviewed. The unique challenges of these bispecific molecules for treating solid tumors and prior technologies used to exploit the proteolytic tumor microenvironment to create better-tolerated prodrugs and how that experience has led to the current series of conditionally active T-cell engagers, are discussed. EXPERT OPINION Methods for modulating the serum half-life of both inert and activated T cell engagers could have important ramifications in how they infiltrate tumors and prevent toxicity. Alternative features of the tumor microenvironment can also be leveraged in the development of conditional T cell engagers.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Timothy Chen
- Maverick Therapeutics, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc
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43
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Soleimany AP, Martin-Alonso C, Anahtar M, Wang CS, Bhatia SN. Protease Activity Analysis: A Toolkit for Analyzing Enzyme Activity Data. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:24292-24301. [PMID: 35874224 PMCID: PMC9301967 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c01559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Analyzing the activity of proteases and their substrates is critical to defining the biological functions of these enzymes and to designing new diagnostics and therapeutics that target protease dysregulation in disease. While a wide range of databases and algorithms have been created to better predict protease cleavage sites, there is a dearth of computational tools to automate analysis of in vitro and in vivo protease assays. This necessitates individual researchers to develop their own analytical pipelines, resulting in a lack of standardization across the field. To facilitate protease research, here we present Protease Activity Analysis (PAA), a toolkit for the preprocessing, visualization, machine learning analysis, and querying of protease activity data sets. PAA leverages a Python-based object-oriented implementation that provides a modular framework for streamlined analysis across three major components. First, PAA provides a facile framework to query data sets of synthetic peptide substrates and their cleavage susceptibilities across a diverse set of proteases. To complement the database functionality, PAA also includes tools for the automated analysis and visualization of user-input enzyme-substrate activity measurements generated through in vitro screens against synthetic peptide substrates. Finally, PAA supports a set of modular machine learning functions to analyze in vivo protease activity signatures that are generated by activity-based sensors. Overall, PAA offers the protease community a breadth of computational tools to streamline research, taking a step toward standardizing data analysis across the field and in chemical biology and biochemistry at large.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ava P. Soleimany
- Harvard-MIT
Division of Health Sciences and Technology, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Program
in Biophysics, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- Microsoft
Research New England, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Carmen Martin-Alonso
- Harvard-MIT
Division of Health Sciences and Technology, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Melodi Anahtar
- Harvard-MIT
Division of Health Sciences and Technology, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Cathy S. Wang
- Department
of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Sangeeta N. Bhatia
- Harvard-MIT
Division of Health Sciences and Technology, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department
of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Howard Hughes
Medical Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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44
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Labriola JM, Miersch S, Chen G, Chen C, Pavlenco A, Saberianfar R, Caccuri F, Zani A, Sharma N, Feng A, Leung DW, Caruso A, Novelli G, Amarasinghe GK, Sidhu SS. Peptide-Antibody Fusions Engineered by Phage Display Exhibit an Ultrapotent and Broad Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 Variants. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:1978-1988. [PMID: 35731947 PMCID: PMC9236212 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The spread of COVID-19 has been exacerbated by the emergence of variants of concern (VoC). Many VoC contain mutations in the spike protein (S-protein) and are implicated in infection and response to therapeutics. Bivalent neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) targeting the S-protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) are promising therapeutics for COVID-19, but they are limited by low potency and vulnerability to RBD mutations in VoC. To address these issues, we used naïve phage-displayed peptide libraries to isolate and optimize 16-residue peptides that bind to the RBD or the N-terminal domain (NTD) of the S-protein. We fused these peptides to the N-terminus of a moderate-affinity nAb to generate tetravalent peptide-IgG fusions, and we showed that both classes of peptides were able to improve affinities for the S-protein trimer by >100-fold (apparent KD < 1 pM). Critically, cell-based infection assays with a panel of six SARS-CoV-2 variants demonstrated that an RBD-binding peptide was able to enhance the neutralization potency of a high-affinity nAb >100-fold. Moreover, this peptide-IgG was able to neutralize variants that were resistant to the same nAb in the bivalent IgG format, including the dominant B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variant that is resistant to most clinically approved therapeutic nAbs. To show that this approach is general, we fused the same peptide to a clinically approved nAb drug and showed that it enabled the neutralization of a resistant variant. Taken together, these results establish minimal peptide fusions as a modular means to greatly enhance affinities, potencies, and breadth of coverage of nAbs as therapeutics for SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan M. Labriola
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The
Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, 160 College St., M5S 3E1 Toronto,
Ontario, Canada
| | - Shane Miersch
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The
Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, 160 College St., M5S 3E1 Toronto,
Ontario, Canada
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The
Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, 160 College St., M5S 3E1 Toronto,
Ontario, Canada
| | - Chao Chen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The
Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, 160 College St., M5S 3E1 Toronto,
Ontario, Canada
| | - Alevtina Pavlenco
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The
Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, 160 College St., M5S 3E1 Toronto,
Ontario, Canada
| | - Reza Saberianfar
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The
Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, 160 College St., M5S 3E1 Toronto,
Ontario, Canada
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and
Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School,
25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Alberto Zani
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and
Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School,
25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Nitin Sharma
- Department of Pathology and Immunology,
Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, St
Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
| | - Annie Feng
- Department of Pathology and Immunology,
Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, St
Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
- Division of Infectious Diseases, John T. Milliken
Department of Medicine, Washington University School of
Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United
States
| | - Daisy W. Leung
- Division of Infectious Diseases, John T. Milliken
Department of Medicine, Washington University School of
Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United
States
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and
Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School,
25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Novelli
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention,
University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133
Rome, Italy
- Italy 6 IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli
(IS) 86077, Italy
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine,
University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557, United
States
| | - Gaya K. Amarasinghe
- Department of Pathology and Immunology,
Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, St
Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
| | - Sachdev S. Sidhu
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The
Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, 160 College St., M5S 3E1 Toronto,
Ontario, Canada
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45
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Mansurov A, Hosseinchi P, Chang K, Lauterbach AL, Gray LT, Alpar AT, Budina E, Slezak AJ, Kang S, Cao S, Solanki A, Gomes S, Williford JM, Swartz MA, Mendoza JL, Ishihara J, Hubbell JA. Masking the immunotoxicity of interleukin-12 by fusing it with a domain of its receptor via a tumour-protease-cleavable linker. Nat Biomed Eng 2022; 6:819-829. [PMID: 35534574 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-022-00888-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Immune-checkpoint inhibitors have shown modest efficacy against immunologically 'cold' tumours. Interleukin-12 (IL-12)-a cytokine that promotes the recruitment of immune cells into tumours as well as immune cell activation, also in cold tumours-can cause severe immune-related adverse events in patients. Here, by exploiting the preferential overexpression of proteases in tumours, we show that fusing a domain of the IL-12 receptor to IL-12 via a linker cleavable by tumour-associated proteases largely restricts the pro-inflammatory effects of IL-12 to tumour sites. In mouse models of subcutaneous adenocarcinoma and orthotopic melanoma, masked IL-12 delivered intravenously did not cause systemic IL-12 signalling and eliminated systemic immune-related adverse events, led to potent therapeutic effects via the remodelling of the immune-suppressive microenvironment, and rendered cold tumours responsive to immune-checkpoint inhibition. We also show that masked IL-12 is activated in tumour lysates from patients. Protease-sensitive masking of potent yet toxic cytokines may facilitate their clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aslan Mansurov
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Peyman Hosseinchi
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Kevin Chang
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Abigail L Lauterbach
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Laura T Gray
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Aaron T Alpar
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Erica Budina
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Anna J Slezak
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Seounghun Kang
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Shijie Cao
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ani Solanki
- Animal Resource Center, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Suzana Gomes
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Melody A Swartz
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Ben May Department for Cancer Research, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Committee on Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Committee on Cancer Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Juan L Mendoza
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jun Ishihara
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - Jeffrey A Hubbell
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
- Committee on Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
- Committee on Cancer Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
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46
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Li M, Mei S, Yang Y, Shen Y, Chen L. Strategies to mitigate the on- and off-target toxicities of recombinant immunotoxins: an antibody engineering perspective. Antib Ther 2022; 5:164-176. [PMID: 35928456 PMCID: PMC9344849 DOI: 10.1093/abt/tbac014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Targeted cancer therapies using immunotoxins has achieved remarkable efficacies in hematological malignancies. However, the clinical development of immunotoxins is also faced with many challenges like anti-drug antibodies and dose-limiting toxicity issues. Such a poor efficacy/safety ratio is also the major hurdle in the research and development of antibody-drug conjugates. From an antibody engineering perspective, various strategies were summarized/proposed to tackle the notorious on target off tumor toxicity issues, including passive strategy (XTENylation of immunotoxins) and active strategies (modulating the affinity and valency of the targeting moiety of immunotoxins, conditionally activating immunotoxins in the tumor microenvironments and reconstituting split toxin to reduce systemic toxicity etc.). By modulating the functional characteristics of the targeting moiety and the toxic moiety of immunotoxins, selective tumor targeting can be augmented while sparing the healthy cells in normal tissues expressing the same target of interest. If successful, the improved therapeutic index will likely help to address the dose-limiting toxicities commonly observed in the clinical trials of various immunotoxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyu Li
- Department of Postgraduate , Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, P.R. China
- Joint Graduate School , Yangtze Delta Drug Advanced Research Institute, Nantong, P.R. China
- Joint Graduate School , Yangtze Delta Pharmaceutical College, Nantong, P.R. China
| | - Sen Mei
- Biotherapeutics , Biocytogen Jiangsu Co. Ltd, Nantong, P.R. China
| | - Yi Yang
- Joint Graduate School , Yangtze Delta Drug Advanced Research Institute, Nantong, P.R. China
- Joint Graduate School , Yangtze Delta Pharmaceutical College, Nantong, P.R. China
- Institute of Innovative Medicine , Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals (Beijing) Co, Ltd, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Yuelei Shen
- Joint Graduate School , Yangtze Delta Drug Advanced Research Institute, Nantong, P.R. China
- Joint Graduate School , Yangtze Delta Pharmaceutical College, Nantong, P.R. China
- Biotherapeutics , Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals (Beijing) Co, Ltd, Beijing, P.R. China
- Institute of Innovative Medicine , Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals (Beijing) Co, Ltd, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Lei Chen
- Biotherapeutics , Biocytogen Jiangsu Co. Ltd, Nantong, P.R. China
- Biotherapeutics , Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals (Beijing) Co, Ltd, Beijing, P.R. China
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47
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Exploiting protease activation for therapy. Drug Discov Today 2022; 27:1743-1754. [PMID: 35314338 PMCID: PMC9132161 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2022.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Proteases have crucial roles in homeostasis and disease; and protease inhibitors and recombinant proteases in enzyme replacement therapy have become key therapeutic applications of protease biology across several indications. This review briefly summarises therapeutic approaches based on protease activation and focuses on how recent insights into the spatial and temporal control of the proteolytic activation of growth factors and interleukins are leading to unique strategies for the discovery of new medicines. In particular, two emerging areas are covered: the first is based on antibody therapies that target the process of proteolytic activation of the pro-form of proteins rather than their mature form; the second covers a potentially new class of biopharmaceuticals using engineered, proteolytically activable and initially inactive pro-forms of antibodies or effector proteins to increase specificity and improve the therapeutic window.
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48
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Dettling DE, Kwok E, Quach L, Datt A, Degenhardt JD, Panchal A, Seto P, Krakow JL, Wall R, Hillier BJ, Zhu Y, Vinogradova M, DuBridge RB, May C. Regression of EGFR positive established solid tumors in mice with the conditionally active T cell engager TAK-186. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2021-004336. [PMID: 35728872 PMCID: PMC9214390 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-004336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Despite clinical success with T cell engagers (TCEs) targeting hematological malignancies, achieving a safe and efficacious dose in patients with solid tumors remains challenging. Due to potency, low levels of target antigen expression on normal tissues may not be tolerated. To overcome this, we engineered a novel conditionally active TCE design called COBRA (Conditional Bispecific Redirected Activation). Administered as prodrugs, COBRAs bind to cell surface antigens on both normal and tumor tissues but are preferentially activated within the tumor microenvironment. Methods A COBRA was engineered to target EGFR, TAK-186. The potency of precleaved TAK-186 relative to a non-cleavable control was assessed in vitro. Mice bearing established solid tumors expressing a range of EGFR levels were administered a single bolus of human T cells, and concurrently treated with TAK-186 and associated controls intravenously. We assessed the plasma and tumor exposure of intact and cleaved TAK-186. Results TAK-186 shows potent redirected T cell killing of antigen expressing tumor cells. In vivo efficacy studies demonstrate regressions of established solid tumors, dependent on intratumoral COBRA cleavage. Pharmacokinetic studies reveal TAK-186 is stable in circulation, but once activated is rapidly cleared due to loss of its albumin-binding half-life extension domain. Conclusions The studies shown support the advancement of TAK-186, and the pursuit of additional COBRA TCEs for the treatment of solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle E Dettling
- Oncology Drug Development Unit, Takeda Development Centers America, Inc (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Eilene Kwok
- Oncology Drug Development Unit, Takeda Development Centers America, Inc (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lucy Quach
- Oncology Drug Development Unit, Takeda Development Centers America, Inc (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Aakash Datt
- Oncology Drug Development Unit, Takeda Development Centers America, Inc (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jeremiah D Degenhardt
- Oncology Drug Development Unit, Takeda Development Centers America, Inc (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Anand Panchal
- Oncology Drug Development Unit, Takeda Development Centers America, Inc (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Pui Seto
- Oncology Drug Development Unit, Takeda Development Centers America, Inc (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jessica L Krakow
- Oncology Drug Development Unit, Takeda Development Centers America, Inc (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Russell Wall
- Oncology Drug Development Unit, Takeda Development Centers America, Inc (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Brian J Hillier
- Oncology Drug Development Unit, Takeda Development Centers America, Inc (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ying Zhu
- Oncology Drug Development Unit, Takeda Development Centers America, Inc (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Maia Vinogradova
- Oncology Drug Development Unit, Takeda Development Centers America, Inc (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Robert B DuBridge
- Oncology Drug Development Unit, Takeda Development Centers America, Inc (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Chad May
- Oncology Drug Development Unit, Takeda Development Centers America, Inc (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts, USA
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49
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Boni V, Fidler MJ, Arkenau HT, Spira A, Meric-Bernstam F, Uboha N, Sanborn RE, Sweis RF, LoRusso P, Nagasaka M, Garcia-Corbacho J, Jalal S, Harding JJ, Kim SK, Miedema IH, Vugts DJ, Huisman MC, Zwezerijnen GJ, van Dongen GA, Menke van der Houven van Oordt CW, Wang S, Dang T, Zein IA, Vasiljeva O, Lyman SK, Paton V, Hannah A, Liu JF. Praluzatamab Ravtansine, a CD166-Targeting Antibody-Drug Conjugate, in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors: An Open-Label Phase I/II Trial. Clin Cancer Res 2022; 28:2020-2029. [PMID: 35165101 PMCID: PMC9365353 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-21-3656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Praluzatamab ravtansine (CX-2009) is a conditionally activated Probody drug conjugate (PDC) comprising an anti-CD166 mAb conjugated to DM4, with a protease-cleavable linker and a peptide mask that limits target engagement in normal tissue and circulation. The tumor microenvironment is enriched for proteases capable of cleaving the linker, thereby releasing the mask, allowing for localized binding of CX-2009 to CD166. CX-2009 was evaluated in a phase I/II clinical trial for patients with advanced solid tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS Eligible patients had metastatic cancer receiving ≥2 prior treatments. CX-2009 was administered at escalating doses every 3 weeks (0.25-10 mg/kg) or every 2 weeks (4-6 mg/kg). Primary objective was to determine the safety profile and recommended phase II dose (RP2D). RESULTS Of 99 patients enrolled, the most prevalent subtype was breast cancer (n = 45). Median number of prior therapies was 5 (range, 1-19). Dose-limiting toxicities were observed at 8 mg/kg every 3 weeks and 6 mg/kg every 2 weeks. On the basis of tolerability, the RP2D was 7 mg/kg every 3 weeks. Tumor regressions were observed at doses ≥4 mg/kg. In the hormone receptor-positive/HER2-nonamplified breast cancer subset (n = 22), 2 patients (9%) had confirmed partial responses, and 10 patients (45%) had stable disease. Imaging with zirconium-labeled CX-2009 confirmed uptake in tumor lesions and shielding of major organs. Activated, unmasked CX-2009 was measurable in 18 of 22 posttreatment biopsies. CONCLUSIONS CD166 is a novel, ubiquitously expressed target. CX-2009 is the first conditionally activated antibody-drug conjugate to CD166 to demonstrate both translational and clinical activity in a variety of tumor types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Boni
- START Madrid HM CIOCC (Centro Integral Oncológico Clara Campal), Hospital Universitario HM Sanchinarro, HM Hospitales, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | - Nataliya Uboha
- University of Wisconsin-Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Rachel E. Sanborn
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, Oregon
| | | | | | | | | | - Shadia Jalal
- Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - James J. Harding
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | | | - Iris H.C. Miedema
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Danielle J. Vugts
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marc C. Huisman
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Gerben J.C. Zwezerijnen
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Guus A.M.S. van Dongen
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Song Wang
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc., South San Francisco, California
| | - Tam Dang
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc., South San Francisco, California
| | - Ivan A. Zein
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc., South San Francisco, California
| | - Olga Vasiljeva
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc., South San Francisco, California
| | - Susan K. Lyman
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc., South San Francisco, California
| | - Virginia Paton
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc., South San Francisco, California
| | - Alison Hannah
- CytomX Therapeutics, Inc., South San Francisco, California
| | - Joyce F. Liu
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
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50
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Qu T, Li B, Wang Y. Targeting CD47/SIRPα as a therapeutic strategy, where we are and where we are headed. Biomark Res 2022; 10:20. [PMID: 35418166 PMCID: PMC9009010 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-022-00373-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy using PD-1 and CTLA4 inhibitors to stimulate T cell immunity has achieved significant clinical success. However, only a portion of patients benefit from T cell-based immunotherapy. Macrophages, the most abundant type of innate immune cells in the body, play an important role in eliminating tumor cells and infectious microbes. The phagocytic check point protein CD47 inhibits the phagocytic activity of macrophages through binding to SIRPα expressed on macrophages. Blockade of the interaction between CD47 and SIRPα could restore phagocytic activity and eliminate tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. In this manuscript, we review the mechanism of action and development status of agents (antibodies targeting CD47 and SIRPα, SIRPα-Fc fusion proteins, and bi-specific antibodies) that block CD47/SIRPα interaction in preclinical studies and in the clinical setting. In addition, small molecules, mRNA, and CAR-T/M that target the CD47/SIRPα axis are also reviewed in this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tailong Qu
- College of life Science and Technology, Jinan University, No.601, West Huangpu Avenue, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632 People’s Republic of China
- Department of Antibody Discovery, Akeso Biopharma, No.6 of Shennong Road, Torch Development District, Zhongshan, 528437 People’s Republic of China
| | - Baiyong Li
- Department of Antibody Discovery, Akeso Biopharma, No.6 of Shennong Road, Torch Development District, Zhongshan, 528437 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yifei Wang
- College of life Science and Technology, Jinan University, No.601, West Huangpu Avenue, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632 People’s Republic of China
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