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Liu JJ, Pan ZD, Yue YL, Wang SS, Chen J, Jiang H, Zhang BH, Wu MY, Yuan YS, Bian YL, Yin HY, Wang L, Li JY, Gilly J, Xie YQ, Zhu JW. T cell-redirecting antibody for treatment of solid tumors via targeting mesothelin. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2024; 45:2186-2198. [PMID: 38858494 PMCID: PMC11420237 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-024-01316-6] [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: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
T cell engaging bispecific antibodies (TCBs) have recently become significant in cancer treatment. In this study we developed MSLN490, a novel TCB designed to target mesothelin (MSLN), a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked glycoprotein highly expressed in various cancers, and evaluated its efficacy against solid tumors. CDR walking and phage display techniques were used to improve affinity of the parental antibody M912, resulting in a pool of antibodies with different affinities to MSLN. From this pool, various bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) were assembled. Notably, MSLN490 with its IgG-[L]-scFv structure displayed remarkable anti-tumor activity against MSLN-expressing tumors (EC50: 0.16 pM in HT-29-hMSLN cells). Furthermore, MSLN490 remained effective even in the presence of non-membrane-anchored MSLN (soluble MSLN). Moreover, the anti-tumor activity of MSLN490 was enhanced when combined with either Atezolizumab or TAA × CD28 BsAbs. Notably, a synergistic effect was observed between MSLN490 and paclitaxel, as paclitaxel disrupted the immunosuppressive microenvironment within solid tumors, enhancing immune cells infiltration and improved anti-tumor efficacy. Overall, MSLN490 exhibits robust anti-tumor activity, resilience to soluble MSLN interference, and enhanced anti-tumor effects when combined with other therapies, offering a promising future for the treatment of a variety of solid tumors. This study provides a strong foundation for further exploration of MSLN490's clinical potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Jun Liu
- Engineering Research Center of Cell and Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Zhi-di Pan
- Jecho Institute, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Ya-Li Yue
- Engineering Research Center of Cell and Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | | | - Jie Chen
- Jecho Institute, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Hua Jiang
- Jecho Laboratories, Inc., Frederick, MD, 21704, USA
- Jecho Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd, Tianjin, 300450, China
| | - Bao-Hong Zhang
- Engineering Research Center of Cell and Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Ming-Yuan Wu
- Engineering Research Center of Cell and Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Yun-Sheng Yuan
- Engineering Research Center of Cell and Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Yan-Lin Bian
- Engineering Research Center of Cell and Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | | | - Lei Wang
- Engineering Research Center of Cell and Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Jun-Yan Li
- Engineering Research Center of Cell and Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - John Gilly
- Jecho Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd, Tianjin, 300450, China
| | - Yue-Qing Xie
- Jecho Institute, Shanghai, 200240, China.
- Jecho Laboratories, Inc., Frederick, MD, 21704, USA.
| | - Jian-Wei Zhu
- Engineering Research Center of Cell and Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
- Jecho Institute, Shanghai, 200240, China.
- Jecho Laboratories, Inc., Frederick, MD, 21704, USA.
- Jecho Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd, Tianjin, 300450, China.
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Mansfield AS, Vivien Yin J, Bradbury P, Kwiatkowski DJ, Patel S, Bazhenova LA, Forde P, Lou Y, Dizona P, Villaruz LC, Arnold SM, Khalil M, Kindler HL, Koczywas M, Pacheco J, Rolfo C, Xia B, Mikula E, Chen L, Patel K, Smith KER, Cao L, Shapiro G, Costello BA, Adjei A, Sharon E, Moscow JA, Zamboni W, Hassan R. Randomized trial of anetumab ravtansine and pembrolizumab compared to pembrolizumab for mesothelioma. Lung Cancer 2024; 195:107928. [PMID: 39197359 PMCID: PMC11416719 DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2024.107928] [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: 06/12/2024] [Revised: 08/08/2024] [Accepted: 08/10/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE The mesothelin-targeting antibody-drug conjugate anetumab ravtansine was evaluated in combination with the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor pembrolizumab based on the common expression of mesothelin and reports of activity in mesothelioma. PATIENTS AND METHODS A phase 1 safety run-in of the combination of anetumab ravtansine (6.5 mg/kg iv q3weeks) and pembrolizumab (200 mg, IV q3weeks) was conducted, followed by a phase 2 randomization to the combination or pembrolizumab alone at medical centers across the United States and Canada in the National Cancer Institute's Experimental Therapeutics Clinical Trials Network. Patients with pleural mesothelioma that expressed mesothelin and had previously received platinum-based therapy were eligible. RESULTS In phase 1 (n = 12) only one dose limiting toxicity was observed and the rules for dose reduction were not met. In phase 2, there was no difference in the confirmed response rates between the combination group (n = 18, 2 partial responses [PR], 11 %) and the pembrolizumab group (n = 17, 1 PR, 6 %; z = -0.5523, p = 0.29116). The median PFS was 12.2 months (95 % CI 5.1-not evaluable [NE]) for the combination, and 3.9 months for pembrolizumab (95 % CI 2.1-NE)(HR=0.55, p = 0.20). Patients with high baseline levels of soluble mesothelin who received anetumab ravtansine had a median PFS of 5 months. CONCLUSIONS The numeric difference in PFS between treatment groups was not statistically significant, likely related to a smaller than planned sample size. High levels of soluble mesothelin should potentially be considered to select against the use of mesothelin-targeting therapies in development that are neutralized by soluble mesothelin.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jun Vivien Yin
- Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
| | - Penelope Bradbury
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 610 University Ave, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2C4, Canada.
| | | | - Shiven Patel
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, 50 North Medical Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA.
| | - Lyudmila A Bazhenova
- University of California San Diego, 3855 Health Sciences Drive, San Diego, CA 92037, USA.
| | - Patrick Forde
- Johns Hopkins, 300 Mason Lord Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
| | - Yanyan Lou
- Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road South, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA.
| | - Paul Dizona
- Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
| | - Liza C Villaruz
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Hillman Cancer Center, 5115 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
| | - Susanne M Arnold
- Markey Cancer Center, 1000 S. Limestone, Lexington, KY 40536, USA.
| | - Maya Khalil
- O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1824 6(th) Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA.
| | - Hedy L Kindler
- University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
| | | | - Jose Pacheco
- University of Colorado Anschutz Cancer Center, 1665 Aurora Court, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
| | - Christian Rolfo
- University of Maryland, 7901 Regents Drive, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
| | - Bing Xia
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, 1441 Eastlake Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
| | | | - Li Chen
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Carolina Institute of Nanomedicine, 301 Pharmacy Lane, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
| | - Kashish Patel
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Carolina Institute of Nanomedicine, 301 Pharmacy Lane, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
| | | | - Liang Cao
- National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Dr., Rockville, MD 20850, USA.
| | - Geoffrey Shapiro
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
| | | | - Alex Adjei
- Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
| | - Elad Sharon
- National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Dr., Rockville, MD 20850, USA.
| | - Jeffrey A Moscow
- National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Dr., Rockville, MD 20850, USA.
| | - William Zamboni
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Carolina Institute of Nanomedicine, 301 Pharmacy Lane, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
| | - Raffit Hassan
- National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Dr., Rockville, MD 20850, USA.
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3
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Chu GJ, Bailey CG, Nagarajah R, Liang O, Metierre C, Sagnella SM, Castelletti L, Yeo D, Adelstein S, Rasko JEJ. Mesothelin antigen density influences anti-mesothelin chimeric antigen receptor T cell cytotoxicity. Cytotherapy 2024; 26:325-333. [PMID: 38349311 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2024.01.011] [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: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS Several anti-mesothelin (MSLN) chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells are in phase 1/2 clinical trials to treat solid-organ malignancies. The effect of MSLN antigen density on MSLN CAR cytotoxicity against tumor cells has not been examined previously, nor are there data regarding the effect of agents that increase MSLN antigen density on anti-MSLN CAR T cell efficacy. METHODS MSLN antigen density was measured on a panel of pancreatic cancer and mesothelioma cell lines by flow cytometry. In parallel, the cytotoxicity and specificity of two anti-MSLN CAR T cells (m912 and SS1) were compared against these cell lines using a real-time impedance-based assay. The effect of two MSLN 'sheddase' inhibitors (lanabecestat and TMI-1) that increase MSLN surface expression was also tested in combination with CAR T cells. RESULTS SS1 CAR T cells were more cytotoxic compared with m912 CAR T cells against cell lines that expressed fewer than ∼170 000 MSLN molecules/cell. A comparison of the m912 and amatuximab (humanized SS1) antibodies identified that amatuximab could detect and bind to lower levels of MSLN on pancreatic cancer and mesothelioma cell lines, suggesting that superior antibody/scFv affinity was the reason for the SS1 CAR's superior cytotoxicity. The cytotoxicity of m912 CAR T cells was improved in the presence of sheddase inhibitors, which increased MSLN antigen density. CONCLUSIONS These data highlight the value of assessing CAR constructs against a panel of cells expressing varying degrees of target tumor antigen as occurs in human tumors. Furthermore, the problem of low antigen density may be overcome by concomitant administration of drugs that inhibit enzymatic shedding of MSLN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard J Chu
- Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program Centenary Institute, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Charles G Bailey
- Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program Centenary Institute, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Cancer and Gene Regulation Laboratory Centenary Institute, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
| | - Rajini Nagarajah
- Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program Centenary Institute, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
| | - Oliver Liang
- Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program Centenary Institute, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Cell & Molecular Therapies, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Li Ka Shing Cell & Gene Therapy Program, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
| | - Cynthia Metierre
- Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program Centenary Institute, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
| | - Sharon M Sagnella
- Cell & Molecular Therapies, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
| | - Laura Castelletti
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Cell & Molecular Therapies, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Li Ka Shing Cell & Gene Therapy Program, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
| | - Dannel Yeo
- Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program Centenary Institute, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Cell & Molecular Therapies, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Li Ka Shing Cell & Gene Therapy Program, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
| | - Stephen Adelstein
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - John E J Rasko
- Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program Centenary Institute, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Cell & Molecular Therapies, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Li Ka Shing Cell & Gene Therapy Program, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
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4
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Liu X, Onda M, Schlomer J, Bassel L, Kozlov S, Tai CH, Zhou Q, Liu W, Tsao HE, Hassan R, Ho M, Pastan I. Tumor resistance to anti-mesothelin CAR-T cells caused by binding to shed mesothelin is overcome by targeting a juxtamembrane epitope. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2317283121. [PMID: 38227666 PMCID: PMC10823246 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2317283121] [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: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite many clinical trials, CAR-T cells are not yet approved for human solid tumor therapy. One popular target is mesothelin (MSLN) which is highly expressed on the surface of about 30% of cancers including mesothelioma and cancers of the ovary, pancreas, and lung. MSLN is shed by proteases that cleave near the C terminus, leaving a short peptide attached to the cell. Most anti-MSLN antibodies bind to shed MSLN, which can prevent their binding to target cells. To overcome this limitation, we developed an antibody (15B6) that binds next to the membrane at the protease-sensitive region, does not bind to shed MSLN, and makes CAR-T cells that have much higher anti-tumor activity than a CAR-T that binds to shed MSLN. We have now humanized the Fv (h15B6), so the CAR-T can be used to treat patients and show that h15B6 CAR-T produces complete regressions in a hard-to-treat pancreatic cancer patient derived xenograft model, whereas CAR-T targeting a shed epitope (SS1) have no anti-tumor activity. In these pancreatic cancers, the h15B6 CAR-T replicates and replaces the cancer cells, whereas there are no CAR-T cells in the tumors receiving SS1 CAR-T. To determine the mechanism accounting for high activity, we used an OVCAR-8 intraperitoneal model to show that poorly active SS1-CAR-T cells are bound to shed MSLN, whereas highly active h15B6 CAR-T do not contain bound MSLN enabling them to bind to and kill cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- X.F. Liu
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - M. Onda
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - J. Schlomer
- Center for Advanced Preclinical Research, Frederick National Lab for Cancer Research Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Frederick, MD 21701
| | - L. Bassel
- Center for Advanced Preclinical Research, Frederick National Lab for Cancer Research Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Frederick, MD 21701
| | - S. Kozlov
- Center for Advanced Preclinical Research, Frederick National Lab for Cancer Research Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Frederick, MD 21701
| | - C.-H. Tai
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - Q. Zhou
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - W. Liu
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - H.-E. Tsao
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - R. Hassan
- Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - M. Ho
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - I. Pastan
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
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5
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Kina E, Laverdure JP, Durette C, Lanoix J, Courcelles M, Zhao Q, Apavaloaei A, Larouche JD, Hardy MP, Vincent K, Gendron P, Hesnard L, Thériault C, Ruiz Cuevas MV, Ehx G, Thibault P, Perreault C. Breast cancer immunopeptidomes contain numerous shared tumor antigens. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e166740. [PMID: 37906288 PMCID: PMC10760959 DOI: 10.1172/jci166740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Hormone receptor-positive breast cancer (HR+) is immunologically cold and has not benefited from advances in immunotherapy. In contrast, subsets of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) display high leukocytic infiltration and respond to checkpoint blockade. CD8+ T cells, the main effectors of anticancer responses, recognize MHC I-associated peptides (MAPs). Our work aimed to characterize the repertoire of MAPs presented by HR+ and TNBC tumors. Using mass spectrometry, we identified 57,094 unique MAPs in 26 primary breast cancer samples. MAP source genes highly overlapped between both subtypes. We identified 25 tumor-specific antigens (TSAs) mainly deriving from aberrantly expressed regions. TSAs were most frequently identified in TNBC samples and were more shared among The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database TNBC than HR+ samples. In the TNBC cohort, the predicted number of TSAs positively correlated with leukocytic infiltration and overall survival, supporting their immunogenicity in vivo. We detected 49 tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), some of which derived from cancer-associated fibroblasts. Functional expansion of specific T cell assays confirmed the in vitro immunogenicity of several TSAs and TAAs. Our study identified attractive targets for cancer immunotherapy in both breast cancer subtypes. The higher prevalence of TSAs in TNBC tumors provides a rationale for their responsiveness to checkpoint blockade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eralda Kina
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), and
- Department of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | | | - Joël Lanoix
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), and
| | | | - Qingchuan Zhao
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), and
- Department of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Anca Apavaloaei
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), and
- Department of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jean-David Larouche
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), and
- Department of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Leslie Hesnard
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), and
| | | | - Maria Virginia Ruiz Cuevas
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), and
- Department of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Grégory Ehx
- Laboratory of Hematology, GIGA-I3, University of Liege and CHU of Liège, Liege, Belgium
| | - Pierre Thibault
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), and
- Department of Chemistry, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Claude Perreault
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), and
- Department of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Snell D, Gunde T, Warmuth S, Chatterjee B, Brock M, Hess C, Johansson M, Simonin A, Spiga FM, Weinert C, Kirk N, Bassler N, Campos Carrascosa L, Flückiger N, Heiz R, Wagen S, Giezendanner N, Alberti A, Yaman Y, Mahler D, Diem D, Lichtlen P, Urech D. An engineered T-cell engager with selectivity for high mesothelin-expressing cells and activity in the presence of soluble mesothelin. Oncoimmunology 2023; 12:2233401. [PMID: 37456982 PMCID: PMC10339761 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2023.2233401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Mesothelin (MSLN) is an attractive immuno-oncology target, but the development of MSLN-targeting therapies has been impeded by tumor shedding of soluble MSLN (sMSLN), on-target off-tumor activity, and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. We sought to engineer an antibody-based, MSLN-targeted T-cell engager (αMSLN/αCD3) with enhanced ability to discriminate high MSLN-expressing tumors from normal tissue, and activity in the presence of sMSLN. We also studied the in vivo antitumor efficacy of this molecule (NM28-2746) alone and in combination with the multifunctional checkpoint inhibitor/T-cell co-activator NM21-1480 (αPD-L1/α4-1BB). Cytotoxicity and T-cell activation induced by NM28-2746 were studied in co-cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and cell lines exhibiting different levels of MSLN expression, including in the presence of soluble MSLN. Xenotransplant models of human pancreatic cancer were used to study the inhibition of tumor growth and stimulation of T-cell infiltration into tumors induced by NM28-2746 alone and in combination with NM21-1480. The bivalent αMSLN T-cell engager NM28-2746 potently induced T-cell activation and T-cell mediated cytotoxicity of high MSLN-expressing cells but had much lower potency against low MSLN-expressing cells. A monovalent counterpart of NM28-2746 had much lower ability to discriminate high MSLN-expressing from low MSLN-expressing cells. The bivalent molecule retained this discriminant ability in the presence of high concentrations of sMSLN. In xenograft models, NM28-2746 exhibited significant tumor suppressing activity, which was significantly enhanced by combination therapy with NM21-1480. NM28-2746, alone or in combination with NM21-1480, may overcome shortcomings of previous MSLN-targeted immuno-oncology drugs, exhibiting enhanced discrimination of high MSLN-expressing cell activity in the presence of sMSLN.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tea Gunde
- Numab Therapeutics AG, Horgen, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Niels Kirk
- Numab Therapeutics AG, Horgen, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Robin Heiz
- Numab Therapeutics AG, Horgen, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Dania Diem
- Numab Therapeutics AG, Horgen, Switzerland
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7
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Targeting Mesothelin in Solid Tumours: Anti-mesothelin Antibody and Drug Conjugates. Curr Oncol Rep 2023; 25:309-323. [PMID: 36763234 DOI: 10.1007/s11912-023-01367-8] [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: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review aims to summarise the pathobiological role of mesothelin and the current data on therapeutic antibodies targeting mesothelin in solid tumours. RECENT FINDINGS High mesothelin expression is restricted to the pericardium, pleura, peritoneum and tunica vaginalis. Mesothelin does not seem to have any normal biological function in adult normal tissues. Mesothelin is highly expressed in mesothelioma, serous ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer and some gastric cancer and adenocarcinoma of the lung and is responsible for tumour proliferation, metastasis, resistance to chemotherapy or radiation and evasion of immune system. To date, antibody, antibody drug conjugates and bispecific antibodies with immune checkpoints have been investigated in mesothelin expressing malignancies. After a couple of decades of clinical investigation in antibody targeting mesothelin, the therapeutic benefit is relatively modest. Novel delivery of mesothelin targeting agents, more potent payload in antibody drug conjugates and immune checkpoint inhibitor, may improve therapeutic benefit.
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8
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Liu X, Onda M, Watson N, Hassan R, Ho M, Bera TK, Wei J, Chakraborty A, Beers R, Zhou Q, Shajahan A, Azadi P, Zhan J, Xia D, Pastan I. Highly active CAR T cells that bind to a juxtamembrane region of mesothelin and are not blocked by shed mesothelin. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2202439119. [PMID: 35512094 PMCID: PMC9171807 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2202439119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
SignificanceMesothelin (MSLN) is a cell-surface protein that is a popular target for antibody-based therapies. We have identified shed MSLN as a major obstacle to successful antibody therapies and prepared a monoclonal antibody that inhibits shedding and makes very active CAR T cells whose activity is not blocked by shed MSLN and merits further preclinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiufen Liu
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, MD 20892-4264
| | - Masanori Onda
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, MD 20892-4264
| | - Nathan Watson
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, MD 20892-4264
| | - Raffit Hassan
- Thoracic and GI Malignancies Branch, NCI, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Mitchell Ho
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, MD 20892-4264
| | - Tapan K. Bera
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, MD 20892-4264
| | - Junxia Wei
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, MD 20892-4264
| | - Anirban Chakraborty
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, MD 20892-4264
| | - Richard Beers
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, MD 20892-4264
| | - Qi Zhou
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, MD 20892-4264
| | - Asif Shajahan
- Analytical Services and Training, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-4712
| | - Parastoo Azadi
- Analytical Services and Training, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-4712
| | - Jingyu Zhan
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, NCI, Bethesda, MD 20892-4255
| | - Di Xia
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, NCI, Bethesda, MD 20892-4255
| | - Ira Pastan
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, MD 20892-4264
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9
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Zhang X, Yu Y, Peer CJ, Landsman R, Skorupan N, Cao L, Alewine C. Low serum mesothelin in pancreatic cancer patients results from retention of shed mesothelin in the tumor microenvironment. Transl Oncol 2022; 21:101440. [PMID: 35523008 PMCID: PMC9079715 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2022.101440] [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] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreas ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) frequently expresses mesothelin. No elevation in serum mesothelin was observed in PDAC patients. Shed mesothelin transit from intratumoral fluid to serum compartments is slowed in PDAC.
Mesothelin (MSLN) is overexpressed by many cancers, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and has consequently become a target for anti-cancer therapeutics. Mature, membrane bound MSLN is cleaved by proteases, releasing a shed form that transits to the circulation. Many patients with mesothelioma and ovarian cancer have abnormally high serum MSLN concentration. However, serum MSLN concentration in PDAC patients rarely exceeds levels of healthy controls. Here, serum MSLN concentration in advanced PDAC patients was examined pre- and post-treatment. Serum MSLN did not correlate with tumor MSLN expression, nor with changes in tumor burden as assessed by PDAC serum tumor marker CA19–9. Subsequently, tumor-bearing mouse models were used to investigate the fate of shed MSLN in PDAC versus a control cervical cancer model. Efficiency of MSLN secretion into the serum was cell-line dependent. Tumors from some PDAC lines had poor MSLN secretion efficiency although these lines had similar or higher MSLN shedding rate, total and surface MSLN expression. Measurements of compartment-specific MSLN concentration taken at equilibrium suggested that tumors with poor MSLN secretion efficiency trapped shed MSLN in the tumor microenvironment (TME), a finding confirmed by dynamic experiments using a doxycycline-inducible MSLN expression system. Tumors with the poorest MSLN secretion efficiency had higher collagen density and increased abundance of MSLN binding partner MUC16. The tumor with the worst secretion efficiency could rebind shed MSLN to the cancer cell surface. Altogether, these data suggest that PDAC can trap shed MSLN within the TME. This finding has potential significance for design of MSLN-targeted therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianyu Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Besthesda, MD, 20892-4264, USA
| | - Yunkai Yu
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Besthesda, MD, 20892-4264, USA
| | - Cody J Peer
- Clinical Pharmacology Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Besthesda, MD, 20892-4264, USA
| | - Rebekah Landsman
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Besthesda, MD, 20892-4264, USA
| | - Nebojsa Skorupan
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Besthesda, MD, 20892-4264, USA; Medical Oncology Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892-4264, USA
| | - Liang Cao
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Besthesda, MD, 20892-4264, USA
| | - Christine Alewine
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Besthesda, MD, 20892-4264, USA.
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10
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A cell-based phenotypic library selection and screening approach for the de novo discovery of novel functional chimeric antigen receptors. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1136. [PMID: 35064152 PMCID: PMC8782825 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05058-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Anti-tumor therapies that seek to exploit and redirect the cytotoxic killing and effector potential of autologous or syngeneic T cells have shown extraordinary promise and efficacy in certain clinical settings. Such cells, when engineered to express synthetic chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) acquire novel targeting and activation properties which are governed and orchestrated by, typically, antibody fragments specific for a tumor antigen of interest. However, it is becoming increasingly apparent that not all antibodies are equal in this regard, with a growing appreciation that ‘optimal’ CAR performance requires a consideration of multiple structural and contextual parameters. Thus, antibodies raised by classical approaches and intended for other applications often perform poorly or not at all when repurposed as CARs. With this in mind, we have explored the potential of an in vitro phenotypic CAR library discovery approach that tightly associates antibody-driven bridging of tumor and effector T cells with an informative and functionally relevant CAR activation reporter signal. Critically, we demonstrate the utility of this enrichment methodology for ‘real world’ de novo discovery by isolating several novel anti-mesothelin CAR-active scFv candidates.
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11
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Li D, Lin S, Hong J, Ho M. Immunotherapy for hepatobiliary cancers: Emerging targets and translational advances. Adv Cancer Res 2022; 156:415-449. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2022.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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12
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Kreitman RJ, Pastan I. Immunotoxins: From Design to Clinical Application. Biomolecules 2021; 11:1696. [PMID: 34827694 PMCID: PMC8615697 DOI: 10.3390/biom11111696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The Special Issue of Biomolecules entitled "Immunotoxins, From Design to Clinical Application" contains seven reviews related to immunotoxins [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J. Kreitman
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA;
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13
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Le Q, Castro S, Tang T, Loeb AM, Hylkema T, McKay CN, Perkins L, Srivastava S, Call L, Smith J, Leonti A, Ries R, Pardo L, Loken MR, Correnti C, Fiorenza S, Turtle CJ, Riddell S, Tarlock K, Meshinchi S. Therapeutic Targeting of Mesothelin with Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Clin Cancer Res 2021; 27:5718-5730. [PMID: 34380639 PMCID: PMC9401532 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-21-1546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE We previously identified mesothelin (MSLN) as highly expressed in a significant fraction of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) but entirely silent in normal hematopoiesis, providing a promising antigen for immunotherapeutic targeting that avoids hematopoietic toxicity. Given that T cells genetically modified to express chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) are effective at eradicating relapsed/refractory acute lymphocytic leukemia, we developed MSLN-directed CAR T cells for preclinical evaluation in AML. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN The variable light (VL) and heavy (VH) sequences from the MSLN-targeting SS1P immunotoxin were used to construct the single-chain variable fragment of the standard CAR containing 41-BB costimulatory and CD3Zeta stimulatory domains. The preclinical efficacy of MSLN CAR T cells was evaluated against AML cell lines and patient samples expressing various levels of MSLN in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS We demonstrate that MSLN is expressed on the cell surface of AML blasts and leukemic stem cell-enriched CD34+CD38- subset, but not on normal hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC). We further establish that MSLN CAR T cells are highly effective in eliminating MSLN-positive AML cells in cell line- and patient-derived xenograft models. Importantly, MSLN CAR T cells can target and eradicate CD34+CD38- cells without impacting the viability of normal HSPCs. Finally, we show that CAR T-cell functionality can be improved by inhibition of the ADAM17 metalloprotease that promotes shedding of MSLN. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate that MSLN is a viable target for CAR T-cell therapy in AML and that inhibiting MSLN shedding is a promising approach to improve CAR T-cell efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quy Le
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington.,Corresponding Author: Quy Le, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, 98109. Phone: 206-667-6008; Fax: 206-667-6084; E-mail:
| | - Sommer Castro
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Thao Tang
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Anisha M. Loeb
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | | | | | | | | | - Lindsey Call
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Jenny Smith
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Amanda Leonti
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Rhonda Ries
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Laura Pardo
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington.,Hematologics, Inc, Seattle, Washington
| | | | - Colin Correnti
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | | | - Cameron J. Turtle
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington.,Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | | | - Katherine Tarlock
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Soheil Meshinchi
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.,Children's Oncology Group, Monrovia, California
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14
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Multiple proteases are involved in mesothelin shedding by cancer cells. Commun Biol 2020; 3:728. [PMID: 33262421 PMCID: PMC7708464 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01464-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Mesothelin (MSLN) is a lineage restricted cell surface protein expressed in about 30% of human cancers and high MSLN expression is associated with poor survival in several different cancers. The restricted expression of MSLN in normal tissue and its frequent expression in cancers make MSLN an excellent target for antibody-based therapies. Many clinical trials with agents targeting MSLN have been carried out but to date none of these agents have produced enough responses to obtain FDA approval. MSLN shedding is an important factor that may contribute to the failure of these therapies, because shed MSLN acts as a decoy receptor and allows release of antibodies bound to cell-surface MSLN. We have investigated the mechanism of shedding and show here that members of the ADAM, MMP and BACE families of proteases all participate in shedding, that more than one protease can produce shedding in the same cell, and that inhibition of shedding greatly enhances killing of cells by an immunotoxin targeting MSLN. Our data indicates that controlling MSLN shedding could greatly increase the activity of therapies that target MSLN.
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15
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Dieffenbach M, Pastan I. Mechanisms of Resistance to Immunotoxins Containing Pseudomonas Exotoxin A in Cancer Therapy. Biomolecules 2020; 10:E979. [PMID: 32630017 PMCID: PMC7408526 DOI: 10.3390/biom10070979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotoxins are a class of targeted cancer therapeutics in which a toxin such as Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PE) is linked to an antibody or cytokine to direct the toxin to a target on cancer cells. While a variety of PE-based immunotoxins have been developed and a few have demonstrated promising clinical and preclinical results, cancer cells frequently have or develop resistance to these immunotoxins. This review presents our current understanding of the mechanism of action of PE-based immunotoxins and discusses cellular mechanisms of resistance that interfere with various steps of the pathway. These steps include binding of the immunotoxin to the target antigen, internalization, intracellular processing and trafficking to reach the cytosol, inhibition of protein synthesis through ADP-ribosylation of elongation factor 2 (EF2), and induction of apoptosis. Combination therapies that increase immunotoxin action and overcome specific mechanisms of resistance are also reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ira Pastan
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-4264, USA;
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16
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Mesothelin-Targeted Recombinant Immunotoxins for Solid Tumors. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10070973. [PMID: 32605175 PMCID: PMC7408136 DOI: 10.3390/biom10070973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mesothelin (MSLN) is a cell surface glycoprotein normally expressed only on serosal surfaces, and not found in the parenchyma of vital organs. Many solid tumors also express MSLN, including mesothelioma and pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Due to this favorable expression profile, MSLN represents a viable target for directed anti-neoplastic therapies, such as recombinant immunotoxins (iToxs). Pre-clinical testing of MSLN-targeted iTox’s has yielded a strong body of evidence for activity against a number of solid tumors. This has led to multiple clinical trials, testing the safety and efficacy of the clinical leads SS1P and LMB-100. While promising clinical results have been observed, neutralizing anti-drug antibody (ADA) formation presents a major challenge to overcome in the therapeutic development process. Additionally, on-target, off-tumor toxicity from serositis and non-specific capillary leak syndrome (CLS) also limits the dose, and therefore, impact anti-tumor activity. This review summarizes existing pre-clinical and clinical data on MSLN-targeted iTox’s. In addition, we address the potential future directions of research to enhance the activity of these anti-tumor agents.
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17
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Nichetti F, Marra A, Corti F, Guidi A, Raimondi A, Prinzi N, de Braud F, Pusceddu S. The Role of Mesothelin as a Diagnostic and Therapeutic Target in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Comprehensive Review. Target Oncol 2019; 13:333-351. [PMID: 29656320 DOI: 10.1007/s11523-018-0567-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Mesothelin is a tumor differentiation antigen, which is highly expressed in several solid neoplasms, including pancreatic cancer. Its selective expression on malignant cells and on only a limited number of healthy tissues has made it an interesting candidate for investigation as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker and as a therapeutic target. Based on a strong preclinical rationale, a number of therapeutic agents targeting mesothelin have entered clinical trials, including immunotoxins, monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, cancer vaccines, and adoptive T cell therapies with chimeric antigen receptors. In pancreatic cancer, mesothelin has been investigated mainly to address two unmet issues: the urgent need for new laboratory techniques for early tumor detection and the lack of successfully targetable oncogenic alterations for patients' treatment. In this review, we describe the clinicopathological significance of mesothelin expression in pancreatic cancer initiation and progression, we summarize available studies evaluating mesothelin as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in this disease, and we discuss current evidence and future perspectives of preclinical and clinical studies testing mesothelin as a molecular target for pancreatic cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Nichetti
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Venezian 1, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Antonio Marra
- Medical Oncology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera San Paolo, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Corti
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Venezian 1, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Guidi
- Medical Oncology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera San Gerardo, Monza, Italy
| | - Alessandra Raimondi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Venezian 1, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Natalie Prinzi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Venezian 1, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Filippo de Braud
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Venezian 1, 20133, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Pusceddu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Venezian 1, 20133, Milan, Italy
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18
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Hilliard TS. The Impact of Mesothelin in the Ovarian Cancer Tumor Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2018; 10:E277. [PMID: 30134520 PMCID: PMC6162689 DOI: 10.3390/cancers10090277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Revised: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynecological disease among U.S. women. Poor 5-year survival rates (<30%) are due to presentation of most women at diagnosis with advanced stage disease with widely disseminated intraperitoneal metastasis. However, when diagnosed before metastatic propagation the overall 5-year survival rate is >90%. Metastasizing tumor cells grow rapidly and aggressively attach to the mesothelium of all organs within the peritoneal cavity, including the parietal peritoneum and the omentum, producing secondary lesions. In this review, the involvement of mesothelin (MSLN) in the tumor microenvironment is discussed. MSLN, a 40kDa glycoprotein that is overexpressed in many cancers including ovarian and mesotheliomas is suggested to play a role in cell survival, proliferation, tumor progression, and adherence. However, the biological function of MSLN is not fully understood as MSLN knockout mice do not present with an abnormal phenotype. Conversely, MSLN has been shown to bind to the ovarian cancer antigen, CA-125, and thought to play a role in the peritoneal diffusion of ovarian tumor cells. Although the cancer-specific expression of MSLN makes it a potential therapeutic target, more studies are needed to validate the role of MSLN in tumor metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyvette S Hilliard
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46617, USA.
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19
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Vezina HE, Cotreau M, Han TH, Gupta M. Antibody-Drug Conjugates as Cancer Therapeutics: Past, Present, and Future. J Clin Pharmacol 2018; 57 Suppl 10:S11-S25. [PMID: 28921650 DOI: 10.1002/jcph.981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) represent an innovative therapeutic approach that provides novel treatment options and hope for patients with cancer. By coupling monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to cytotoxic small-molecule payloads with a plasma-stable linker, ADCs offer the potential for increased drug specificity and fewer off-target effects than systemic chemotherapy. As evidence for the potential of these therapies, many new ADCs are in various stages of clinical development. Because their structure poses unique challenges to pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characterization, it is critical to recognize the differences between ADCs and conventional chemotherapy in the design of ADC clinical development strategies. Although some properties may be determined mainly by either the mAb or the small-molecule portion, the behavior of these agents is not always predictable. Furthermore, because the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) of ADCs are influenced by all 3 of its components (mAb, linker, and payload), it is important to characterize the intact molecule, any target-mediated catabolic clearance of the mAb, and the ADME properties of the small-molecule payload. Here we describe key issues in the clinical development of ADCs, including considerations for designing first-in-human studies for ADCs. We discuss some difficulties of ADC pharmacokinetic characterization and current approaches to overcoming these challenges. Finally, we consider all aspects of clinical pharmacology assessment required during drug development, using examples from the literature to illustrate the discussion.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Tae H Han
- AbbVie Stemcentrx LLC, South San Francisco, CA, USA
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20
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Coelho R, Marcos-Silva L, Ricardo S, Ponte F, Costa A, Lopes JM, David L. Peritoneal dissemination of ovarian cancer: role of MUC16-mesothelin interaction and implications for treatment. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2017; 18:177-186. [PMID: 29241375 DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2018.1418326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Peritoneal dissemination is a particular form of malignant progression in ovarian cancer, preceding hematogenic or lymphatic dissemination. Thus, prevention of peritoneal implantation of cancer cells is envisioned to inhibit neoplastic dissemination and therefore prolong disease remission and patient's survival. Areas covered: An extended review on the role of MUC16 (CA125) and mesothelin (MSLN), expressed in a high percentage of ovarian carcinomas, indicate that this duet is relevant for the contact between cancer cells and mesothelial cells in homotypic (cancer cell-cancer cell) and heterotypic (cancer cell-mesothelial cell) interactions. This review discusses the reasons underlying the clinical failure of immunotherapeutic strategies targeting MUC16. Clinical data on MSLN targeting agents such as antibody-based immunotoxins or antibody drug conjugates are also reviewed. The promising anti-tumor effect of CAR-T cells directed to MUC16 or MSLN is emphasized. New emerging strategies specifically disrupting the MUC16-MSLN interaction are at the forefront of this review, including TRAIL ligands bound to MSLN targeting MUC16 expressing cells and single chain monoclonal antibodies and immunoadhesins recognizing MSLN-MUC16 binding domains. Expert commentary: Based on existing evidences the authors advocate that agents targeting MUC16-MSLN may add to the therapeutic armamentarium directed to abrogate peritoneal homing of ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Coelho
- a Differentiation and Cancer Group, IPATIMUP/i3S , Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto/Institute for Research and Innovation in Health of University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.,b FMUP , Faculty of Medicine of University of Porto , Porto , Portugal
| | - Lara Marcos-Silva
- a Differentiation and Cancer Group, IPATIMUP/i3S , Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto/Institute for Research and Innovation in Health of University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.,c Animal Cell Technology Unit, ITQB, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier , Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal and iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica , Oeiras , Portugal
| | - Sara Ricardo
- a Differentiation and Cancer Group, IPATIMUP/i3S , Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto/Institute for Research and Innovation in Health of University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.,b FMUP , Faculty of Medicine of University of Porto , Porto , Portugal
| | - Filipa Ponte
- a Differentiation and Cancer Group, IPATIMUP/i3S , Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto/Institute for Research and Innovation in Health of University of Porto , Porto , Portugal
| | - Antonia Costa
- b FMUP , Faculty of Medicine of University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.,d Gynecology and Obstetrics Department , Centro hospitalar de São João , Porto , Portugal.,e Monitoring and simulation of perinatal asphyxia group, INEB/i3S, Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica , Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal/Institute for Research and Innovation in Health of University of Porto , Porto , Portugal
| | - Jose Manuel Lopes
- b FMUP , Faculty of Medicine of University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.,f Pathology Department , Centro hospitalar de São João , Porto , Portugal.,g Cancer Cell Signalling and Metabolism Group, IPATIMUP/i3S , Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto/Institute for Research and Innovation in Health of University of Porto , Porto , Portugal
| | - Leonor David
- a Differentiation and Cancer Group, IPATIMUP/i3S , Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto/Institute for Research and Innovation in Health of University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.,b FMUP , Faculty of Medicine of University of Porto , Porto , Portugal
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21
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Manzanares MÁ, Campbell DJW, Maldonado GT, Sirica AE. Overexpression of periostin and distinct mesothelin forms predict malignant progression in a rat cholangiocarcinoma model. Hepatol Commun 2017; 2:155-172. [PMID: 29404524 PMCID: PMC5796331 DOI: 10.1002/hep4.1131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2017] [Revised: 11/14/2017] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Periostin and mesothelin have each been suggested to be predictors of poor survival for patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, although the clinical prognostic value of both of these biomarkers remains uncertain. The aim of the current study was to investigate these biomarkers for their potential to act as tumor progression factors when assessed in orthotopic tumor and three-dimensional culture models of rat cholangiocarcinoma progression. Using our orthotopic model, we demonstrated a strong positive correlation between tumor and serum periostin and mesothelin and increasing liver tumor mass and associated peritoneal metastases that also reflected differences in cholangiocarcinoma cell aggressiveness and malignant grade. Periostin immunostaining was most prominent in the desmoplastic stroma of larger sized more aggressive liver tumors and peritoneal metastases. In comparison, mesothelin was more highly expressed in the cholangiocarcinoma cells; the slower growing more highly differentiated liver tumors exhibited a luminal cancer cell surface immunostaining for this biomarker, and the rapidly growing less differentiated liver and metastatic tumor masses largely showed cytoplasmic mesothelin immunoreactivity. Two molecular weight forms of mesothelin were identified, one at ∼40 kDa and the other, a more heavily glycosylated form, at ∼50 kDa. Increased expression of the 40-kDa mesothelin over that of the 50 kDa form predicted increased malignant progression in both the orthotopic liver tumors and in cholangiocarcinoma cells of different malignant potential in three-dimensional culture. Moreover, coculturing of cancer-associated myofibroblasts with cholangiocarcinoma cells promoted overexpression of the 40-kDa mesothelin, which correlated with enhanced malignant progression in vitro. Conclusion: Periostin and mesothelin are useful predictors of tumor progression in our rat desmoplastic cholangiocarcinoma models. This supports their relevance to human intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. (Hepatology Communications 2018;2:155-172).
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Á Manzanares
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Pathogenesis, Department of Pathology Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine Richmond VA
| | - Deanna J W Campbell
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Pathogenesis, Department of Pathology Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine Richmond VA
| | - Gabrielle T Maldonado
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Pathogenesis, Department of Pathology Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine Richmond VA
| | - Alphonse E Sirica
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Pathogenesis, Department of Pathology Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine Richmond VA
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22
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Asgarov K, Balland J, Tirole C, Bouard A, Mougey V, Ramos D, Barroso A, Zangiacomi V, Jary M, Kim S, Gonzalez-Pajuelo M, Royer B, de Haard H, Clark A, Wijdenes J, Borg C. A new anti-mesothelin antibody targets selectively the membrane-associated form. MAbs 2017; 9:567-577. [PMID: 28353419 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2017.1288770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Mesothelin is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored membrane protein that shows promise as a target for antibody-directed cancer therapy. High levels of soluble forms of the antigen represent a barrier to directing therapy to cellular targets. The ability to develop antibodies that can selectively discriminate between membrane-bound and soluble conformations of a specific protein, and thus target only the membrane-associated antigen, is a substantive issue. We show that use of a tolerance protocol provides a route to such discrimination. Mice were tolerized with soluble mesothelin and a second round of immunizations was performed using mesothelin transfected P815 cells. RNA extracted from splenocytes was used in phage display to obtain mesothelin-specific antigen-binding fragments (Fabs) that were subsequently screened by flow cytometry and ELISA. This approach generated 147 different Fabs in 34 VH-CDR3 families. Utilizing competition assays with soluble protein and mesothelin-containing serum obtained from metastatic cancer patients, 10 of these 34 VH-CDR3 families were found to bind exclusively to the membrane-associated form of mesothelin. Epitope mapping performed for the 1H7 clone showed that it does not recognize GPI anchor. VH-CDR3 sequence analysis of all Fabs showed significant differences between Fabs selective for the membrane-associated form of the antigen and those that recognize both membrane bound and soluble forms. This work demonstrates the potential to generate an antibody specific to the membrane-bound form of mesothelin. 1H7 offers potential for therapeutic application against mesothelin-bearing tumors, which would be largely unaffected by the presence of the soluble antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamal Asgarov
- a University of Bourgogne-Franche-Comte , Besançon Cedex , France.,b ITAC Platform of Clinical Investigation Center-Biotherapy , Besançon Cedex , France
| | - Jeremy Balland
- a University of Bourgogne-Franche-Comte , Besançon Cedex , France.,b ITAC Platform of Clinical Investigation Center-Biotherapy , Besançon Cedex , France
| | - Charline Tirole
- a University of Bourgogne-Franche-Comte , Besançon Cedex , France.,b ITAC Platform of Clinical Investigation Center-Biotherapy , Besançon Cedex , France
| | - Adeline Bouard
- a University of Bourgogne-Franche-Comte , Besançon Cedex , France.,b ITAC Platform of Clinical Investigation Center-Biotherapy , Besançon Cedex , France
| | - Virginie Mougey
- a University of Bourgogne-Franche-Comte , Besançon Cedex , France.,c Blood Bank Bourgogne-Franche-comté , Porto , Portugal
| | | | | | - Vincent Zangiacomi
- b ITAC Platform of Clinical Investigation Center-Biotherapy , Besançon Cedex , France
| | - Marine Jary
- e J.Minjoz University Hospital , Besançon Cedex , France
| | - Stefano Kim
- e J.Minjoz University Hospital , Besançon Cedex , France
| | | | - Bernard Royer
- a University of Bourgogne-Franche-Comte , Besançon Cedex , France.,b ITAC Platform of Clinical Investigation Center-Biotherapy , Besançon Cedex , France.,e J.Minjoz University Hospital , Besançon Cedex , France
| | | | | | | | - Christophe Borg
- a University of Bourgogne-Franche-Comte , Besançon Cedex , France.,b ITAC Platform of Clinical Investigation Center-Biotherapy , Besançon Cedex , France.,c Blood Bank Bourgogne-Franche-comté , Porto , Portugal.,e J.Minjoz University Hospital , Besançon Cedex , France
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Hassan R, Thomas A, Alewine C, Le DT, Jaffee EM, Pastan I. Mesothelin Immunotherapy for Cancer: Ready for Prime Time? J Clin Oncol 2016; 34:4171-4179. [PMID: 27863199 DOI: 10.1200/jco.2016.68.3672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 223] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Mesothelin is a tumor antigen that is highly expressed in many human cancers, including malignant mesothelioma and pancreatic, ovarian, and lung adenocarcinomas. It is an attractive target for cancer immunotherapy because its normal expression is limited to mesothelial cells, which are dispensable. Several antibody-based therapeutic agents as well as vaccine and T-cell therapies directed at mesothelin are undergoing clinical evaluation. These include antimesothelin immunotoxins (SS1P, RG7787/LMB-100), chimeric antimesothelin antibody (amatuximab), mesothelin-directed antibody drug conjugates (anetumab ravtansine, DMOT4039A, BMS-986148), live attenuated Listeria monocytogenes-expressing mesothelin (CRS-207, JNJ-64041757), and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies. Two antimesothelin agents are currently in multicenter clinical registration trials for malignant mesothelioma: amatuximab in the first-line setting and anetumab ravtansine as second-line therapy. Phase II randomized clinical trials of CRS-207 as a boosting agent and in combination with immune checkpoint inhibition for pancreatic cancer are nearing completion. These ongoing studies will define the utility of mesothelin immunotherapy for treating cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffit Hassan
- Raffit Hassan, Anish Thomas, Christine Alewine, and Ira Pastan, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda; and Dung T. Le and Elizabeth M. Jaffee, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
| | - Anish Thomas
- Raffit Hassan, Anish Thomas, Christine Alewine, and Ira Pastan, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda; and Dung T. Le and Elizabeth M. Jaffee, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
| | - Christine Alewine
- Raffit Hassan, Anish Thomas, Christine Alewine, and Ira Pastan, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda; and Dung T. Le and Elizabeth M. Jaffee, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
| | - Dung T Le
- Raffit Hassan, Anish Thomas, Christine Alewine, and Ira Pastan, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda; and Dung T. Le and Elizabeth M. Jaffee, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
| | - Elizabeth M Jaffee
- Raffit Hassan, Anish Thomas, Christine Alewine, and Ira Pastan, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda; and Dung T. Le and Elizabeth M. Jaffee, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
| | - Ira Pastan
- Raffit Hassan, Anish Thomas, Christine Alewine, and Ira Pastan, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda; and Dung T. Le and Elizabeth M. Jaffee, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
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Awuah P, Bera TK, Folivi M, Chertov O, Pastan I. Reduced Shedding of Surface Mesothelin Improves Efficacy of Mesothelin-Targeting Recombinant Immunotoxins. Mol Cancer Ther 2016; 15:1648-55. [PMID: 27196771 PMCID: PMC4936933 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-15-0863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2015] [Accepted: 05/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Mesothelin (MSLN) is a differentiation antigen that is highly expressed in many epithelial cancers. MSLN is an important therapeutic target due to its high expression in cancers and limited expression in normal human tissues. Although it has been assumed that shed antigen is a barrier to immunotoxin action, a modeling study predicted that shed MSLN may enhance the action of MSLN-targeting recombinant immunotoxins such as SS1P and similar therapeutics by facilitating their redistribution within tumors. We aimed to determine whether shed MSLN enhances or reduces the antitumor effect of MSLN-targeting immunotoxins SS1P and RG7787. We engineered a cell line, A431/G9 (TACE mutant) that expresses a mutant form of MSLN in which the TNF-converting enzyme protease site is replaced with GGGS. We compared the response of the TACE-mutant cells with immunotoxins SS1P and RG7787 with that of the parental A431/H9 cell line. We show that TACE-mutant cells shed 80% less MSLN than A431/H9 cells, that TACE-mutant cells show a 2- to 3-fold increase in MSLN-targeted immunotoxin uptake, and that they are about 5-fold more sensitive to SS1P killing in cell culture. Tumors with reduced shedding respond significantly better to treatment with SS1P and RG7787. Our data show that MSLN shedding is an impediment to the antitumor activity of SS1P and RG7787. Approaches that decrease MSLN shedding could enhance the efficacy of immunotoxins and immunoconjugates targeting MSLN-expressing tumors. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(7); 1648-55. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prince Awuah
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Tapan K Bera
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Messan Folivi
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Oleg Chertov
- Cancer Research Technology Program, Leidos Biomedical, Inc., Frederick, Maryland
| | - Ira Pastan
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland.
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Pak Y, Pastan I, Kreitman RJ, Lee B. Effect of antigen shedding on targeted delivery of immunotoxins in solid tumors from a mathematical model. PLoS One 2014; 9:e110716. [PMID: 25343405 PMCID: PMC4208831 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0110716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2014] [Accepted: 09/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Most cancer-specific antigens used as targets of antibody-drug conjugates and immunotoxins are shed from the cell surface (Zhang & Pastan (2008) Clin. Cancer Res. 14: 7981-7986), although at widely varying rates and by different mechanisms (Dello Sbarba & Rovida (2002) Biol. Chem. 383: 69–83). Why many cancer-specific antigens are shed and how the shedding affects delivery efficiency of antibody-based protein drugs are poorly understood questions at present. Before a detailed numerical study, it was assumed that antigen shedding would reduce the efficacy of antibody-drug conjugates and immunotoxins. However, our previous study using a comprehensive mathematical model showed that antigen shedding can significantly improve the efficacy of the mesothelin-binding immunotoxin, SS1P (anti-mesothelin-Fv-PE38), and suggested that receptor shedding can be a general mechanism for enhancing the effect of inter-cellular signaling molecules. Here, we improved this model and applied it to both SS1P and another recombinant immunotoxin, LMB-2, which targets CD25. We show that the effect of antigen shedding is influenced by a number of factors including the number of antigen molecules on the cell surface and the endocytosis rate. The high shedding rate of mesothelin is beneficial for SS1P, for which the antigen is large in number and endocytosed rapidly. On the other hand, the slow shedding of CD25 is beneficial for LMB-2, for which the antigen is small in number and endocytosed slowly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youngshang Pak
- Department of Chemistry and Institute of Functional Materials, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail: (BL); (YP)
| | - Ira Pastan
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Robert J. Kreitman
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Byungkook Lee
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail: (BL); (YP)
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Zhang J, Bera TK, Liu W, Du X, Alewine C, Hassan R, Pastan I. Megakaryocytic potentiating factor and mature mesothelin stimulate the growth of a lung cancer cell line in the peritoneal cavity of mice. PLoS One 2014; 9:e104388. [PMID: 25118887 PMCID: PMC4132110 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2014] [Accepted: 07/12/2014] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The mesothelin (MSLN) gene encodes a 71 kilodalton (kDa) precursor protein that is processed into megakaryocytic potentiating factor (MPF), a 31 kDa protein that is secreted from the cell, and mature mesothelin (mMSLN), a 40 kDa cell surface protein. The mMSLN binds to CA125, an interaction that has been implicated in the intra-cavitary spread of mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. To better define the role of MPF and mMSLN, growth of the lung cancer cell line A549 was evaluated in immuno-deficient mice with inactivation of the Msln gene. We observed that Msln-/- mice xenografted with intraperitoneal A549 tumors survive significantly long than tumor-bearing Msln+/+ mice. When tumor-bearing Msln-/- mice are supplemented with recombinant MPF (and to a lesser extent mMSLN), most of this survival advantage is lost. These studies demonstrate that MPF and mMSLN have an important role in the growth of lung cancer cells in vivo and raise the possibility that inactivation of MPF may be a useful treatment for lung and other MSLN expressing cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingli Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Tapan K. Bera
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Wenhai Liu
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Xing Du
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Christine Alewine
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Raffit Hassan
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail: (RH); (IP)
| | - Ira Pastan
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail: (RH); (IP)
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Abstract
We have recently reported that an immunotoxin targeting mesothelin produced durable major tumor regressions in patients with extensive treatment-refractory mesothelioma. These unprecedented tumor responses have prompted us to review how mesothelin was discovered and the advances that led to these tumor responses. This review is not comprehensive but focuses on major developments over the past 20 years since mesothelin was first identified in our laboratory. Mesothelin is a cell-surface glycoprotein whose expression in normal human tissues is restricted to mesothelial cells. Because it is highly expressed by many solid tumors, it is an attractive immunotherapy target. Antibody-based therapies currently in clinical trials include an immunotoxin, a chimeric monoclonal antibody, and an antibody drug conjugate. In addition, a mesothelin tumor vaccine and a mesothelin- chimeric antigen receptor are being evaluated in the clinic. SS1P, an anti-mesothelin immunotoxin, was the first mesothelin-directed therapy to enter the clinic, and its use showed that mesothelin-targeted therapy was safe in patients. More importantly, our recent work has shown that SS1P in combination with pentostatin and cyclophosphamide can result in durable tumor regression in patients with advanced mesothelioma and opens up the possibility that such an approach can benefit patients with many common cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ira Pastan
- Authors' Affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Raffit Hassan
- Authors' Affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
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Mattoo AR, Pastan I, FitzGerald D. Combination treatments with the PKC inhibitor, enzastaurin, enhance the cytotoxicity of the anti-mesothelin immunotoxin, SS1P. PLoS One 2013; 8:e75576. [PMID: 24130723 PMCID: PMC3794001 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2013] [Accepted: 08/14/2013] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Activated protein kinase C (PKC) contributes to tumor survival and proliferation, provoking the development of inhibitory agents as potential cancer therapeutics. Immunotoxins are antibody-based recombinant proteins that employ antibody fragments for cancer targeting and bacterial toxins as the cytotoxic agent. Pseudomonas exotoxin-based immunotoxins act via the ADP-ribosylation of EF2 leading to the enzymatic inhibition of protein synthesis. Combining PKC inhibitors with the immunotoxin SS1P, targeted to surface mesothelin, was undertaken to explore possible therapeutic strategies. Enzastaurin but not two other PKC inhibitors combined with SS1P to produce synergistic cell death via apoptosis. Mechanistic insights of the synergistic killing centered on the complete loss of the prosurvival Bcl2 protein, Mcl-1, the loss of AKT and the activation of caspase 3/7. Synergy was most evident when cells exhibited resistance to the immunotoxin alone. Further, because PKC inhibition by itself was not sufficient to enhance SS1P action, enzastaurin must target other kinases that are involved in the immunotoxin pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abid R. Mattoo
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ira Pastan
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - David FitzGerald
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Purification of clinical-grade disulfide stabilized antibody fragment variable--Pseudomonas exotoxin conjugate (dsFv-PE38) expressed in Escherichia coli. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2012; 97:621-32. [PMID: 22890777 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-012-4319-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2012] [Revised: 07/13/2012] [Accepted: 07/17/2012] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Immunotoxins are rationally designed cancer targeting and killing agents. Disulfide stabilized antibody Fv portion-toxin conjugates (dsFv-toxin) are third generation immunotoxins containing only the antibody fragment variable portions and a toxin fused to the V(H) or V(L). Pseudomonas exotoxin fragment (PE-38) is a commonly used toxin in immunotoxin clinical trials. dsFv-toxin purification was previously published, but the recovery was not satisfactory. This report describes the development of a cGMP production process of the dsFv-toxin that incorporated a novel purification method. The method has been successfully applied to the clinical manufacturing of two dsFv-PE38 immunotoxins, MR1-1 targeting EGFRvIII and HA22 targeting CD22. The two subunits, V(L) and V(H) PE-38 were expressed separately in Escherichia coli using recombinant technology. Following cell lysis, inclusion bodies were isolated from the biomass harvested from fermentation in animal source component-free media. The dsFv-toxin was formed after denaturation and refolding, and subsequently purified to homogeneity through ammonium sulfate precipitation, hydrophobic interaction and ion-exchange chromatography steps. It was shown, in a direct comparison experiment using MR1-1 as model protein, that the recovery from the new purification method was improved three times over that from previously published method. The improved recovery was also demonstrated during the clinical production of two dsFv-PE38 immunotoxins-MR1-1 and HA22.
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Pak Y, Zhang Y, Pastan I, Lee B. Antigen shedding may improve efficiencies for delivery of antibody-based anticancer agents in solid tumors. Cancer Res 2012; 72:3143-52. [PMID: 22562466 PMCID: PMC3408876 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-11-3925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Recombinant immunotoxins (RIT) are targeted anticancer agents that are composed of a targeting antibody fragment and a protein toxin fragment. SS1P is a RIT that targets mesothelin on the surface of cancer cells and is being evaluated in patients with mesothelioma. Mesothelin, like many other target antigens, is shed from the cell surface. However, whether antigen shedding positively or negatively affects the delivery of RIT remains unknown. In this study, we used experimental data with SS1P to develop a mathematical model that describes the relationship between tumor volume changes and the dose level of the administered RIT, while accounting for the potential effects of antigen shedding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youngshang Pak
- Department of Chemistry and Institute of Functional Materials, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Republic of Korea
| | - Yujian Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-4264, USA
| | - Ira Pastan
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-4264, USA
| | - Byungkook Lee
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-4264, USA
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Macura SL, Hillegass JM, Steinbacher JL, MacPherson MB, Shukla A, Beuschel SL, Perkins TN, Butnor KJ, Lathrop MJ, Sayan M, Hekmatyar K, Taatjes DJ, Kauppinen RA, Landry CC, Mossman BT. A multifunctional mesothelin antibody-tagged microparticle targets human mesotheliomas. J Histochem Cytochem 2012; 60:658-74. [PMID: 22723527 DOI: 10.1369/0022155412452567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pleural and peritoneal mesotheliomas (MMs) are chemoresistant tumors with no effective therapeutic strategies. The authors first injected multifunctional, acid-prepared mesoporous spheres (APMS), microparticles functionalized with tetraethylene glycol oligomers, intraperitoneally into rodents. Biodistribution of APMS was observed in major organs, peritoneal lavage fluid (PLF), and urine of normal mice and rats. After verification of increased mesothelin in human mesotheliomas injected into severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice, APMS were then functionalized with an antibody to mesothelin (APMS-MB) or bovine serum albumin (BSA), a nonspecific protein control, and tumor targeting was evaluated by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and multifluorescence confocal microscopy. Some APMS were initially cleared via the urine over a 24 hr period, and small amounts were observed in liver, spleen, and kidneys at 24 hr and 6 days. Targeting with APMS-MB increased APMS uptake in mesenteric tumors at 6 days. Approximately 10% to 12% of the initially injected amount was observed in both spheroid and mesenteric MM at this time point. The data suggest that localized delivery of APMS-MB into the peritoneal cavity after encapsulation of drugs, DNA, or macromolecules is a novel therapeutic approach for MM and other tumors (ovarian and pancreatic) that overexpress mesothelin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherrill L Macura
- Department of Pathology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
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Pastan I, Zhang Y. Modulating mesothelin shedding to improve therapy. Oncotarget 2012; 3:114-5. [PMID: 22337812 PMCID: PMC3325100 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2012] [Accepted: 02/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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