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Elsayed A, Plüss L, Nideroest L, Rotta G, Thoma M, Zangger N, Peissert F, Pfister SK, Pellegrino C, Dakhel Plaza S, De Luca R, Manz MG, Oxenius A, Puca E, Halin C, Neri D. Optimizing the Design and Geometry of T Cell-Engaging Bispecific Antibodies Targeting CEA in Colorectal Cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2024; 23:1010-1020. [PMID: 38638035 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-23-0766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Metastatic colorectal cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths, with a 5-year survival rate of only 15%. T cell-engaging bispecific antibodies (TCBs) represent a class of biopharmaceuticals that redirect cytotoxic T cells toward tumor cells, thereby turning immunologically "cold" tumors into "hot" ones. The carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is an attractive tumor-associated antigen that is overexpressed in more than 98% of patients with colorectal cancer. In this study, we report the comparison of four different TCB formats employing the antibodies F4 (targeting human CEA) and 2C11 (targeting mouse CD3ε). These formats include both antibody fragment-based and IgG-based constructs, with either one or two binding specificities of the respective antibodies. The 2 + 1 arrangement, using an anti-CEA single-chain diabody fused to an anti-CD3 single-chain variable fragment, emerged as the most potent design, showing tumor killing at subnanomolar concentrations across three different CEA+ cell lines. The in vitro activity was three times greater in C57BL/6 mouse colon adenocarcinoma cells (MC38) expressing high levels of CEA compared with those expressing low levels, highlighting the impact of CEA density in this assay. The optimal TCB candidate was tested in two different immunocompetent mouse models of colorectal cancer and showed tumor growth retardation. Ex vivo analysis of tumor infiltrates showed an increase in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells upon TCB treatment. This study suggests that bivalent tumor targeting, monovalent T-cell targeting, and a short spatial separation are promising characteristics for CEA-targeting TCBs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah Elsayed
- Philochem AG, Otelfingen, Switzerland
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Louis Plüss
- Philochem AG, Otelfingen, Switzerland
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Larissa Nideroest
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Marina Thoma
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nathan Zangger
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Christian Pellegrino
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Comprehensive Cancer Center Zurich (CCCZ), Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Markus G Manz
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Comprehensive Cancer Center Zurich (CCCZ), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Annette Oxenius
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Cornelia Halin
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Dario Neri
- Philochem AG, Otelfingen, Switzerland
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), Zurich, Switzerland
- Philogen SpA, Siena, Italy
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Plüss L, Peissert F, Elsayed A, Rotta G, Römer J, Dakhel Plaza S, Villa A, Puca E, De Luca R, Oxenius A, Neri D. Generation and in vivo characterization of a novel high-affinity human antibody targeting carcinoembryonic antigen. MAbs 2023; 15:2217964. [PMID: 37243574 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2023.2217964] [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: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023] Open
Abstract
There are no effective treatment options for most patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). mCRC remains a leading cause of tumor-related death, with a five-year survival rate of only 15%, highlighting the urgent need for novel pharmacological products. Current standard drugs are based on cytotoxic chemotherapy, VEGF inhibitors, EGFR antibodies, and multikinase inhibitors. The antibody-based delivery of pro-inflammatory cytokines provides a promising and differentiated strategy to improve the treatment outcome for mCRC patients. Here, we describe the generation of a novel fully human monoclonal antibody (termed F4) targeting the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), a tumor-associated antigen overexpressed in colorectal cancer and other malignancies. The F4 antibody was selected by antibody phage display technology after two rounds of affinity maturation. F4 in single-chain variable fragment format bound to CEA in surface plasmon resonance with an affinity of 7.7 nM. Flow cytometry and immunofluorescence on human cancer specimens confirmed binding to CEA-expressing cells. F4 selectively accumulated in CEA-positive tumors, as evidenced by two orthogonal in vivo biodistribution studies. Encouraged by these results, we genetically fused murine interleukin (IL) 12 to F4 in the single-chain diabody format. F4-IL12 exhibited potent antitumor activity in two murine models of colon cancer. Treatment with F4-IL12 led to an increased density of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and an upregulation of interferon γ expression by tumor-homing lymphocytes. These data suggest that the F4 antibody is an attractive delivery vehicle for targeted cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Plüss
- Philochem AG, Libernstrasse 3, Otelfingen, Switzerland
- Department of Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Abdullah Elsayed
- Philochem AG, Libernstrasse 3, Otelfingen, Switzerland
- Department of Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Giulia Rotta
- Philochem AG, Libernstrasse 3, Otelfingen, Switzerland
| | - Jonas Römer
- Department of Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Emanuele Puca
- Philochem AG, Libernstrasse 3, Otelfingen, Switzerland
| | | | - Annette Oxenius
- Department of Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Dario Neri
- Philochem AG, Libernstrasse 3, Otelfingen, Switzerland
- Department of Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), Zurich, Switzerland
- Philogen SpA, Località Bellaria, Sovicille, Italy
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Kim JR, Lee D, Kim Y, Kim JY. CD20/TNFR1 dual-targeting antibody enhances lysosome rupture-mediated cell death in B cell lymphoma. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2022; 72:1567-1580. [DOI: 10.1007/s00262-022-03344-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Risso V, Lafont E, Le Gallo M. Therapeutic approaches targeting CD95L/CD95 signaling in cancer and autoimmune diseases. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:248. [PMID: 35301281 PMCID: PMC8931059 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-04688-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cell death plays a pivotal role in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Key players in the controlled induction of cell death are the Death Receptors (DR). CD95 is a prototypic DR activated by its cognate ligand CD95L triggering programmed cell death. As a consequence, alterations in the CD95/CD95L pathway have been involved in several disease conditions ranging from autoimmune diseases to inflammation and cancer. CD95L-induced cell death has multiple roles in the immune response since it constitutes one of the mechanisms by which cytotoxic lymphocytes kill their targets, but it is also involved in the process of turning off the immune response. Furthermore, beyond the canonical pro-death signals, CD95L, which can be membrane-bound or soluble, also induces non-apoptotic signaling that contributes to its tumor-promoting and pro-inflammatory roles. The intent of this review is to describe the role of CD95/CD95L in the pathophysiology of cancers, autoimmune diseases and chronic inflammation and to discuss recently patented and emerging therapeutic strategies that exploit/block the CD95/CD95L system in these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vesna Risso
- INSERM U1242, Oncogenesis Stress Signaling, University of Rennes, Rennes, France
- Centre de lutte contre le cancer Eugène Marquis, Rennes, France
| | - Elodie Lafont
- INSERM U1242, Oncogenesis Stress Signaling, University of Rennes, Rennes, France
- Centre de lutte contre le cancer Eugène Marquis, Rennes, France
| | - Matthieu Le Gallo
- INSERM U1242, Oncogenesis Stress Signaling, University of Rennes, Rennes, France.
- Centre de lutte contre le cancer Eugène Marquis, Rennes, France.
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Development and Validation of a TNF Family-Based Signature for Predicting Prognosis, Tumor Immune Characteristics, and Immunotherapy Response in Colorectal Cancer Patients. J Immunol Res 2021; 2021:6439975. [PMID: 34541005 PMCID: PMC8448595 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6439975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, a comprehensive analysis of TNF family members in colorectal cancer (CRC) was conducted and a TNF family-based signature (TFS) was generated to predict prognosis and immunotherapy response. Using the expression data of 516 CRC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, TNF family members were screened to construct a TFS by using the univariate Cox proportional hazards regression and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator- (LASSO-) Cox proportional hazards regression method. The TFS was then validated in a meta-Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) cohort (n = 1162) from the GEO database. Additionally, the tumor immune characteristics and predicted responses to immune checkpoint blockade in TFS-based risk subgroups were analyzed. Eight genes (TNFRSF11A, TNFRSF10C, TNFRSF10B, TNFSF11, TNFRSF25, TNFRSF19, LTBR, and NGFR) were used to construct the TFS. Compared to the high-risk patients, the low-risk patients had better overall survival, which was verified by the GEO data. In addition, a high TFS risk score was associated with high infiltration of regulatory T cells (Tregs), nonactivated macrophages (M0), natural killer cells, immune escape phenotypes, poor immunotherapy response, and tumorigenic and metastasis-related pathways. Conversely, a low TFS risk score was related to high infiltration of resting CD4 memory T cells and resting dendritic cells, few immune escape phenotypes, and high sensitivity to immunotherapy. Thus, the eight gene-based TFS is a promising index to predict the prognosis, immune characteristics, and immunotherapy response in CRC, and our results also provide new understanding of the role of the TNF family members in the prognosis and treatment of CRC.
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