Effectiveness of Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC): Results of In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

EGFR targeting for cancer therapy: Pharmacology and immunoconjugates with drugs and nanoparticles

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) belongs to the tyrosine kinase receptors family and is present in the epithelial cell membrane. Its endogenous activation occurs through the binding of different endogenous ligands, including the epidermal growth factor (EGF), leading to signaling cascades able to maintain normal cellular functions. Although involved in the development and maintenance of tissues in normal conditions, when EGFR is overexpressed, it stimulates the growth and progression of tumors, resulting in angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis, through some main cascades such as Ras/Raf/MAPK, PIK-3/AKT, PLC-PKC and STAT. Besides, considering the limitations of conventional chemotherapy that result in high toxicity and low tumor specificity, EGFR is currently considered an important target. As a result, several monoclonal antibodies are currently approved for use in cancer treatment, such as cetuximab (CTX), panitumumab, nimotuzumab, necitumumab and others are in clinical trials. Aiming to combine the chemotherapeutic agent toxicity and specific targeting to EGFR overexpressing tumor tissues, two main strategies will be discussed in this review: antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and antibody-nanoparticle conjugates (ANCs). Briefly, ADCs consist of antibodies covalently linked through a spacer to the cytotoxic drug. Upon administration, binding to EGFR and endocytosis, ADCs suffer chemical and enzymatic reactions leading to the release and accumulation of the drug. Instead, ANCs consist of nanotechnology-based formulations, such as lipid, polymeric and inorganic nanoparticles able to protect the drug against inactivation, allowing controlled release and also passive accumulation in tumor tissues by the enhanced permeability and retention effect (EPR). Furthermore, ANCs undergo active targeting through EGFR receptor-mediated endocytosis, leading to the formation of lysosomes and drug release into the cytosol. Herein, we will present and discuss some important aspects regarding EGFR structure, its role on internal signaling pathways and downregulation aspects. Then, considering that EGFR is a potential therapeutic target for cancer therapy, the monoclonal antibodies able to target this receptor will be presented and discussed. Finally, ADCs and ANCs state of the art will be reviewed and recent studies and clinical progresses will be highlighted. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review paper to address specifically the EGFR target and its application on ADCs and ANCs.

ADCs, as Novel Revolutionary Weapons for Providing a Step Forward in Targeted Therapy of Malignancies

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Antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), as potent pharmaceutical trojan horses for cancer treatment, provide superior efficacy and specific targeting along with low risk of adverse reactions compared to traditional chemotherapeutics. In fact, the development of these agents combines the selective targeting capability of monoclonal antibody (mAb) with high cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutics for controlling the neoplastic mass growth. Different ADCs (more than 60 ADCs) in preclinical and clinical trials were introduced in this novel pharmaceutical field. Various design-based factors must be taken into account for improving the functionality of ADC technology, including selection of appropriate target antigen and high binding affinity of fragment (miniaturized ADCs) or full mAbs (preferentially use of humanized or fully human antibodies compared to murine and chimeric ones), use of bispecific antibodies for dual targeting effect, linker engineering and conjugation method efficacy to obtain more controlled drug to antibody ratio (DAR). Challenging issues affecting therapeutic efficacy and safety of ADCs, including bystander effect, on- and off-target toxicities, multi drug resistance (MDR) are also addressed. 4 FDA-approved ADCs in the market, including ADCETRIS ®, MYLOTARG®, BESPONSA ®, KADCYLA®. The goal of the current review is to evaluate the key parameters affecting ADCs development.

Glutathione S-Transferase Gene Polymorphisms are Associated with an Improved Treatment Response to Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND Previous studies have shown an association with glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene polymorphisms in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and treatment response. This study aimed to undertake a literature review and meta-analysis of GST gene polymorphisms, including GSTT1, GSTM1, and GSTP1 IIe105Val, and the treatment response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with NSCLC. MATERIAL AND METHODS A literature search was undertaken of the main medical publication databases for publications, up to March 2017, on the association between GSTT1, GSTM1, and GSTP1 IIe105Val polymorphisms and the clinical outcome in patients with NSCLC treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy. A random fixed-effects model was used to calculate the pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) to evaluate the associations, considering multiple genetic models. A subgroup analysis according to ethnicity was performed. RESULTS Twenty-three published studies were identified that showed that both the null GSTM1 and the GG genotype of GSTP1 IIe105Val were associated with improved treatment response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy (GSTT1 present/null: OR=1.328; 95% CI, 1.074-1.643) (GSTP1 GG + AG vs. AA: OR=0.596; 95% CI, 0.468-0.759). In subgroup analysis, the GSTP1 polymorphism was significantly associated with treatment response in East-Asian patients, but not in Caucasian patients. CONCLUSIONS Meta-analysis showed that the GG genotype of GSTP1 IIe105Val and the null GSTM1 genotype were associated with an improved treatment response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with NSCLC, especially in East-Asian patients.