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Abstract
Over the past 3 decades, monoclonal antibodies and their related derivatives, including recently approved antibody-drug conjugates, conquered a central role in cancer therapy because of their contribution to improve survival, time to progression and quality of life of patients compared to chemotherapy protocols. This review summarizes information on approved original and biosimilar products, as well as investigational antibody-based therapeutics, targeting ErbB2. This target has been selected as a paradigmatic example because of its relevant role in sustaining the malignancy of major cancer diseases including, breast, gastric and other chemotherapy-resistant solid tumors. This work analyzes the drivers affecting research and development of next-generation anti-ErbB2 immunotherapeutics, taking into account unmet medical needs and pharmacoeconomic issues related to sustainability. The analysis may help with the design of future research and development strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita De Santis
- Biotechnology Research and Development, Alfasigma SpA, Rome, Italy
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2
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Kimura S, Imamura K, Futami J. A suitable and effective stepwise oxidative refolding procedure for highly-cationic tetrameric avidin in nucleic acid free conditions. Biotechnol Prog 2020; 36:e3031. [PMID: 32463160 DOI: 10.1002/btpr.3031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 05/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Optimized conditions are needed to refold recombinant proteins from bacterial inclusion bodies into their biologically active conformations. In this study, we found two crucial requirements for efficient refolding of cationic tetrameric chicken avidin. The first step is to eliminate nucleic acid contaminants from the bacterial inclusion body. The electrostatic interactions between the remaining nucleic acids and proteins strongly enhanced protein aggregation during the refolding process. The cysteine specific reversible S-cationization procedure was successfully employed for large-scale preparation of nucleic acid free denatured protein without purification tag system. The second step is the intramolecular disulfide formation prior to refolding in dialysis removing denaturant. Disulfide intact monomeric avidin showed efficient formation of biologically active tetrameric conformation during the refolding process. Using this optimized refolding procedure, highly cationic avidin derivative designed as an intracellular delivery carrier of biotinylated protein was successfully prepared.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuichiro Kimura
- Division of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Koreyoshi Imamura
- Division of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Junichiro Futami
- Department of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
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3
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Vesci L, Carollo V, Rosi A, De Santis R. Therapeutic efficacy of intra-tumor AvidinOX and low systemic dose biotinylated cetuximab, with and without cisplatin, in an orthotopic model of head and neck cancer. Oncol Lett 2019; 17:3529-3536. [PMID: 30867794 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2019.10003] [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: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
In a previous study, the efficacy of low intraperitoneal doses of biotinylated cetuximab (bCet) in mice with subcutaneous tumor xenografts of human head and neck cancer (HNC) treated intra-tumors with AvidinOX was reported. Taking into account that the current standard treatment for HNC is the combination of cetuximab and cisplatin, the present study investigated the activity of AvidinOX-targeted bCet with and without cisplatin in an orthotopic model. The results confirmed that administration of intra-tumor AvidinOX makes an otherwise inactive dose of bCet effective in reducing tumor growth, and the addition of a low dose of cisplatin further improved tumor growth inhibition. Supporting the in vivo data, immunohistochemical staining of tumor masses from mice treated with AvidinOX, bCet and cisplatin exhibited the highest tumor cell damage and the lowest angiogenic activity among all treatment groups, measured as the number of γ-H2A.X and cleaved caspase-3-positive cells, and vascular endothelial growth factor-C and platelet and endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1-positive cells, respectively. AvidinOX is currently under clinical investigation to assess its use in delivering radioactive biotin to inoperable tumor lesions (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02053324 and NCT03188328). The present study further supported the potential clinical use of AvidinOX to target low bCet doses to inoperable tumor lesions, with or without an additional low dose of cisplatin. Since low doses of highly expensive monoclonal antibodies become effective with AvidinOX and low dose cisplatin, such therapies promise to be cheaper and less toxic than current treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loredana Vesci
- Biotechnology R&D, Alfasigma S.p.A., Pomezia, I-00071 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Antonio Rosi
- Biotechnology R&D, Alfasigma S.p.A., Pomezia, I-00071 Rome, Italy
| | - Rita De Santis
- Biotechnology R&D, Alfasigma S.p.A., Pomezia, I-00071 Rome, Italy
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4
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Minenkova O, Vesci L, De Santis R, Santapaola D, Cincinelli R, Musso L, Dallavalle S, Giannini G. Growth inhibition of human ovarian carcinoma by a novel AvidinOX-anchored biotinylated camptothecin derivative. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2018; 28:3312-3314. [PMID: 30243588 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2018.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Revised: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Oxidized form of avidin, named AvidinOX, provides stable fixation of biotinylated molecules in tissues thus representing a breakthrough in topical treatment of cancer. AvidinOX proved to be a stable receptor for radiolabeled biotin, biotinylated antibodies and cells. In order to expand applicability of the AvidinOX-based delivery platform, in the present study we investigated the possibility to hold biotinylated chemotherapeutics in AvidinOX-treated sites. A novel biotinylated gimatecan-derived camptothecin, coded ST8161AA1, was injected at suboptimal doses into human tumors xenografted in mice alone or pre-complexed to AvidinOX. Significantly higher growth inhibition was observed when the drug was anchored to AvidinOX suggesting the potential utility of this delivery modality for the local treatment of inoperable tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Minenkova
- Biotechnology, Research & Development, Alfasigma SpA, 00071 Pomezia (RM), Italy
| | - Loredana Vesci
- Biotechnology, Research & Development, Alfasigma SpA, 00071 Pomezia (RM), Italy
| | - Rita De Santis
- Biotechnology, Research & Development, Alfasigma SpA, 00071 Pomezia (RM), Italy
| | - Daniela Santapaola
- Biotechnology, Research & Development, Alfasigma SpA, 00071 Pomezia (RM), Italy
| | - Raffaella Cincinelli
- DeFENS - Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Loana Musso
- DeFENS - Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Sabrina Dallavalle
- DeFENS - Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Giannini
- Biotechnology, Research & Development, Alfasigma SpA, 00071 Pomezia (RM), Italy.
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Characterization of therapeutic protein AvidinOX by an integrated analytical approach. Anal Bioanal Chem 2017; 410:553-564. [PMID: 29167933 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-017-0754-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2017] [Revised: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
AvidinOX, the oxidized derivative of Avidin, is a chemically modified glycoprotein, being currently under clinical investigation for targeted delivery of radioactive biotin to inoperable tumors. AvidinOX is produced by 4-hydroxyazobenzene-2-carboxylic acid (HABA)-assisted sodium periodate oxidation of Avidin. The peculiar property of the periodate-generated glycol-split carbohydrate moieties to form Schiff's bases with amino groups of the tissue proteins allows to achieve a tissue half-life of 2 weeks compared to 2 h of native Avidin. Carbohydrate oxidation, along with possible minor amino acid modifications, introduces additional microheterogeneity in the glycoprotein structure, making its characterization even more demanding than for native glycoproteins. Aiming at the elucidation of the effects of oxidation conditions on the AvidinOX protein backbone and sugars, this microheterogeneous glycoprotein derivative was characterized for the first time using a combination of different analytical methods, including colorimetric methods, mass spectrometry, hollow-fiber flow field-flow fractionation with UV and multi-angle laser scattering detection (HF5-UV-MALS), and NMR. The proposed integrated approach reveals structural features of AvidinOX relevant for its biological activity, e.g., oxidized sites within both carbohydrate moieties and protein backbone and conformational stability, and will be considered as an analytical tool for AvidinOX industrial preparations. It is worth noting that this study enriches also the structural data of native Avidin published up-to-date (e.g., glycan structure and distribution, peptide fingerprint, etc.). Graphical abstract Scheme of phenylacetic hydrazide/MALDI-TOF approach for quantification of aldehydes in AvidinOX based on the determination of the number of hydrazone adducts between hydrazide reagent and aldehyde groups of protein.
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Milazzo FM, Anastasi AM, Chiapparino C, Rosi A, Leoni B, Vesci L, Petronzelli F, De Santis R. AvidinOX-anchored biotinylated trastuzumab and pertuzumab induce down-modulation of ErbB2 and tumor cell death at concentrations order of magnitude lower than not-anchored antibodies. Oncotarget 2017; 8:22590-22605. [PMID: 28186982 PMCID: PMC5410247 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.15145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 01/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The oxidized version of Avidin, known as AvidinOX, was previously shown to link to tissue proteins upon injection or nebulization, thus becoming a stable receptor for biotinylated therapeutics. AvidinOX is currently under clinical investigation to target radioactive biotin to inoperable tumor lesions (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02053324). Presently, we show that the anti-ErbB2 monoclonal antibodies Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab can be chemically biotinylated while maintaining their biochemical and biological properties. By using several and diverse experimental conditions, we show that when AvidinOX is conjugated to tumor cells, low antibody concentrations of biotinylated Trastuzumab (bTrast) or Pertuzumab (bPert) prevent internalization of ErbB2, induce endoplasmic reticulum stress, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis leading to inhibition of proliferation and ErbB2 signaling. Moreover, we found that the treatment is able to induce down-modulation of ErbB2 thus bypassing the known resistance of this receptor to degradation. Interestingly, we show that AvidinOX anchorage is a way to counteract agonistic activities of Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab. Present data are in agreement with previous observations from our group indicating that the engagement of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) by AvidinOX-bound biotinylated Cetuximab or Panitumumab, leads to potent tumor inhibition both in vitro and in animal models. All results taken together encourage further investigation of AvidinOX-based treatments with biotinylated antibodies directed to the members of the EGFR family.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna Maria Anastasi
- Biotech Products, Research and Development, Sigma-Tau SpA, 00071 Pomezia (Rome), Italy
| | - Caterina Chiapparino
- Biotech Products, Research and Development, Sigma-Tau SpA, 00071 Pomezia (Rome), Italy
| | - Antonio Rosi
- Biotech Products, Research and Development, Sigma-Tau SpA, 00071 Pomezia (Rome), Italy
| | - Barbara Leoni
- Biotech Products, Research and Development, Sigma-Tau SpA, 00071 Pomezia (Rome), Italy
| | - Loredana Vesci
- Biotech Products, Research and Development, Sigma-Tau SpA, 00071 Pomezia (Rome), Italy
| | - Fiorella Petronzelli
- Biotech Products, Research and Development, Sigma-Tau SpA, 00071 Pomezia (Rome), Italy
| | - Rita De Santis
- Biotech Products, Research and Development, Sigma-Tau SpA, 00071 Pomezia (Rome), Italy
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Vesci L, Milazzo FM, Anastasi AM, Petronzelli F, Chiapparino C, Carollo V, Roscilli G, Marra E, Luberto L, Aurisicchio L, Pacello ML, Spagnoli LG, De Santis R. Intra-tumor AvidinOX allows efficacy of low dose systemic biotinylated Cetuximab in a model of head and neck cancer. Oncotarget 2016; 7:914-28. [PMID: 26575422 PMCID: PMC4808042 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.6089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2015] [Accepted: 10/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
For locally advanced and metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), the current clinical use of Cetuximab in chemo/radiotherapy protocols is often associated to severe systemic toxicity. Here we report in vitro data in human FaDu pharynx SCC cells, showing that inactive concentrations of biotinylated Cetuximab (bCet) become active upon anchorage to AvidinOX on the surface of tumor cells. AvidinOX-anchored bCet induces apoptosis and DNA damage as well as specific inhibition of signaling, degradation and abrogation of nuclear translocation of EGFR. In the mouse model of FaDu cancer, we show that intra-tumor injection of AvidinOX allows anti-tumor activity of an otherwise inactive, intraperitoneally delivered, low dose bCet. Consistently with in vitro data, in vivo tumor inhibition is associated to induction of apoptosis, DNA damage and reduced angiogenesis. AvidinOX is under clinical investigation for delivering radioactive biotin to inoperable tumors (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02053324) and present data support its use for the local treatment of HNSCC in combination with systemic administration of low dose bCet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loredana Vesci
- Biotechnology, Research & Development, Sigma-Tau SpA, 00071 Pomezia, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Anna Maria Anastasi
- Biotechnology, Research & Development, Sigma-Tau SpA, 00071 Pomezia, Rome, Italy
| | - Fiorella Petronzelli
- Biotechnology, Research & Development, Sigma-Tau SpA, 00071 Pomezia, Rome, Italy
| | - Caterina Chiapparino
- Biotechnology, Research & Development, Sigma-Tau SpA, 00071 Pomezia, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Carollo
- Tissue Macro Array Lab, University of Tor Vergata, via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Luigi Giusto Spagnoli
- Tissue Macro Array Lab, University of Tor Vergata, via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Rita De Santis
- Biotechnology, Research & Development, Sigma-Tau SpA, 00071 Pomezia, Rome, Italy
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Efficacy of aerosol therapy of lung cancer correlates with EGFR paralysis induced by AvidinOX-anchored biotinylated Cetuximab. Oncotarget 2015; 5:9239-55. [PMID: 25238453 PMCID: PMC4253431 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer, as well as lung metastases from distal primary tumors, could benefit from aerosol treatment. Unfortunately, because of lung physiology, clearance of nebulized drugs is fast, paralleled by unwanted systemic exposure. Here we report that nebulized AvidinOX can act as an artificial receptor for biotinylated drugs. In nude and SCID mice with advanced human KRAS-mutated A549 metastatic lung cancer, pre-nebulization with AvidinOX enables biotinylated Cetuximab to control tumor growth at a dose lower than 1/25,000 the intravenous effective dose. This result correlates with a striking, specific and unpredictable effect of AvidinOX-anchored biotinylated Cetuximab, as well as Panitumumab, observed on a panel of tumor cell lines, leading to inhibition of dimerization and signalling, blockade of endocytosis, induction of massive lysosomal degradation and abrogation of nuclear translocation of EGFR. Excellent tolerability, together with availability of pharmaceutical-grade AvidinOX and antibodies, will allow rapid clinical translation of the proposed therapy.
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Albertoni C, Leoni B, Rosi A, D'Alessio V, Carollo V, Spagnoli LG, van Echteld C, De Santis R. Radionuclide Therapy of Unresectable Tumors with AvidinOX and (90)Y-biotinDOTA: Tongue Cancer Paradigm. Cancer Biother Radiopharm 2015; 30:291-8. [PMID: 26167947 PMCID: PMC4575534 DOI: 10.1089/cbr.2015.1837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Local treatment of unresectable tumors is challenging, particularly with radioactivity. Current practice relies on external beam irradiation or on a variety of medical devices for brachytherapy. Both approaches proved useful in controlling tumor growth, but are characterized by poor compliance of the patient, significant side-effects, high costs, and technological complexity, which hamper widespread use. The authors recently described a novel form of radionuclide therapy based on the oxidized form of avidin that, chemically reacting with tissue proteins, can secure radioactive biotin within the injected tissue, either when precomplexed or when taken from the blood stream after intravenous administration. AvidinOX-pretargeted 177Lu-biotinDOTA (177Lu-ST2210) is currently under clinical investigation for the treatment of liver oligometastases from colorectal cancer (clinicaltrials.gov/NCT02053324). In the present work, the authors show that injected AvidinOX can link tissues of various natures such as prostate, kidney, breast, or brain and can react by contact with scraped tissues such as skin or urinary bladder. AvidinOX injected into human OSC19 tongue cancer masses orthotopically transplanted in nude mice takes up intravenously administered 90Y-ST2210, which exerts significant antitumor activity, while preserving the integrity and functionality of the tongue. Present data confirm that AvidinOX-based radionuclide therapy is an innovative and promising approach for the local treatment of inoperable tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Barbara Leoni
- 1 Department of Biotechnology, Sigma-Tau SpA , Pomezia, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Rosi
- 1 Department of Biotechnology, Sigma-Tau SpA , Pomezia, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Valeria Carollo
- 2 Department of Histopathology, Histo-Cyto Service , Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Rita De Santis
- 1 Department of Biotechnology, Sigma-Tau SpA , Pomezia, Rome, Italy
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Nucera E, Nicoletti C, Chiapparino C, Pacello ML, D'Alessio V, Musarò A, De Santis R. AvidinOX™ for tissue targeted delivery of biotinylated cells. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2012; 25:239-46. [PMID: 22507336 DOI: 10.1177/039463201202500126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
AvidinOX™, a product containing aldehyde groups, generated by ligand-assisted sugar oxidation of avidin by sodium periodate, maintains the capacity to bind biotin with very high affinity and exhibits the property to chemically link cellular and tissue proteins through Schiff's base formation thus residing in tissues for weeks. In recent studies, we have shown that AvidinOX exhibits much higher persistency in the skeletal muscle than native avidin. The aim of the present study is to evaluate whether AvidinOX-biotin interaction might be exploited to target biotinylated cells to an AvidinOX pre-treated muscle. To accomplish this we performed the following experiments: 1) The proliferation and differentiation properties of biotinylated C2C12 myoblasts were tested in vitro upon linkage to AvidinOX; 2) Bone marrow-derived cells (BMDC) were isolated from GFP positive transgenic mice [strain C57 BL/6-tg (UBC-GFP)] and after biotinylation (bBMDC) were intravenously administered to naive and MAVA+ (Mouse anti Avidin Antibody) C57/B6 mice previously injected with AvidinOX in a tibial muscle (TM). Localization efficiency of GFP+ bBMDC was evaluated on serial sections of the AvidinOX- and vehicle-treated (contra lateral limb) TM, 5 days after transplantation. Results show that biotinylated C2C12 cells, once linked to AvidinOX, maintain their proliferation and differentiation capacity, in vitro. Intravenous injection of biotinylated GFP+ bone marrow-derived cells leads to their specific and efficient localization in the AvidinOX-pre-treated, but not contra lateral muscle of both naive and MAVA+ mice. The present data suggest a potential use of AvidinOX to improve tissue targeted delivery of biotinylated cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Nucera
- Department of Biotechnology, R&D Sigma-tau Industrie Farmaceutiche Riunite S.p.A. Pomezia, Italy
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