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Abo Qoura L, Morozova E, Ramaa СS, Pokrovsky VS. Smart nanocarriers for enzyme-activated prodrug therapy. J Drug Target 2024; 32:1029-1051. [PMID: 39045650 DOI: 10.1080/1061186x.2024.2383688] [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: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
Exogenous enzyme-activated prodrug therapy (EPT) is a potential cancer treatment strategy that delivers non-human enzymes into or on the surface of the cell and subsequently converts a non-toxic prodrug into an active cytotoxic substance at a specific location and time. The development of several pharmacological pairs based on EPT has been the focus of anticancer research for more than three decades. Numerous of these pharmacological pairs have progressed to clinical trials, and a few have achieved application in specific cancer therapies. The current review highlights the potential of enzyme-activated prodrug therapy as a promising anticancer treatment. Different microbial, plant, or viral enzymes and their corresponding prodrugs that advanced to clinical trials have been listed. Additionally, we discuss new trends in the field of enzyme-activated prodrug nanocarriers, including nanobubbles combined with ultrasound (NB/US), mesoscopic-sized polyion complex vesicles (PICsomes), nanoparticles, and extracellular vesicles (EVs), with special emphasis on smart stimuli-triggered drug release, hybrid nanocarriers, and the main application of nanotechnology in improving prodrugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louay Abo Qoura
- Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, People's Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, Russia
- Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena Morozova
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology of the, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - С S Ramaa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Bharati Vidyapeeth's College of Pharmacy, Mumbai, India
| | - Vadim S Pokrovsky
- Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, People's Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, Russia
- Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
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Rashidi FB, Al-Qahtani AD, Bashraheel SS, Shaabani S, Groves MR, Dömling A, Goda SK. Correction: Isolation and molecular characterization of novel glucarpidases: Enzymes to improve the antibody directed enzyme pro-drug therapy for cancer treatment. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0294885. [PMID: 37988359 PMCID: PMC10662713 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196254.].
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Moradbeygi F, Ghasemi Y, Farmani AR, Hemmati S. Glucarpidase (carboxypeptidase G2): Biotechnological production, clinical application as a methotrexate antidote, and placement in targeted cancer therapy. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 166:115292. [PMID: 37579696 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115292] [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: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients receiving high-dose methotrexate (HDMTX) for malignancies are exposed to diverse complications, including nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, mucositis, myelotoxicity, neurological symptoms, and death. Glucarpidase is a recombinant carboxypeptidase G2 (CPG2) that converts MTX into nontoxic metabolites. In this study, the role of vector type, gene optimization, orientation, and host on the expression of CPG2 is investigated. The effectiveness of various therapeutic regimens containing glucarpidase is classified and perspectives on the dose adjustment based on precision medicine are provided. Conjugation with cell-penetrating peptides, human serum albumin, and polymers such as PEG and dextran for delivery, higher stability, and production of the biobetter variants of CPG2 is highlighted. Conjugation of CPG2 to F(ab՜)2 or scFv antibody fragments against tumor-specific antigens and the corresponding prodrugs for tumor-targeted drug delivery using the antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT) is communicated. Trials to reduce the off-target effects and the possibility of repeated ADEPT cycles by adding pro-domains sensitive to tumor-overexpressed proteases, antiCPG2 antibodies, CPG2 mutants with immune-system-unrecognizable epitopes, and protective polymers are reported. Intracellular cpg2 gene expression by gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT) and the concerns regarding the safety and transfection efficacy of the GDEPT vectors are described. A novel bifunctional platform using engineered CAR-T cell micropharmacies, known as Synthetic Enzyme-Armed KillER (SEAKER) cells, expressing CPG2 to activate prodrugs at the tumor niche is introduced. Taken together, integrated data in this review and recruiting combinatorial strategies in novel drug delivery systems define the future directions of ADEPT, GDEPT, and SEAKER cell therapy and the placement of CPG2 therein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Moradbeygi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Younes Ghasemi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ahmad Reza Farmani
- Tissue Engineering Department, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Shiva Hemmati
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Biotechnology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
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Lee JP, Corless BC, Gardner TJ, Scheinberg DA, Tan DS. Development of a p-Hydroxybenzyl-Alcohol-Linked Glutamate Prodrug for Activation by Pseudomonas Carboxypeptidase G2. Org Lett 2023; 25:6295-6299. [PMID: 37602700 PMCID: PMC10543097 DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.3c02130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Directed enzyme-prodrug therapies used for targeted drug delivery require prodrugs that are chemically stable and processed efficiently by the activating enzyme. We recently reported the development of AMS-6-Glu (2), a glutamate-masked version of the cytotoxic natural product 5'-O-sulfamoyladenosine (AMS, 1) that can be activated by Pseudomonas carboxypeptidase G2 (CPG2). Herein, we report the development of a second-generation prodrug, AMS-5'-PHOBA-Glu (5), that undergoes cleavage by CPG2 with >160-fold higher efficiency. Use of a p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (PHOBA) self-immolative linker overcame unexpected chemical instability observed with a conventional p-aminobenzyl alchohol (PABA) linker.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Peter Lee
- Chemical Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute
- Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology
| | - Broderick C. Corless
- Chemical Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute
- Pharmacology Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences
| | | | - David A. Scheinberg
- Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology
- Pharmacology Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Hospital
| | - Derek S. Tan
- Chemical Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute
- Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology
- Pharmacology Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences
- Tri-Institutional Research Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, United States
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Naeemi SM, Aminzadeh S, Sari S, Nemati F, Naseroleslami M. In vitro and in silico characterization of a novel glutamate carboxypeptidase from Cohnella sp. A01. Biochimie 2023; 207:83-95. [PMID: 36493965 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2022.12.003] [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: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Glutamate carboxypeptidase is a bacterial enzyme of metallopeptidase superfamily. This enzyme is an exo-peptidase that catalyzes the hydrolysis of glutamate residues at the C-terminus of folic acid. The rCP302 is a novel zinc ion-dependent recombinant glutamate carboxypeptidase derived from a thermophilic bacterium, Cohnella sp. A01 (PTCC No: 1921). By simulating the structure of rCP302, analyzing its activity in various environmental settings, and contrasting it with that of related enzymes, we wanted to evaluate the heterologous production, purification, and characterization of this enzyme. The bioinformatics study showed that rCP302 had maximum similarity to M20 family of metallopeptidases. The purified rCP302 molecular weight was about 41.6 kDa. The optimum temperature and pH for the catalytic activity of rCP302 were 50 °C and 7.2, respectively. Fluorescence spectroscopy data elucidated the secondary structure of rCP302 and determined conformational changes caused by alterations in ambient conditions. Using folate as a substrate, Km and specific activity values were calculated as 0.108 μM and 687 μmol/min/mg, respectively. The enzyme activity was strongly inhibited when EDTA sequestered zinc ions. The half-life of this enzyme at 30 °C was 2012 min. Regarding the ability of rCP302 to degrade folic acid, and its long half-life at 37 °C, the normal temperature of many mammals, this enzyme can be introduced for further study for use in the pharmaceutical industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Mahdi Naeemi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeed Aminzadeh
- Bioprocess Engineering Group, Institute of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran.
| | - Soyar Sari
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fahimeh Nemati
- Department of Biotechnoligy, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Naseroleslami
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
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You Y, Doi Y, Maeda N, Masuo S, Takeshita N, Takaya N. Carboxypeptidase G and pterin deaminase metabolic pathways degrade folic acid in Variovorax sp. F1. BMC Microbiol 2022; 22:225. [PMID: 36167524 PMCID: PMC9513972 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-022-02643-6] [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: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Folic acid (FA) is a synthetic vitamin (B9) and the oxidized form of a metabolic cofactor that is essential for life. Although the biosynthetic mechanisms of FA are established, its environmental degradation mechanism has not been fully elucidated. The present study aimed to identify bacteria in soil that degrade FA and the mechanisms involved. Results We isolated the soil bacterium Variovorax sp. F1 from sampled weed rhizospheres in a grassland and investigated its FA degradation mechanism. Cultured Variovorax sp. F1 rapidly degraded FA to pteroic acid (PA), indicating that FA hydrolysis to PA and glutamate. We cloned the carboxypeptidase G (CPG) gene and found widely distributed paralogs within the Variovorax genus. Recombinant CPG preferred FA and deaminofolic acid as substrates, indicating its involvement in FA degradation by Variovorax. Prolonged culture of Variovorax sp. F1 resulted in decreased rates of deaminofolic acid (DFA) and deaminopteroic acid (DPA) accumulation. This indicated that the deamination reaction also comprised a route of FA degradation. We also identified an F1 gene that was orthologous to the pterin deaminase gene (Arad3529) of Agrobacterium radiobacter. The encoded protein deaminated FA and PA to DFA and DPA, which was consistent with the deamination activity of FA and PA in bacterial cell-free extracts. Conclusion We discovered that the two enzymes required for FA degradation pathways in isolates of Variovorax sp. F1 comprise CPG and pterin deaminase, and that DFA and PA are intermediates in the generation of DPA. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12866-022-02643-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yungmi You
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572, Japan
| | - Yuki Doi
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572, Japan
| | - Norifumi Maeda
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Masuo
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572, Japan
| | - Norio Takeshita
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572, Japan
| | - Naoki Takaya
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572, Japan.
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Al-Mansoori L, Elsinga P, Goda SK. Bio-vehicles of cytotoxic drugs for delivery to tumor specific targets for cancer precision therapy. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 144:112260. [PMID: 34607105 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112260] [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: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Abnormal structural and molecular changes in malignant tissues were thoroughly investigated and utilized to target tumor cells, hence rescuing normal healthy tissues and lowering the unwanted side effects as non-specific cytotoxicity. Various ligands for cancer cell specific markers have been uncovered and inspected for directional delivery of the anti-cancer drug to the tumor site, in addition to diagnostic applications. Over the past few decades research related to the ligand targeted therapy (LTT) increased tremendously aiming to treat various pathologies, mainly cancers with well exclusive markers. Malignant tumors are known to induce elevated levels of a variety of proteins and peptides known as cancer "markers" as certain antigens (e.g., Prostate specific membrane antigen "PSMA", carcinoembryonic antigen "CEA"), receptors (folate receptor, somatostatin receptor), integrins (Integrin αvβ3) and cluster of differentiation molecules (CD13). The choice of an appropriate marker to be targeted and the design of effective ligand-drug conjugate all has to be carefully selected to generate the required therapeutic effect. Moreover, since some tumors express aberrantly high levels of more than one marker, some approaches investigated targeting cancer cells with more than one ligand (dual or multi targeting). We aim in this review to report an update on the cancer-specific receptors and the vehicles to deliver cytotoxic drugs, including recent advancements on nano delivery systems and their implementation in targeted cancer therapy. We will discuss the advantages and limitations facing this approach and possible solutions to mitigate these obstacles. To achieve the said aim a literature search in electronic data bases (PubMed and others) using keywords "Cancer specific receptors, cancer specific antibody, tumor specific peptide carriers, cancer overexpressed proteins, gold nanotechnology and gold nanoparticles in cancer treatment" was carried out.
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Affiliation(s)
- Layla Al-Mansoori
- Qatar University, Biomedical Research Centre, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar.
| | - Philip Elsinga
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Sayed K Goda
- Cairo University, Faculty of Science, Giza, Egypt; University of Derby, College of Science and Engineering, Derby, UK.
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Sadeghian I, Hemmati S. Characterization of a Stable Form of Carboxypeptidase G2 (Glucarpidase), a Potential Biobetter Variant, From Acinetobacter sp. 263903-1. Mol Biotechnol 2021; 63:1155-1168. [PMID: 34268672 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-021-00370-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Carboxypeptidase G2 (CPG2) is a bacterial enzyme widely used to detoxify methotrexate (MTX) and in enzyme/prodrug therapy for cancer treatment. However, several drawbacks, such as instability, have limited its efficiency. Herein, we have evaluated the properties of a putative CPG2 from Acinetobacter sp. 263903-1 (AcCPG2). AcCPG2 is compared with a CPG2 derived from Pseudomonas sp. strain RS-16 (PsCPG2), available as an FDA-approved medication called glucarpidase. After modeling AcCPG2 using the I-TASSER program, the refined model was validated by PROCHECK, VERIFY 3D and according to the Z score of the model. Using computational analyses, AcCPG2 displayed higher thermodynamic stability and a lower aggregation propensity than PsCPG2. AcCPG2 showed an optimum pH of 7.5 against MTX and was stable over a pH range of 5-10. AcCPG2 exhibited optimum activity at 50 °C and higher thermal stability at a temperature range of 20-70 °C compared to PsCPG2. The Km value of the purified AcCPG2 toward folate and MTX was 31.36 µM and 44.99 µM, respectively. The Vmax value of AcCPG2 for folate and MTX was 125.80 µmol/min/mg and 48.90 µmol/min/mg, respectively. Accordingly, thermostability and pH versatility makes AcCPG2 a potential biobetter variant for therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Issa Sadeghian
- Biotechnology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Shiva Hemmati
- Biotechnology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
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Khodakarami A, Dabirmanesh B, Asad S, Khaledi M. Enhanced Solubility and One-Step Purification of Functional Dimeric Carboxypeptidase G2. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2021; 86:190-196. [PMID: 33832417 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297921020073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Carboxypeptidase G2 is a bacterial enzyme that catalyzes methotrexate conversion to its inactive forms which are then eliminated via a non-renal pathway in patients with renal disorders during a high-dose methotrexate administration. Due to the increasing demand of this enzyme, it was of interest to simplify its production process. For this reason, we developed a method for production and one-step purification of this enzyme using an intein-mediated system with a chitin-binding affinity tag. The carboxypeptidase G2 gene from Pseudomonas RS16 was optimized, synthesized, cloned into the pTXB1 expression vector and finally transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) cells. The optimal condition for the enzyme soluble expression was achieved in 2×YT medium containing 1% glucose at 25°C for 30 h with 0.5 mM IPTG. The enzyme without intein was expressed as inclusion bodies indicating the importance of intein for the protein solubility. The expressed homodimer protein was purified to homogeneity on a chitin affinity column. The Km and kcat values of 6.5 µM and 4.57 s-1, respectively, were obtained for the purified enzyme. Gel filtration analysis indicated that the resulting recombinant protein was a dimer of 83 kDa. Fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy confirmed the enzyme tertiary and secondary structures, respectively. The use of intein-mediated system provided the possibility of the one-step carboxypeptidase G2 purification, paving the way to the application of this enzyme in pharmaceutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atefeh Khodakarami
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, 14115, Iran
| | - Bahareh Dabirmanesh
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, 14115, Iran.
| | - Sedigheh Asad
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, 14155, Iran
| | - Mohammad Khaledi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, 14115, Iran
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Aldughaim MS, Alsaffar F, Barker MD. Coupling of a Novel TIMP3 Peptide to Carboxypeptidase G2 for Pro-Drug Activation at the Tumour Site. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26030625. [PMID: 33504102 PMCID: PMC7865317 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26030625] [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: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Broad-spectrum cytotoxic drugs have been used in cancer therapy for decades. However, their lack of specificity to cancer cells often results in serious side-effects, limiting efficacy. For this reason, antibodies have been used to attempt to specifically target cytotoxic drugs to tumours. One such approach is antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT) which uses a tumour-directed monoclonal antibody, coupled to an enzyme, to convert a systemically administered non-toxic prodrug into a toxic one only at the tumour site. Among the main drawbacks of ADEPT is the immunogenicity of the antibody-enzyme complex, which is exacerbated by slow clearance due to size, hence limiting repeated administration. Additionally, the mono-specificity of the antibody could potentially result in drug resistance with repeated administration. We have identified a novel short peptide sequence, p700, derived from a human tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3 (TIMP-3), which binds to and inhibits a number of tyrosine kinase growth factor receptors (VEGFRs1-3, FGFRs 1-4 and PDGFRα) which are known to be upregulated in many tumours and tumour vasculature. In this report, we fused p700 to His-tagged, codon-optimised, carboxypeptidase G2 (CPG2). CPG2 is a bacterial enzyme used in ADEPT, which activates potent nitrogen-mustard pro-drugs by removal of an inhibitory glutamic acid residue. Recombinant CPG2-p700 was highly expressed in Escherichia coli and successfully purified by nickel affinity chromatography. Biolayer interferometry showed that CPG2-p700 had a 100-fold increase in binding affinity for VEGFR2 compared with CPG2 alone and retained its catalytic activity, as determined by methotrexate cleavage. In the presence of CPG2-p700, the ZD2676P pro-drug showed significant cytotoxicity for 4T1 cells compared with prodrug alone or CPG2 alone. p700 is, therefore, a potentially useful alternative to monoclonal antibodies for enzyme pro-drug therapy and could equally be used for effective delivery of other cytotoxic drugs to tumour tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed S. Aldughaim
- Research Centre, King Fahad Medical City, P.O. Box 59046, Riyadh 11525, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Oncology and Metabolism, Medical School, University of Sheffield, Beech Hill Rd, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK; (F.A.); (M.D.B.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +96-61-1288-9999 (ext. 10834)
| | - Fatimah Alsaffar
- Department of Oncology and Metabolism, Medical School, University of Sheffield, Beech Hill Rd, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK; (F.A.); (M.D.B.)
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Alghad International Colleges for Applied Medical Sciences, Dammam 32423, Saudi Arabia
| | - Michael D. Barker
- Department of Oncology and Metabolism, Medical School, University of Sheffield, Beech Hill Rd, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK; (F.A.); (M.D.B.)
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Domingo-González A, Osorio S, Landete E, Monsalvo S, Díez-Martín JL. A second administration of glucarpidase in a different cycle of high-dose methotrexate: Is it safe and effective in adults? J Oncol Pharm Pract 2020; 27:734-738. [PMID: 32731844 DOI: 10.1177/1078155220946464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Methotrexate intoxication following high-dose methotrexate-induced acute kidney injury is a life-threatening complication. Glucarpidase can quickly reduce extracellular methotrexate to safe levels, but the effectiveness and safety of its use in different episodes of nephrotoxicity remain an unknown area. CASE REPORT A 30-year-old male diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic T-cell lymphoma received methotrexate 5 g/m2 intravenous (IV) as part of the first consolidation cycle. On Consolidation 3, he restarted methotrexate at a dose of 3 g/m2 IV showing slow methotrexate elimination, associated myelosuppression, and hepatic toxicity. Glucarpidase was administered (total dose of 2000 International Units (IU)). No adverse events were observed, and his renal function returned to normal. One hundred and six days later, he was diagnosed with leptomeningeal and cerebellar relapse and treatment with methotrexate 3,5 g/m2 IV day 1 and cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) 2 g/m2 IV twice per day days 1, 3, and 5 was started. At 36 h from methotrexate infusion, serum creatinine increased up to 1.89 mg/dL and methotrexate concentration was 100 µmol/L.Management and Outcome: Ara-C was suspended, and a second administration of glucarpidase (2000 IU) was dispensed. No adverse events were noticed, methotrexate levels decreased and renal function progressively improved, recovering completely three weeks later. DISCUSSION The effectiveness and safety of the use of glucarpidase in different episodes of nephrotoxicity remain an unknown area, and the rate and consequences of antiglucarpidase antibody formation remain poorly understood. This case report is, to our knowledge, the first case of a second administration of glucarpidase in a different cycle of high-dose methotrexate in an adult patient.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Santiago Osorio
- Hematology Department, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Landete
- Hematology Department, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Silvia Monsalvo
- Hematology Department, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose L Díez-Martín
- Hematology Department, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.,Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Bashraheel SS, Domling A, Goda SK. Update on targeted cancer therapies, single or in combination, and their fine tuning for precision medicine. Biomed Pharmacother 2020; 125:110009. [PMID: 32106381 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2019] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Until recently, patients who have the same type and stage of cancer all receive the same treatment. It has been established, however, that individuals with the same disease respond differently to the same therapy. Further, each tumor undergoes genetic changes that cause cancer to grow and metastasize. The changes that occur in one person's cancer may not occur in others with the same cancer type. These differences also lead to different responses to treatment. Precision medicine, also known as personalized medicine, is a strategy that allows the selection of a treatment based on the patient's genetic makeup. In the case of cancer, the treatment is tailored to take into account the genetic changes that may occur in an individual's tumor. Precision medicine, therefore, could be defined in terms of the targets involved in targeted therapy. METHODS A literature search in electronic data bases using keywords "cancer targeted therapy, personalized medicine and cancer combination therapies" was conducted to include papers from 2010 to June 2019. RESULTS Recent developments in strategies of targeted cancer therapy were reported. Specifically, on the two types of targeted therapy; first, immune-based therapy such as the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), immune cytokines, tumor-targeted superantigens (TTS) and ligand targeted therapeutics (LTTs). The second strategy deals with enzyme/small molecules-based therapies, such as the use of a proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC), antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) and antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT). The precise targeting of the drug to the gene or protein under attack was also investigated, in other words, how precision medicine can be used to tailor treatments. CONCLUSION The conventional therapeutic paradigm for cancer and other diseases has focused on a single type of intervention for all patients. However, a large literature in oncology supports the therapeutic benefits of a precision medicine approach to therapy as well as combination therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara S Bashraheel
- Protein Engineering Unit, Life and Science Research Department, Anti-Doping Lab-Qatar (ADLQ), Doha, Qatar; Drug Design Group, Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Alexander Domling
- Drug Design Group, Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Sayed K Goda
- Cairo University, Faculty of Science, Chemistry Department, Giza, Egypt.
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Al-Mansoori L, Bashraheel SS, Qahtani ADA, O'Connor CD, Elsinga P, Goda SK. In vitro studies on CNGRC-CPG2 fusion proteins for ligand-directed enzyme prodrug therapy for targeted cancer therapy. Oncotarget 2020; 11:619-633. [PMID: 32110281 PMCID: PMC7021235 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.27478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The sequence asparagine-glycine arginine (NGR), flanked by Cysteine (Cys) residues so as to form a disulfide-bridge (CNGRC), has previously been found to target and bind specifically to aminopeptidase N (APN), which is highly expressed on the surface of tumor cells. The goal of this study was to develop and evaluate the potential of fusion proteins carrying the CNGRC sequence linked to the enzyme carboxypeptidase G2 (CPG2) for targeted cancer therapy. We refer to this strategy as ligand-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (LDEPT). We constructed two forms of the CNGRC-CPG2 fusions, containing one or two copies of the cyclic NGR motif and designated CNGRC-CPG2 (X-CPG2) and CNGRC-CPG2-CNGRC (X-CPG2-X), respectively. In vitro binding assays of the purified constructs showed that both X-CPG2 and X-CPG2-X bound with high affinity to cancer cells expressing high levels of APN, compared to their binding to cells expressing low levels of APN. Further in vitro studies of the constructs to assess the therapeutic potential of LDEPT were carried out using cells expressing high and low levels of APN. Using methotrexate, it was demonstrated that cancer cell survival was significantly higher in the presence of the fusion proteins, due to the hydrolysis of this cytotoxic drug by CPG2. Conversely, when the prodrug ZD2767P was used, cancer cell killing was higher in the presence of the fused CPG2 constructs than in their absence, which is consistent with CPG2-mediated release of the cytotoxic drug from the prodrug. Furthermore, the doubly-fused CPG2 construct (X-CPG2-X) was significantly more effective than the singly-fused construct (X-CPG2).
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Affiliation(s)
- Layla Al-Mansoori
- Qatar University, Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.,University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Protein Engineering Unit, Life and Science Research Department, Anti-Doping Lab-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sara S Bashraheel
- Protein Engineering Unit, Life and Science Research Department, Anti-Doping Lab-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Alanod D Al Qahtani
- Protein Engineering Unit, Life and Science Research Department, Anti-Doping Lab-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - C David O'Connor
- Department of Biological Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Science and Education Innovation District, Suzhou, China
| | - Philip Elsinga
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sayed K Goda
- Cairo University, Faculty of Science, Chemistry Department, Giza, Egypt
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Strategies for the production of long-acting therapeutics and efficient drug delivery for cancer treatment. Biomed Pharmacother 2019; 113:108750. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2019.108750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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Al-Qahtani AD, Bashraheel SS, Rashidi FB, O'Connor CD, Romero AR, Domling A, Goda SK. Production of "biobetter" variants of glucarpidase with enhanced enzyme activity. Biomed Pharmacother 2019; 112:108725. [PMID: 30970523 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2019.108725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Revised: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Glucarpidase, also known as carboxypeptidase G2, is a Food and Drug Administration-approved enzyme used in targeted cancer strategies such as antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT). It is also used in drug detoxification when cancer patients have excessive levels of the anti-cancer agent methotrexate. The application of glucarpidase is limited by its potential immunogenicity and limited catalytic efficiency. To overcome these pitfalls, mutagenesis was applied to the glucarpidase gene of Pseudomonas sp. strain RS-16 to isolate three novels "biobetter" variants with higher specific enzyme activity. DNA sequence analysis of the genes for the variants showed that each had a single point mutation, resulting in the amino acid substitutions: I100 T, G123S and T239 A. Km, Vmax and Kcat measurements confirmed that each variant had increased catalytic efficiency relative to wild type glucarpidase. Additionally, circular dichroism studies indicated that they had a higher alpha-helical content relative to the wild type enzyme. However, three different software packages predicted that they had reduced protein stability, which is consistent with having higher activities as a tradeoff. The novel glucarpidase variants presented in this work could pave the way for more efficient drug detoxification and might allow dose escalation during chemotherapy. They also have the potential to increase the efficiency of ADEPT and to reduce the number of treatment cycles, thereby reducing the risk that patients will develop antibodies to glucarpidase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alanod D Al-Qahtani
- Protein Engineering Unit, Life and Science Research Department, Anti-Doping Lab-Qatar (ADLQ), Doha, Qatar; Drug Design Group, Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Sara S Bashraheel
- Protein Engineering Unit, Life and Science Research Department, Anti-Doping Lab-Qatar (ADLQ), Doha, Qatar; Drug Design Group, Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Fatma B Rashidi
- Cairo University, Faculty of Science, Chemistry Department, Giza, Egypt
| | - C David O'Connor
- Department of Biological Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Science and Education Innovation District, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Atilio Reyes Romero
- Drug Design Group, Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Alexander Domling
- Drug Design Group, Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Sayed K Goda
- Protein Engineering Unit, Life and Science Research Department, Anti-Doping Lab-Qatar (ADLQ), Doha, Qatar; Cairo University, Faculty of Science, Chemistry Department, Giza, Egypt.
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AlQahtani AD, Al-mansoori L, Bashraheel SS, Rashidi FB, Al-Yafei A, Elsinga P, Domling A, Goda SK. Production of “biobetter” glucarpidase variants to improve drug detoxification and antibody directed enzyme prodrug therapy for cancer treatment. Eur J Pharm Sci 2019; 127:79-91. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2018.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Revised: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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