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Cheung LH, Zhao Y, Alvarez-Cienfuegos A, Mohamedali KA, Cao YJ, Hittelman WN, Rosenblum MG. Development of a human immuno-oncology therapeutic agent targeting HER2: targeted delivery of granzyme B. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2019; 38:332. [PMID: 31362764 PMCID: PMC6668111 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-019-1333-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Background Immunotherapeutic approaches designed to augment T and B cell mediated killing of tumor cells has met with clinical success in recent years suggesting tremendous potential for treatment in a broad spectrum of tumor types. After complex recognition of target cells by T and B cells, delivery of the serine protease granzyme B (GrB) to tumor cells comprises the cytotoxic insult resulting in a well-characterized, multimodal apoptotic cascade. Methods We designed a recombinant fusion construct, GrB-Fc-4D5, composed of a humanized anti-HER2 scFv fused to active GrB for recognition of tumor cells and internal delivery of GrB, simulating T and B cell therapy. We assessed the construct’s antigen-binding specificity and GrB enzymatic activity, as well as in vitro cytotoxicity and internalization into target and control cells. We also assessed pharmacokinetic and toxicology parameters in vivo. Results GrB-Fc-4D5 was highly cytotoxic to Her2 positive cells such as SKBR3, MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 with IC50 values of 56, 99 and 27 nM, respectively, and against a panel of HER2+ cell lines regardless of endogenous expression levels of the PI-9 inhibitor. Contemporaneous studies with Kadcyla demonstrated similar levels of in vitro activity against virtually all cells tested. GrB-Fc-4D5 internalized rapidly into target SKOV3 cells within 1 h of exposure rapidly delivering GrB to the cytoplasmic compartment. In keeping with its relatively high molecular weight (160 kDa), the construct demonstrated a terminal-phase serum half-life in mice of 39.2 h. Toxicity studies conducted on BALB/c mice demonstrated no statistically significant changes in SGPT, SGOT or serum LDH. Histopathologic analysis of tissues from treated mice demonstrated no drug-related changes in any tissues examined. Conclusion GrB-Fc-4D5 shows excellent, specific cytotoxicity and demonstrates no significant toxicity in normal, antigen-negative murine models. This construct constitutes a novel approach against HER2-expressing tumors and is an excellent candidate for further development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence H Cheung
- Immunopharmacology and Targeted Therapy Laboratory, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Unit 1950, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Yunli Zhao
- Immunopharmacology and Targeted Therapy Laboratory, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Unit 1950, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Present address: Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, Liaoning, China
| | - Ana Alvarez-Cienfuegos
- Immunopharmacology and Targeted Therapy Laboratory, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Unit 1950, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Khalid A Mohamedali
- Immunopharmacology and Targeted Therapy Laboratory, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Unit 1950, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Yu J Cao
- Immunopharmacology and Targeted Therapy Laboratory, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Unit 1950, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Present Address: Shenzhen Graduate School, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University, Nanshan, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Walter N Hittelman
- Immunopharmacology and Targeted Therapy Laboratory, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Unit 1950, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Michael G Rosenblum
- Immunopharmacology and Targeted Therapy Laboratory, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Unit 1950, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
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Yang W, Wei Y, Yang L, Zhang J, Zhong Z, Storm G, Meng F. Granzyme B-loaded, cell-selective penetrating and reduction-responsive polymersomes effectively inhibit progression of orthotopic human lung tumor in vivo. J Control Release 2018; 290:141-149. [PMID: 30312720 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2018.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Revised: 09/30/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The clinical use of protein therapeutics with intracellular targets is hampered by its in vivo fragility and low cell permeability. Here, we report that cell-selective penetrating and reduction-responsive polymersomes (CPRPs) mediate high-efficiency targeted delivery of granzyme B (GrB) to orthotopic human lung tumor in vivo. Model protein studies using FITC-labeled cytochrome C (FITC-CC) revealed efficient and high protein loading up to 17.2 wt% for CPRPs. FITC-CC-loaded CPRPs exhibited a small size of 82-90 nm, reduction-responsive protein release, as well as greatly enhanced internalization and cytoplasmic protein release in A549 lung cancer cells compared with the non-targeted FITC-CC-loaded RPs control. GrB-loaded CPRPs showed a high potency toward A549 lung cancer cells with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 20.7 nM. Under the same condition, free GrB was essentially non-toxic. Importantly, installing cell-selective penetrating peptide did not alter the circulation time but did enhance tumor accumulation of RPs. Orthotopic A549-Luc lung tumor-bearing nude mice administered with GrB-loaded CPRPs at a dosage of 2.88 nmol GrB equiv./kg showed complete tumor growth inhibition with little body weight loss throughout the treatment period, resulting in significantly improved survival rate over the non-targeted and non-treated controls. These cell-selective penetrating and reduction-responsive polymersomes provide a targeted protein therapy for cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijing Yang
- Biomedical Polymers Laboratory, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, PR China
| | - Yaohua Wei
- Biomedical Polymers Laboratory, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, PR China; Department of Targeted Therapeutics, MIRA Institute for Biological Technology and Technical Medicine, University of Twente, PO Box 217, Enschede 7500AE, The Netherlands
| | - Liang Yang
- Biomedical Polymers Laboratory, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, PR China
| | - Jian Zhang
- Biomedical Polymers Laboratory, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, PR China
| | - Zhiyuan Zhong
- Biomedical Polymers Laboratory, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, PR China.
| | - Gert Storm
- Department of Targeted Therapeutics, MIRA Institute for Biological Technology and Technical Medicine, University of Twente, PO Box 217, Enschede 7500AE, The Netherlands
| | - Fenghua Meng
- Biomedical Polymers Laboratory, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, PR China.
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Addressing the Immunogenicity of the Cargo and of the Targeting Antibodies with a Focus on Demmunized Bacterial Toxins and on Antibody-Targeted Human Effector Proteins. Biomedicines 2017; 5:biomedicines5020028. [PMID: 28574434 PMCID: PMC5489814 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines5020028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2017] [Revised: 05/23/2017] [Accepted: 05/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Third-generation immunotoxins are composed of a human, or humanized, targeting moiety, usually a monoclonal antibody or an antibody fragment, and a non-human effector molecule. Due to the non-human origin of the cytotoxic domain, these molecules stimulate potent anti-drug immune responses, which limit treatment options. Efforts are made to deimmunize such immunotoxins or to combine treatment with immunosuppression. An alternative approach is using the so-called “human cytotoxic fusion proteins”, in which antibodies are used to target human effector proteins. Here, we present three relevant approaches for reducing the immunogenicity of antibody-targeted protein therapeutics: (1) reducing the immunogenicity of the bacterial toxin, (2) fusing human cytokines to antibodies to generate immunocytokines and (3) addressing the immunogenicity of the targeting antibodies.
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Akbari B, Farajnia S, Ahdi Khosroshahi S, Safari F, Yousefi M, Dariushnejad H, Rahbarnia L. Immunotoxins in cancer therapy: Review and update. Int Rev Immunol 2017; 36:207-219. [DOI: 10.1080/08830185.2017.1284211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bahman Akbari
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Paramedicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
- Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Safar Farajnia
- Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | - Fatemeh Safari
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Paramedicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Mohammadreza Yousefi
- Biotechnology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hassan Dariushnejad
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Paramedicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Leila Rahbarnia
- Biotechnology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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Allahyari H, Heidari S, Ghamgosha M, Saffarian P, Amani J. Immunotoxin: A new tool for cancer therapy. Tumour Biol 2017; 39:1010428317692226. [DOI: 10.1177/1010428317692226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is one of the main reasons of death in the most countries and in Iran. Immunotherapy quickly became one of the best methods of cancer treatment, along with chemotherapy and radiation. “Immunotoxin Therapy” is a promising way of cancer therapy that is mentioned in this field. Immunotoxins are made from a toxin attaching to an antibody target proteins present on cancer cells. The first-generation immunotoxins were made of a full-length toxin attached to whole monoclonal antibodies. But, these immunotoxins could bind to normal cells. DAB389IL2 was the first immunotoxin approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Current trends and researches are ongoing on finding proteins that in combination with immunotoxins have minimal immunogenicity and the most potency for target cell killing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Allahyari
- Applied Biotechnology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sahar Heidari
- Applied Biotechnology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Ghamgosha
- Applied Biotechnology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parvaneh Saffarian
- Department of Microbiology, Tehran Medical Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Jafar Amani
- Applied Microbiology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Amoury M, Mladenov R, Nachreiner T, Pham AT, Hristodorov D, Di Fiore S, Helfrich W, Pardo A, Fey G, Schwenkert M, Thepen T, Kiessling F, Hussain AF, Fischer R, Kolberg K, Barth S. A novel approach for targeted elimination of CSPG4-positive triple-negative breast cancer cells using a MAP tau-based fusion protein. Int J Cancer 2016; 139:916-27. [DOI: 10.1002/ijc.30119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2015] [Revised: 02/24/2016] [Accepted: 03/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Manal Amoury
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapy; Institute for Applied Medical Engineering, University Hospital RWTH Aachen; Germany
| | - Radoslav Mladenov
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapy; Institute for Applied Medical Engineering, University Hospital RWTH Aachen; Germany
| | - Thomas Nachreiner
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapy; Institute for Applied Medical Engineering, University Hospital RWTH Aachen; Germany
| | - Anh-Tuan Pham
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapy; Institute for Applied Medical Engineering, University Hospital RWTH Aachen; Germany
| | - Dmitrij Hristodorov
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapy; Institute for Applied Medical Engineering, University Hospital RWTH Aachen; Germany
| | - Stefano Di Fiore
- Department of Pharmaceutical Product Development; Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology; Aachen Germany
| | - Wijnand Helfrich
- Department of Surgery, Laboratory for Translational Surgical Oncology; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen; The Netherlands
| | - Alessa Pardo
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapy; Institute for Applied Medical Engineering, University Hospital RWTH Aachen; Germany
| | - Georg Fey
- Department of Biology; Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg; Germany
| | | | - Theophilus Thepen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Product Development; Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology; Aachen Germany
| | - Fabian Kiessling
- Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, University Hospital RWTH Aachen; Germany
| | - Ahmad F. Hussain
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics; University Hospital RWTH Aachen; Germany
| | - Rainer Fischer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Product Development; Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology; Aachen Germany
| | - Katharina Kolberg
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapy; Institute for Applied Medical Engineering, University Hospital RWTH Aachen; Germany
- Department of Pharmaceutical Product Development; Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology; Aachen Germany
| | - Stefan Barth
- South African Research Chair in Cancer Biotechnology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences; University of Cape Town; Observatory South Africa
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Nowacki M, Wisniewski M, Werengowska-Ciecwierz K, Roszek K, Czarnecka J, Łakomska I, Kloskowski T, Tyloch D, Debski R, Pietkun K, Pokrywczynska M, Grzanka D, Czajkowski R, Drewa G, Jundziłł A, Agyin JK, Habib SL, Terzyk AP, Drewa T. Nanovehicles as a novel target strategy for hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy: a multidisciplinary study of peritoneal carcinomatosis. Oncotarget 2015; 6:22776-98. [PMID: 26254295 PMCID: PMC4673199 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.4309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2015] [Accepted: 05/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In general, detection of peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) occurs at the late stage when there is no treatment option. In the present study, we designed novel drug delivery systems that are functionalized with anti-CD133 antibodies. The C1, C2 and C3 complexes with cisplatin were introduced into nanotubes, either physically or chemically. The complexes were reacted with anti-CD133 antibody to form the labeled product of A0-o-CX-chem-CD133. Cytotoxicity screening of all the complexes was performed on CHO cells. Data showed that both C2 and C3 Pt-complexes are more cytotoxic than C1. Flow-cytometry analysis showed that nanotubes conjugated to CD133 antibody have the ability to target cells expressing the CD133 antigen which is responsible for the emergence of resistance to chemotherapy and disease recurrence. The shortest survival rate was observed in the control mice group (K3) where no hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy procedures were used. On the other hand, the longest median survival rate was observed in the group treated with A0-o-C1-chem-CD133. In summary, we designed a novel drug delivery system based on carbon nanotubes loaded with Pt-prodrugs and functionalized with anti-CD133 antibodies. Our data demonstrates the effectiveness of the new drug delivery system and provides a novel therapeutic modality in the treatment of melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej Nowacki
- Chair of Regenerative Medicine, Tissue Engineering Department, Ludwik Rydygier's Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland
| | - Marek Wisniewski
- Physicochemistry of Carbon Materials Research Group, Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland
- Invest-Tech, Research and Development Center, Torun, Poland
| | - Karolina Werengowska-Ciecwierz
- Physicochemistry of Carbon Materials Research Group, Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Roszek
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Environment Protection, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland
| | - Joanna Czarnecka
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Environment Protection, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland
| | - I. Łakomska
- Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland
| | - Tomasz Kloskowski
- Chair of Regenerative Medicine, Tissue Engineering Department, Ludwik Rydygier's Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland
| | - Dominik Tyloch
- Chair of Regenerative Medicine, Tissue Engineering Department, Ludwik Rydygier's Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland
| | - Robert Debski
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Ludwik Rydygier's Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Pietkun
- Chair of Regenerative Medicine, Tissue Engineering Department, Ludwik Rydygier's Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland
- Chair of Dermatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Immunodermatology, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Marta Pokrywczynska
- Chair of Regenerative Medicine, Tissue Engineering Department, Ludwik Rydygier's Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland
| | - Dariusz Grzanka
- Chair of Dermatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Immunodermatology, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Rafał Czajkowski
- Chair of Dermatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Immunodermatology, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Gerard Drewa
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - A. Jundziłł
- Chair of Regenerative Medicine, Tissue Engineering Department, Ludwik Rydygier's Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland
| | - Joseph K. Agyin
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Samy L. Habib
- Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Geriatric, South Texas Veterans Health System, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Artur P. Terzyk
- Physicochemistry of Carbon Materials Research Group, Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland
| | - Tomasz Drewa
- Chair of Regenerative Medicine, Tissue Engineering Department, Ludwik Rydygier's Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland
- Urology Department, Nicolaus Copernicus Hospital in Torun, Torun, Poland
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Zhou H, Mohamedali KA, Gonzalez-Angulo AM, Cao Y, Migliorini M, Cheung LH, LoBello J, Lei X, Qi Y, Hittelman WN, Winkles JA, Tran NL, Rosenblum MG. Development of human serine protease-based therapeutics targeting Fn14 and identification of Fn14 as a new target overexpressed in TNBC. Mol Cancer Ther 2014; 13:2688-705. [PMID: 25239934 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-14-0346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The cytokine TWEAK and its receptor, Fn14, have emerged as potentially valuable targets for cancer therapy. Granzyme B (GrB)-containing Fn14-targeted constructs were generated containing either the Fn14 ligand TWEAK (GrB-TWEAK) or an anti-Fn14 humanized single-chain antibody (GrB-Fc-IT4) as the targeting moieties. Both constructs showed high affinity and selective cytotoxicity against a panel of Fn14-expressing human tumor cells including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) lines. Cellular expression of the GrB inhibitor PI-9 in target cells had no impact on the cytotoxic effect of either construct. Cellular expression of MDR1 showed no cross-resistance to the fusion constructs. GrB-TWEAK and GrB-Fc-IT4 activated intracellular caspase cascades and cytochrome c-related proapoptotic pathways consistent with the known intracellular functions of GrB in target cells. Treatment of mice bearing established HT-29 xenografts with GrB-TWEAK showed significant tumor growth inhibition compared with vehicle alone (P < 0.05). Both GrB-TWEAK and GrB-Fc-IT4 displayed significant tumor growth inhibition when administered to mice bearing orthotopic MDA-MB-231 (TNBC) tumor xenografts. The Cancer Genome Atlas analysis revealed that Fn14 mRNA expression was significantly higher in TNBC and in HER2-positive disease (P < 0.0001) compared with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, and in basal-like 2 tumors (P = 0.01) compared with other TNBC molecular subtypes. IHC analysis of a 101 patient TNBC tumor microarray showed that 55 of 101 (54%) of tumors stained positive for Fn14, suggesting that this may be an excellent potential target for precision therapeutic approaches. Targeting Fn14 using fully human, GrB-containing fusion constructs may form the basis for a new class of novel, potent, and highly effective constructs for targeted therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Zhou
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Khalid A Mohamedali
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Ana Maria Gonzalez-Angulo
- Department of Breast Medical Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. Department of Systems Biology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Yu Cao
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Mary Migliorini
- Department of Surgery, Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases, and the Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Lawrence H Cheung
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Janine LoBello
- Integrated Cancer Genomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Xiudong Lei
- Department of Biostatistics, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Yuan Qi
- Department of Bioinformatics, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Walter N Hittelman
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Jeffrey A Winkles
- Department of Surgery, Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases, and the Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Nhan L Tran
- Cancer and Cell Biology Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Michael G Rosenblum
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
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Mohamedali KA, Cao Y, Cheung LH, Hittelman WN, Rosenblum MG. The functionalized human serine protease granzyme B/VEGF₁₂₁ targets tumor vasculature and ablates tumor growth. Mol Cancer Ther 2013; 12:2055-66. [PMID: 23858102 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-13-0165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The serine protease granzyme B (GrB) induces apoptosis through both caspase-dependent and -independent multiple-cascade mechanisms. VEGF₁₂₁ binds to both VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-1 and VEGFR-2 receptors. We engineered a unique GrB/VEGF₁₂₁ fusion protein and characterized its properties in vitro and in vivo. Endothelial and tumor cell lines showed varying levels of sensitivity to GrB/VEGF₁₂₁ that correlated closely to total VEGFR-2 expression. GrB/VEGF₁₂₁ localized efficiently into VEGFR-2-expressing cells, whereas the internalization into VEGFR-1-expressing cells was significantly reduced. Treatment of VEGFR-2(+) cells caused mitochondrial depolarization in 48% of cells by 48 hours. Exposure to GrB/VEGF₁₂₁ induced apoptosis in VEGFR-2(+), but not in VEGFR-1(+), cells and rapid caspase activation was observed that could not be inhibited by treatment with a pan-caspase inhibitor. In vivo, GrB/VEGF₁₂₁ localized in perivascular tumor areas adjacent to microvessels and in other areas in the tumor less well vascularized, whereas free GrB did not specifically localize to tumor tissue. Administration (intravenous) of GrB/VEGF₁₂₁ to mice at doses up to 40 mg/kg showed no toxicity. Treatment of mice bearing established PC-3 tumor xenografts with GrB/VEGF₁₂₁ showed significant antitumor effect versus treatment with GrB or saline. Treatment with GrB/VEGF₁₂₁ at 27 mg/kg resulted in the regression of four of five tumors in this group. Tumors showed a two-fold lower Ki-67-labeling index compared with controls. Our results show that targeted delivery of GrB to tumor vascular endothelial cells or to tumor cells activates apoptotic cascades and this completely human construct may have significant therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid A Mohamedali
- Corresponding Author: Michael G. Rosenblum, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Unit 1950, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030.
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Oberoi P, Jabulowsky RA, Bähr-Mahmud H, Wels WS. EGFR-targeted granzyme B expressed in NK cells enhances natural cytotoxicity and mediates specific killing of tumor cells. PLoS One 2013; 8:e61267. [PMID: 23573299 PMCID: PMC3616035 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2013] [Accepted: 03/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are highly specialized effectors of the innate immune system that hold promise for adoptive cancer immunotherapy. Their cell killing activity is primarily mediated by the pro-apoptotic serine protease granzyme B (GrB), which enters targets cells with the help of the pore-forming protein perforin. We investigated expression of a chimeric GrB fusion protein in NK cells as a means to augment their antitumoral activity. For selective targeting to tumor cells, we fused the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) peptide ligand transforming growth factor α (TGFα) to human pre-pro-GrB. Established human NKL natural killer cells transduced with a lentiviral vector expressed this GrB-TGFα (GrB-T) molecule in amounts comparable to endogenous wildtype GrB. Activation of the genetically modified NK cells by cognate target cells resulted in the release of GrB-T together with endogenous granzymes and perforin, which augmented the effector cells' natural cytotoxicity against NK-sensitive tumor cells. Likewise, GrB-T was released into the extracellular space upon induction of degranulation with PMA and ionomycin. Secreted GrB-T fusion protein displayed specific binding to EGFR-overexpressing tumor cells, enzymatic activity, and selective target cell killing in the presence of an endosomolytic activity. Our data demonstrate that ectopic expression of a targeted GrB fusion protein in NK cells is feasible and can enhance antitumoral activity of the effector cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pranav Oberoi
- Chemotherapeutisches Forschungsinstitut Georg-Speyer-Haus, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Robert A. Jabulowsky
- Chemotherapeutisches Forschungsinstitut Georg-Speyer-Haus, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Hayat Bähr-Mahmud
- Chemotherapeutisches Forschungsinstitut Georg-Speyer-Haus, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Winfried S. Wels
- Chemotherapeutisches Forschungsinstitut Georg-Speyer-Haus, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Cao Y, Mohamedali KA, Marks JW, Cheung LH, Hittelman WN, Rosenblum MG. Construction and characterization of novel, completely human serine protease therapeutics targeting Her2/neu. Mol Cancer Ther 2013; 12:979-91. [PMID: 23493312 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-13-0002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Immunotoxins containing bacterial or plant toxins have shown promise in cancer-targeted therapy, but their long-term clinical use may be hampered by vascular leak syndrome and immunogenicity of the toxin. We incorporated human granzyme B (GrB) as an effector and generated completely human chimeric fusion proteins containing the humanized anti-Her2/neu single-chain antibody 4D5 (designated GrB/4D5). Introduction of a pH-sensitive fusogenic peptide (designated GrB/4D5/26) resulted in comparatively greater specific cytotoxicity although both constructs showed similar affinity to Her2/neu-positive tumor cells. Compared with GrB/4D5, GrB/4D5/26 showed enhanced and long-lasting cellular uptake and improved delivery of GrB to the cytosol of target cells. Treatment with nanomolar concentrations of GrB/4D5/26 resulted in specific cytotoxicity, induction of apoptosis, and efficient downregulation of PI3K/Akt and Ras/ERK pathways. The endogenous presence of the GrB proteinase inhibitor 9 did not impact the response of cells to the fusion construct. Surprisingly, tumor cells resistant to lapatinib or Herceptin, and cells expressing MDR-1 resistant to chemotherapeutic agents showed no cross-resistance to the GrB-based fusion proteins. Administration (intravenous, tail vein) of GrB/4D5/26 to mice bearing BT474 M1 breast tumors resulted in significant tumor suppression. In addition, tumor tissue excised from GrB/4D5/26-treated mice showed excellent delivery of GrB to tumors and a dramatic induction of apoptosis compared with saline treatment. This study clearly showed that the completely human, functionalized GrB construct can effectively target Her2/neu-expressing cells and displays impressive in vitro and in vivo activity. This construct should be evaluated further for clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Cao
- Immunopharmacology and Targeted Therapy Laboratory, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77054, USA
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13
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Improving the Therapeutic Potential of Human Granzyme B for Targeted Cancer Therapy. Antibodies (Basel) 2013. [DOI: 10.3390/antib2010019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
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14
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Gehrmann M, Stangl S, Kirschner A, Foulds GA, Sievert W, Doß BT, Walch A, Pockley AG, Multhoff G. Immunotherapeutic targeting of membrane Hsp70-expressing tumors using recombinant human granzyme B. PLoS One 2012; 7:e41341. [PMID: 22829941 PMCID: PMC3400620 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0041341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2012] [Accepted: 06/20/2012] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background We have previously reported that human recombinant granzyme B (grB) mediates apoptosis in membrane heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70)-positive tumor cells in a perforin-independent manner. Methodology/Principal Findings Optical imaging of uptake kinetics revealed co-localization of grB with recycling endosomes (Rab9/11) as early as 5 min after internalization, with late endosomes (Rab7) after 30 min, and the lysosomal compartment (LAMP1/2) after 60 to 120 min. Active caspase-3-mediated apoptosis was induced in mouse CT26 monolayer cells and 3D tumor spheroids, but not in normal mouse endothelial cells. Granzyme B selectively reduced the proportion of membrane Hsp70-positive cells in CT26 tumor spheroids. Consecutive i.v. injections of recombinant human grB into mice bearing membrane Hsp70-positive CT26 tumors resulted in significant tumor suppression, and a detailed inspection of normal mouse organs revealed that the administration of anti-tumoral concentrations of grB elicited no clinicopathological changes. Conclusions/Significance These findings support the future clinical evaluation of human grB as a potential adjuvant therapeutic agent, especially for treating immunosuppressed patients that bear membrane Hsp70-positive tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathias Gehrmann
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, and Clinical Cooperation Group (CCG) “Innate Immunity in Tumor Biology”, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefan Stangl
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, and Clinical Cooperation Group (CCG) “Innate Immunity in Tumor Biology”, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt, Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas Kirschner
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, and Clinical Cooperation Group (CCG) “Innate Immunity in Tumor Biology”, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt, Munich, Germany
| | - Gemma A. Foulds
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, and Clinical Cooperation Group (CCG) “Innate Immunity in Tumor Biology”, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt, Munich, Germany
- Department of Oncology, The Medical School, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Wolfgang Sievert
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, and Clinical Cooperation Group (CCG) “Innate Immunity in Tumor Biology”, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt, Munich, Germany
| | - Brigitte T. Doß
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, and Clinical Cooperation Group (CCG) “Innate Immunity in Tumor Biology”, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt, Munich, Germany
| | - Axel Walch
- Institute of Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt, Munich, Germany
| | - Alan G. Pockley
- Department of Oncology, The Medical School, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Gabriele Multhoff
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, and Clinical Cooperation Group (CCG) “Innate Immunity in Tumor Biology”, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt, Munich, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Jabulowsky RA, Oberoi P, Bähr-Mahmud H, Dälken B, Wels WS. Surface charge-modification prevents sequestration and enhances tumor-cell specificity of a recombinant granzyme B-TGFα fusion protein. Bioconjug Chem 2012; 23:1567-76. [PMID: 22759275 DOI: 10.1021/bc3000657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The serine protease granzyme B (GrB) plays an important role in the immune defense mediated by cytotoxic lymphocytes. Recombinant derivatives of this pro-apoptotic protein fused to tumor-targeting ligands hold promise for cancer therapy, but their applicability may be limited by promiscuous binding to nontarget tissues via electrostatic interactions. Here, we investigated cell binding and specific cytotoxicity of chimeric molecules consisting of wild-type or surface-charge-modified human GrB and the natural EGFR ligand TGFα for tumor targeting. We mutated two cationic heparin-binding motifs responsible for electrostatic interactions of GrB with cell surface structures, and genetically fused the resulting GrBcs derivative to TGFα for expression in the yeast Pichia pastoris. Purified GrBcs-TGFα (GrBcs-T) and a corresponding fusion protein employing wild-type GrB (GrB-T) displayed similar enzymatic activity and targeted cytotoxicity against EGFR-overexpressing breast carcinoma cells in the presence of an endosomolytic reagent. However, unspecific binding of the modified GrBcs-T variant to EGFR-negative cells was dramatically reduced, preventing the sequestration by nontarget cells in mixed cell cultures and increasing tumor-cell specificity. Likewise, modification of the GrB domain alleviated unspecific extracellular effects such as cell detachment indicative of extracellular matrix degradation. Our data demonstrate improved selectivity and functionality of surface-charge-modified GrBcs, suggesting this strategy as a general approach for the development of optimized GrB fusion proteins for therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert A Jabulowsky
- Chemotherapeutisches Forschungsinstitut Georg-Speyer-Haus, Paul-Ehrlich-Str. 42-44, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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Andrady C, Sharma SK, Chester KA. Antibody-enzyme fusion proteins for cancer therapy. Immunotherapy 2011; 3:193-211. [PMID: 21322759 DOI: 10.2217/imt.10.90] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in biomolecular technology have allowed the development of genetically fused antibody-enzymes. Antibody-enzyme fusion proteins have been used to target tumors for cancer therapy in two ways. In one system, an antibody-enzyme is pretargeted to the tumor followed by administration of an inactive prodrug that is converted to its active form by the pretargeted enzyme. This system has been described as antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy. The other system uses antibody-enzyme fusion proteins as direct therapeutics, where the enzyme is toxic in its own right. The key feature in this approach is that the antibody is used to internalize the toxic enzyme into the tumor cell, which activates cell-death processes. This antibody-enzyme system has been largely applied to deliver ribonucleases. This article addresses these two antibody-enzyme targeting strategies for cancer therapy from concept to (pre)clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carima Andrady
- Cancer Research UK Targeting & Imaging Group, Department of Oncology, UCL Cancer Institute, Paul O'Gorman Building, University College London, 72 Huntley Street, London WC1E6BT, UK.
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Kanatani I, Lin X, Yuan X, Manorek G, Shang X, Cheung LH, Rosenblum MG, Howell SB. Targeting granzyme B to tumor cells using a yoked human chorionic gonadotropin. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2011; 68:979-90. [PMID: 21327682 PMCID: PMC3180622 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-011-1573-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2010] [Accepted: 01/26/2011] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) is found in abundance on human ovarian, breast, endometrial and prostate carcinomas but at only low levels on non-gonadal tissues. To selectively kill LHR-expressing tumors, granzyme B (GrB) was linked to a protein in which both chains of human chorionic gonadotropin were yoked together (YCG). Methods GrB-YCG was expressed and secreted from insect Sf9 cells. Its GrB enzymatic activity and binding affinity for hLHR were then characterized. The differential cytotoxicity of GrB-YCG versus GrB alone was tested in a panel of LHR-expressing tumor cells by SRB assay, and the mechanisms involved in the cell death were investigated by confocal fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, and western blot analysis. Results GrB-YCG was successfully expressed and secreted from Sf9 insect cells and purified from cell culture supernatants. The serine protease activity of GrB-YCG was equivalent to that of human recombinant GrB. An in vitro hormone binding assay revealed that the GrB-YCG molecule also retained the ability to bind to the LHR receptor with an affinity similar to that of native hCG. Upon cell binding, GrB-YCG was rapidly internalized into LHR-expressing human ovarian cancer cells and produced selective and potent tumor cell killing by inducing apoptosis through activation of caspase-3. Conclusions These results validate LHR as a therapeutic target and indicate that delivery of the human pro-apoptotic enzyme GrB to tumor cells by yoked hCG has substantial selectivity and therapeutic potential for human tumors that express high levels of LHR such as ovarian carcinomas. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00280-011-1573-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isao Kanatani
- Department of Medicine and the Rebecca and John Moores UCSD Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0819, USA
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18
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Characterization and mechanistic studies of a novel melanoma-targeting construct containing IκBa for specific inhibition of nuclear factor-κB activity. Neoplasia 2011; 12:766-77. [PMID: 20927315 DOI: 10.1593/neo.10214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2010] [Revised: 06/17/2010] [Accepted: 06/22/2010] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is a central mediator of growth and homeostasis for both normal and neoplastic cells. IκBα is the natural intracellular inhibitor of NF-κB and can effectively complex with and thereby inhibit the biologic activity and translocation of NF-κB to the nucleus. We designed a fusion protein designated IκBα/scFvMEL composing of human IκBα and the single-chain antibody scFvMEL, targets melanoma gp240 antigen. Cells treated with IκBα/scFvMEL before irradiation showed specifically inhibition of both constitutive and radiation-induced NF-κB activity on gp240 antigen-positive A375M cells. Pretreatment of A375M cells with IκBα/scFvMEL significantly sensitized melanoma cells to ionizing radiation assessed using a clonogenic survival assay. Mechanistic studies showed that IκBα/scFvMEL, when exogenously added to A375M cells, could be coimmunoprecipitated with the p65 subunit of NF-κB. IκBα/scFvMEL inhibited in a time and/or dose-dependent manner of tumor necrosis factor α- or radiation-induced NF-κB activity in vitro. IκBα/scFvMEL was also shown to specifically inhibit the translocation of the NF-κB p65 subunit to the cell nucleus and NF-κB-mediated gene transcription. Further, initial studies showed that mice bearing well-established A375M xenografts were treated (intravenously) with IκBα/scFvMEL and showed a significant suppression of tumor growth. We also observed a decrease in levels of Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL signaling events downstream of NF-κB in the tumor model. These studies demonstrate for the first time that tumor cell-targeted delivery of IκBα may be beneficial for the treatment of melanoma when combined with standard anticancer therapies such as radiation.
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Rachakatla RS, Balivada S, Seo GM, Myers CB, Wang H, Samarakoon TN, Dani R, Pyle M, Kroh FO, Walker B, Leaym X, Koper OB, Chikan V, Bossmann SH, Tamura M, Troyer DL. Attenuation of mouse melanoma by A/C magnetic field after delivery of bi-magnetic nanoparticles by neural progenitor cells. ACS NANO 2010; 4:7093-104. [PMID: 21058696 PMCID: PMC3011034 DOI: 10.1021/nn100870z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Localized magnetic hyperthermia as a treatment modality for cancer has generated renewed interest, particularly if it can be targeted to the tumor site. We examined whether tumor-tropic neural progenitor cells (NPCs) could be utilized as cell delivery vehicles for achieving preferential accumulation of core/shell iron/iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) within a mouse model of melanoma. We developed aminosiloxane-porphyrin functionalized MNPs, evaluated cell viability and loading efficiency, and transplanted neural progenitor cells loaded with this cargo into mice with melanoma. NPCs were efficiently loaded with core/shell Fe/Fe(3)O(4) MNPs with minimal cytotoxicity; the MNPs accumulated as aggregates in the cytosol. The NPCs loaded with MNPs could travel to subcutaneous melanomas, and after A/C (alternating current) magnetic field (AMF) exposure, the targeted delivery of MNPs by the cells resulted in a measurable regression of the tumors. The tumor attenuation was significant (p < 0.05) a short time (24 h) after the last of three AMF exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raja Shekar Rachakatla
- Deryl Troyer, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, 228 Coles Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Sivasai Balivada
- Deryl Troyer, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, 228 Coles Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Gwi-Moon Seo
- Deryl Troyer, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, 228 Coles Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Carl B Myers
- Department of Diagnostic Pathobiology, 223 Mosier Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506
| | - Hongwang Wang
- Department of Chemistry, 213 CBC Building, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA, , phone: 785-532-6817, fax: 785-532-6666, http://www.k-state.edu/chem/
| | - Thilani N. Samarakoon
- Department of Chemistry, 213 CBC Building, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA, , phone: 785-532-6817, fax: 785-532-6666, http://www.k-state.edu/chem/
| | - Raj Dani
- Department of Chemistry, 213 CBC Building, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA, , phone: 785-532-6817, fax: 785-532-6666, http://www.k-state.edu/chem/
| | - Marla Pyle
- Deryl Troyer, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, 228 Coles Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Franklin O. Kroh
- NanoScale Corporation, 1310 Research Park Drive, Manhattan, KS 66502, USA, , phone: 785-537-0179, fax: 785-537-0226
| | - Brandon Walker
- NanoScale Corporation, 1310 Research Park Drive, Manhattan, KS 66502, USA, , phone: 785-537-0179, fax: 785-537-0226
| | - Xiaoxuan Leaym
- NanoScale Corporation, 1310 Research Park Drive, Manhattan, KS 66502, USA, , phone: 785-537-0179, fax: 785-537-0226
| | - Olga B. Koper
- NanoScale Corporation, 1310 Research Park Drive, Manhattan, KS 66502, USA, , phone: 785-537-0179, fax: 785-537-0226
| | - Viktor Chikan
- Department of Chemistry, 213 CBC Building, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA, , phone: 785-532-6817, fax: 785-532-6666, http://www.k-state.edu/chem/
| | - Stefan H. Bossmann
- Department of Chemistry, 213 CBC Building, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA, , phone: 785-532-6817, fax: 785-532-6666, http://www.k-state.edu/chem/
| | - Masaaki Tamura
- Deryl Troyer, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, 228 Coles Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Deryl L. Troyer
- Deryl Troyer, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, 228 Coles Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
- Corresponding author: Deryl Troyer, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, 228 Coles Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA , phone: 785-532-4509, fax: 785-532-4557
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Abstract
Granzyme B (GzmB) is used by cytotoxic lymphocytes as a molecular weapon for the defense against virus-infected and malignantly transformed host cells. It belongs to a family of small serine proteases that are stored in secretory vesicles of killer cells. After secretion of these cytolytic granules during killer cell attack, GzmB is translocated into the cytosol of target cells with the help of the pore-forming protein perforin. GzmB has adopted similar protease specificity as caspase-8, and once delivered, it activates major executioner apoptosis pathways. Since GzmB is very effective in killing human tumor cell lines that are otherwise resistant against many cytotoxic drugs and since GzmB of human origin can be recombinantly expressed, its use as part of a 'magic bullet' in tumor therapy is a very tempting idea. In this review, we emphasize the peculiar characteristics of GzmB that make it suited for use as an effector domain in potential immunoconjugates. We discuss what is known about its uptake into target cells and the trials performed with GzmB-armed immunoconjugates, and we assess the prospects of its potential therapeutic value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian C Kurschus
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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Selbo PK, Rosenblum MG, Cheung LH, Zhang W, Berg K. Multi-modality therapeutics with potent anti-tumor effects: photochemical internalization enhances delivery of the fusion toxin scFvMEL/rGel. PLoS One 2009; 4:e6691. [PMID: 19690617 PMCID: PMC2723936 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0006691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2009] [Accepted: 07/14/2009] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a need for drug delivery systems (DDS) that can enhance cytosolic delivery of anti-cancer drugs trapped in the endo-lysosomal compartments. Exposure of cells to specific photosensitizers followed by light exposure (photochemical internalization, PCI) results in transfer of agents from the endocytic compartment into the cytosol. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The recombinant single-chain fusion construct scFvMEL/rGel is composed of an antibody targeting the progenitor marker HMW-MAA/NG2/MGP/gp240 and the highly effective toxin gelonin (rGel). Here we demonstrate enhanced tumor cell selectivity, cytosolic delivery and anti-tumor activity by applying PCI of scFvMEL/rGel. PCI performed by light activation of cells co-incubated with scFvMEL/rGel and the endo-lysosomal targeting photosensitizers AlPcS(2a) or TPPS(2a) resulted in enhanced cytotoxic effects against antigen-positive cell lines, while no differences in cytotoxicity between the scFvMEL/rGel and rGel were observed in antigen-negative cells. Mice bearing well-developed melanoma (A-375) xenografts (50-100 mm(3)) were treated with PCI of scFvMEL/rGel. By 30 days after injection, approximately 100% of mice in the control groups had tumors>800 mm(3). In contrast, by day 40, 50% of mice in the PCI of scFvMEL/rGel combination group had tumors<800 mm(3) with no increase in tumor size up to 110 days. PCI of scFvMEL/rGel resulted in a synergistic effect (p<0.05) and complete regression (CR) in 33% of tumor-bearing mice (n = 12). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE This is a unique demonstration that a non-invasive multi-modality approach combining a recombinant, targeted therapeutic such as scFvMEL/rGel and PCI act in concert to provide potent in vivo efficacy without sacrificing selectivity or enhancing toxicity. The present DDS warrants further evaluation of its clinical potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pål K Selbo
- Department of Radiation Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
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Mathew M, Verma RS. Humanized immunotoxins: a new generation of immunotoxins for targeted cancer therapy. Cancer Sci 2009; 100:1359-65. [PMID: 19459847 PMCID: PMC11158948 DOI: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2009.01192.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery are the conventional treatment modalities for cancer. The success achieved with these approaches has been limited due to several factors like chemoresistance to drugs, non-specificity leading to peripheral toxicity, and non-resectable tumors. To combat these problems, the concept of targeted therapy using immunotoxins was developed. Immunotoxins are chimeric proteins with a cell-selective ligand chemically linked or genetically fused to a toxin moiety and can target cancer cells overexpressing tumor-associated antigens, membrane receptors, or carbohydrate antigens. Ligands for these receptors or monoclonal antibodies or single chain variable fragments directed against these antigens are fused with bacterial or plant toxins and are made use of as immunotoxins. Pseudomonas exotoxin, anthrax toxin, and diphtheria toxin are the commonly used bacterial toxins. Ricin, saporin, gelonin, and poke weed antiviral protein are the plant toxins utilized in immunotoxin constructs. Several such fusion proteins are in clinical trials, and denileukin difitox is a FDA-approved fusion protein. In spite of the promise shown by bacterial- and plant toxin-based chimeric proteins, their clinical application is hampered by several factors like immunogenicity of the toxin moiety and non-specific toxicity leading to vascular leak syndrome. In order to overcome these problems, a novel generation of immunotoxins in which the cytotoxic moiety is an endogenous protein of human origin like proapoptotic protein or RNase has been developed. This review summarizes the advances in this new class of fusion protein and the future directions to be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mrudula Mathew
- Stem Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India
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Neoplasia: the second decade. Neoplasia 2009; 10:1314-24. [PMID: 19048110 DOI: 10.1593/neo.81372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2008] [Revised: 10/27/2008] [Accepted: 10/27/2008] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
This issue marks the end of the 10-year anniversary of Neoplasia where we have seen exciting growth in both number of submitted and published articles in Neoplasia. Neoplasia was first published in 1999. During the past 10 years, Neoplasia has dynamically adapted to the needs of the cancer research community as technologies have advanced. Neoplasia is currently providing access to articles through PubMed Central to continue to facilitate rapid broad-based dissemination of published findings to the scientific community through an Open Access model. This has in part helped Neoplasia to achieve an improved impact factor this past year, demonstrating that the manuscripts published by Neoplasia are of great interest to the overall cancer research community. This past year, Neoplasia received a record number of articles for review and has had a 21% increase in the number of published articles.
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Neoplasia: An Anniversary of Progress. Neoplasia 2007. [DOI: 10.1593/neo.07968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Melanoma rarely invades the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) and can evade accurate diagnosis, which may alter management decisions. Diagnosis may be facilitated via careful history, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective case review. SETTING Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS Thirteen internal auditory canal/CPA lesions in eight patients who presented with CPA syndrome and who had a pathological diagnosis consistent with malignant melanoma. There were four bilateral and four unilateral lesions. Six of eight patients had a history of melanoma. One was apparently primary CPA lesion, whereas all others were metastatic. INTERVENTION(S) T1- and T2-weighted precontrast and postcontrast gadolinium-enhanced MRI were obtained, including fat suppression and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequence images in two patients; lumbar puncture with CSF centrifugation and cytological analysis confirmed the diagnosis in two patients. Translabyrinthine craniotomy was performed for tumor extirpation in five patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Symptoms at presentation, MRI findings, presence of malignant cells in CSF, tumor progression, intraoperative findings, response to treatment, time interval from initial diagnosis of melanoma elsewhere, and survival. RESULTS Seven of eight patients had history and/or MRI findings suggestive of malignancy in the internal auditory canal and/or CPA, and diagnosis was confirmed via CSF analysis in two patients. In one patient, diagnosis was made at surgery. CONCLUSION Internal auditory canal melanoma portends a grim prognosis, can occur up to 17 years after initial melanoma diagnosis/treatment, and can be detected with appropriate MRI sequences, especially enhanced fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images. In disseminated cases, diagnosis can be confirmed with lumbar puncture demonstrating malignant cells. Management includes tumor resection when melanoma seems to be solitary and malignant cells are not present in CSF. Intrathecal chemotherapy and radiation are recommended for dissemination, although the survival rate is still poor.
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Abi-Habib RJ, Singh R, Leppla SH, Greene JJ, Ding Y, Berghuis B, Duesbery NS, Frankel AE. Systemic anthrax lethal toxin therapy produces regressions of subcutaneous human melanoma tumors in athymic nude mice. Clin Cancer Res 2007; 12:7437-43. [PMID: 17189417 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-06-2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Anthrax Lethal Toxin (LeTx), composed of protective antigen and lethal factor, catalytically cleaves mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinases and inhibits the MAPK signaling pathways. The majority of metastatic melanomas possess the V599E BRAF mutation, which constitutively activates MAPK1/2 signaling. LeTx is cytotoxic to BRAF mutant melanoma cell lines in vitro, whereas most normal cells are resistant to this toxin. In this study, we determine the in vivo potency and safety of systemically administered LeTx. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN A s.c. xenograft melanoma model in athymic nude mice was treated with different i.p. doses of LeTx. RESULTS In this study, we show that in vivo systemic LeTx treatment of s.c. xenograft melanoma tumors in athymic nude mice yields partial and complete tumor regressions with minor toxicity to mice. When animal toxicity was observed, we did not find any histologic evidence of tissue damage. CONCLUSIONS LeTx is one of the rare targeted agents to produce complete remissions of human melanomas in an animal model and thus warrants further preclinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralph J Abi-Habib
- Cancer Research Institute, Scott & White Memorial Hospital, Temple, Texas 76502, USA
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