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Rotta G, Puca E, Cazzamalli S, Neri D, Dakhel Plaza S. Cytokine Biopharmaceuticals with "Activity-on-Demand" for Cancer Therapy. Bioconjug Chem 2024. [PMID: 38885090 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.4c00187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Cytokines are small proteins that modulate the activity of the immune system. Because of their potent immunomodulatory properties, some recombinant cytokines have undergone clinical development and have gained marketing authorization for the therapy of certain forms of cancer. Recombinant cytokines are typically administered at ultralow doses, as many of them can cause substantial toxicity even at submilligram quantities. In an attempt to increase the therapeutic index, fusion proteins based on tumor-homing antibodies (also called "immunocytokines") have been considered, and some products in this class have reached late-stage clinical trials. While antibody-cytokine fusions, which preferentially localize in the neoplastic mass, can activate tumor-resident leukocytes and may be more efficacious than their nontargeted counterparts, such products typically conserve an intact cytokine activity, which may prevent escalation to curative doses. To further improve tolerability, several strategies have been conceived for the development of antibody-cytokine fusions with "activity-on-demand", acting on tumors but helping spare normal tissues from undesired toxicity. In this article, we have reviewed some of the most promising strategies, outlining their potential as well as possible limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Rotta
- Philochem AG, CH-8112 Otelfingen, Switzerland
- Department of Cellular, Computational, and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | | | | | - Dario Neri
- Philogen S.p.A, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zurich, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland
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Rotta G, Gilardoni E, Ravazza D, Mock J, Seehusen F, Elsayed A, Puca E, De Luca R, Pellegrino C, Look T, Weiss T, Manz MG, Halin C, Neri D, Dakhel Plaza S. A novel strategy to generate immunocytokines with activity-on-demand using small molecule inhibitors. EMBO Mol Med 2024; 16:904-926. [PMID: 38448543 PMCID: PMC11018789 DOI: 10.1038/s44321-024-00034-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Cytokine-based therapeutics have been shown to mediate objective responses in certain tumor entities but suffer from insufficient selectivity, causing limiting toxicity which prevents dose escalation to therapeutically active regimens. The antibody-based delivery of cytokines significantly increases the therapeutic index of the corresponding payload but still suffers from side effects associated with peak concentrations of the product in blood upon intravenous administration. Here we devise a general strategy (named "Intra-Cork") to mask systemic cytokine activity without impacting anti-cancer efficacy. Our technology features the use of antibody-cytokine fusions, capable of selective localization at the neoplastic site, in combination with pathway-selective inhibitors of the cytokine signaling, which rapidly clear from the body. This strategy, exemplified with a tumor-targeted IL12 in combination with a JAK2 inhibitor, allowed to abrogate cytokine-driven toxicity without affecting therapeutic activity in a preclinical model of cancer. This approach is readily applicable in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Rotta
- Philochem AG, CH-8112, Otelfingen, Switzerland
- Department of Cellular, Computational, and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123, Trento, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Frauke Seehusen
- Laboratory for Animal Model Pathology (LAMP), Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of Zurich, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Abdullah Elsayed
- Philochem AG, CH-8112, Otelfingen, Switzerland
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zurich, CH-8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Emanuele Puca
- Philochem AG, CH-8112, Otelfingen, Switzerland
- Philogen S.p.A, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | | | - Christian Pellegrino
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, CH-8091, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Look
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Neuroscience Center, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, CH-8091, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tobias Weiss
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Neuroscience Center, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, CH-8091, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Markus G Manz
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, CH-8091, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Cornelia Halin
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zurich, CH-8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Dario Neri
- Philochem AG, CH-8112, Otelfingen, Switzerland.
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zurich, CH-8093, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Philogen S.p.A, 53100, Siena, Italy.
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Müller D. Immunocytokines with activity-on-demand by combination with small molecule inhibitors. EMBO Mol Med 2024; 16:670-671. [PMID: 38448542 PMCID: PMC11018790 DOI: 10.1038/s44321-024-00047-9] [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: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
D. Mueller discusses the study by Rotta et al, in this issue of EMBO Mol. Med. , that presents a strategy to control adverse events related to tumor-targeted cytokine therapy without interfering with its therapeutic efficacy by combining tumor-targeted IL-12 with a JAK inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dafne Müller
- Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany.
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Bai Y, Qiao Y, Li M, Yang W, Chen H, Wu Y, Zhang H. RIPK1 inhibitors: A key to unlocking the potential of necroptosis in drug development. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 265:116123. [PMID: 38199165 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116123] [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: 11/19/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Within the field of medical science, there is a great deal of interest in investigating cell death pathways in the hopes of discovering new drugs. Over the past two decades, pharmacological research has focused on necroptosis, a cell death process that has just been discovered. Receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1), an essential regulator in the cell death receptor signalling pathway, has been shown to be involved in the regulation of important events, including necrosis, inflammation, and apoptosis. Therefore, researching necroptosis inhibitors offers novel ways to treat a variety of disorders that are not well-treated by the therapeutic medications now on the market. The research and medicinal potential of RIPK1 inhibitors, a promising class of drugs, are thoroughly examined in this study. The journey from the discovery of Necrostatin-1 (Nec-1) to the recent advancements in RIPK1 inhibitors is marked by significant progress, highlighting the integration of traditional medicinal chemistry approaches with modern technologies like high-throughput screening and DNA-encoded library technology. This review presents a thorough exploration of the development and therapeutic potential of RIPK1 inhibitors, a promising class of compounds. Simultaneously, this review highlights the complex roles of RIPK1 in various pathological conditions and discusses potential inhibitors discovered through diverse pathways, emphasizing their efficacy against multiple disease models, providing significant guidance for the expansion of knowledge about RIPK1 and its inhibitors to develop more selective, potent, and safe therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinliang Bai
- Department of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, 730030, China; School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Yujun Qiao
- Department of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, 730030, China
| | - Mingming Li
- Department of Neurology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, 730030, China
| | - Wenzhen Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, 730030, China
| | - Haile Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, 730030, China
| | - Yanqing Wu
- Department of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, 730030, China
| | - Honghua Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117544, Singapore.
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Gout DY, Groen LS, van Egmond M. The present and future of immunocytokines for cancer treatment. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:509. [PMID: 36066630 PMCID: PMC9448690 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04514-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy has successfully been introduced as treatment of several lymphomas and leukemias. However, solid tumors reduce the efficacy of mAb therapy because of an immune-suppressive tumor micro-environment (TME), which hampers activation of effector immune cells. Pro-inflammatory cytokine therapy may counteract immune suppression in the TME and increase mAb efficacy, but untargeted pro-inflammatory cytokine therapy is limited by severe off-target toxicity and a short half-life of cytokines. Antibody-cytokine fusion proteins, also referred to as immunocytokines, provide a solution to either issue, as the antibody both acts as local delivery platform and increases half-life. The antibody can furthermore bridge local cytotoxic immune cells, like macrophages and natural killer cells with tumor cells, which can be eliminated after effector cells are activated via the cytokine. Currently, a variety of different antibody formats as well as a handful of cytokine payloads are used to generate immunocytokines. However, many potential formats and payloads are still left unexplored. In this review, we describe current antibody formats and cytokine moieties that are used for the development of immunocytokines, and highlight several immunocytokines in (pre-)clinical studies. Furthermore, potential future routes of development are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Y Gout
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Boelelaan 1108, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Cancer Biology and Immunology Program, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Cancer Immunology Program, Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lotte S Groen
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Boelelaan 1108, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,LUMICKS, Paalbergweg 3, 1105 AG, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marjolein van Egmond
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Boelelaan 1108, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. .,Cancer Biology and Immunology Program, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. .,Cancer Immunology Program, Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. .,Department of Surgery, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Enhanced Detection of Desmoplasia by Targeted Delivery of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles to the Tumour-Specific Extracellular Matrix. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13101663. [PMID: 34683956 PMCID: PMC8539756 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13101663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Diagnostic imaging of aggressive cancer with a high stroma content may benefit from the use of imaging contrast agents targeted with peptides that have high binding affinity to the extracellular matrix (ECM). In this study, we report the use of superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles (IO-NP) conjugated to a nonapeptide, CSGRRSSKC (CSG), which specifically binds to the laminin-nidogen-1 complex in tumours. We show that CSG-IO-NP accumulate in tumours, predominantly in the tumour ECM, following intravenous injection into a murine model of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour (PNET). In contrast, a control untargeted IO-NP consistently show poor tumour uptake, and IO-NP conjugated to a pentapeptide, CREKA that bind fibrin clots in blood vessels show restricted uptake in the angiogenic vessels of the tumours. CSG-IO-NP show three-fold higher intratumoral accumulation compared to CREKA-IO-NP. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2-weighted scans and T2 relaxation times indicate significant uptake of CSG-IO-NP irrespective of tumour size, whereas the uptake of CREKA-IO-NP is only consistent in small tumours of less than 3 mm in diameter. Larger tumours with significantly reduced tumour blood vessels show a lack of CREKA-IO-NP uptake. Our data suggest CSG-IO-NP are particularly useful for detecting stroma in early and advanced solid tumours.
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Dakhel S, Lizak C, Matasci M, Mock J, Villa A, Neri D, Cazzamalli S. An Attenuated Targeted-TNF Localizes to Tumors In Vivo and Regains Activity at the Site of Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:10020. [PMID: 34576184 PMCID: PMC8469155 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221810020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibody-cytokine fusion proteins (immunocytokines) are gaining importance for cancer therapy, but those products are often limited by systemic toxicity related to the activity of the cytokine payload in circulation and in secondary lymphoid organs. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is used as a pro-inflammatory payload to trigger haemorrhagic necrosis and boost anti-cancer immunity at the tumor site. Here we describe a depotentiated version of TNF (carrying the single point mutation I97A), which displayed reduced binding affinity to its cognate receptor tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR-1) and lower biocidal activity. The fusion of the TNF(I97A) mutant to the L19 antibody promoted restoration of anti-tumor activity upon accumulation on the cognate antigen, the alternatively spliced EDB domain of fibronectin. In vivo administration of high doses (375 μg/Kg) of the fusion protein showed a potent anti-tumor effect without apparent toxicity compared with the wild type protein. L19-TNFI97A holds promise for the targeted delivery of TNF activity to neoplastic lesions, helping spare normal tissues.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/metabolism
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/genetics
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/metabolism
- Cricetulus
- Cytokines/genetics
- Cytokines/metabolism
- Female
- Fibronectins/genetics
- Fibronectins/metabolism
- Fluorescent Antibody Technique
- Immunotherapy
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mutation
- Protein Structure, Secondary
- Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor/genetics
- Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor/metabolism
- Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I/genetics
- Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I/metabolism
- Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/genetics
- Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism
- Mice
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheila Dakhel
- Philochem AG, CH-8112 Otelfingen, Switzerland; (S.D.); (C.L.); (M.M.); (J.M.); (A.V.); (D.N.)
| | - Christian Lizak
- Philochem AG, CH-8112 Otelfingen, Switzerland; (S.D.); (C.L.); (M.M.); (J.M.); (A.V.); (D.N.)
| | - Mattia Matasci
- Philochem AG, CH-8112 Otelfingen, Switzerland; (S.D.); (C.L.); (M.M.); (J.M.); (A.V.); (D.N.)
| | - Jacqueline Mock
- Philochem AG, CH-8112 Otelfingen, Switzerland; (S.D.); (C.L.); (M.M.); (J.M.); (A.V.); (D.N.)
| | - Alessandra Villa
- Philochem AG, CH-8112 Otelfingen, Switzerland; (S.D.); (C.L.); (M.M.); (J.M.); (A.V.); (D.N.)
| | - Dario Neri
- Philochem AG, CH-8112 Otelfingen, Switzerland; (S.D.); (C.L.); (M.M.); (J.M.); (A.V.); (D.N.)
- Philogen S.p.A., Piazza La Lizza, 7, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Samuele Cazzamalli
- Philochem AG, CH-8112 Otelfingen, Switzerland; (S.D.); (C.L.); (M.M.); (J.M.); (A.V.); (D.N.)
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Runbeck E, Crescioli S, Karagiannis SN, Papa S. Utilizing Immunocytokines for Cancer Therapy. Antibodies (Basel) 2021; 10:antib10010010. [PMID: 33803078 PMCID: PMC8006145 DOI: 10.3390/antib10010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytokine therapy for cancer has indicated efficacy in certain diseases but is generally accompanied by severe toxicity. The field of antibody-cytokine fusion proteins (immunocytokines) arose to target these effector molecules to the tumor environment in order to expand the therapeutic window of cytokine therapy. Pre-clinical evidence has shown the increased efficacy and decreased toxicity of various immunocytokines when compared to their cognate unconjugated cytokine. These anti-tumor properties are markedly enhanced when combined with other treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and checkpoint inhibitor antibodies. Clinical trials that have continued to explore the potential of these biologics for cancer therapy have been conducted. This review covers the in vitro, in vivo, and clinical evidence for the application of immunocytokines in immuno-oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Runbeck
- ImmunoEngineering Group, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Studies, King’s College London, London SE19RT, UK;
| | - Silvia Crescioli
- St. John’s Institute of Dermatology, School of Basic and Medical Biosciences, King’s College London, London SE1 9RT, UK; (S.C.); (S.N.K.)
| | - Sophia N. Karagiannis
- St. John’s Institute of Dermatology, School of Basic and Medical Biosciences, King’s College London, London SE1 9RT, UK; (S.C.); (S.N.K.)
| | - Sophie Papa
- ImmunoEngineering Group, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Studies, King’s College London, London SE19RT, UK;
- Correspondence:
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