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Herrera M, Pretelli G, Desai J, Garralda E, Siu LL, Steiner TM, Au L. Bispecific antibodies: advancing precision oncology. Trends Cancer 2024:S2405-8033(24)00142-0. [PMID: 39214782 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2024.07.002] [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: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 06/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) are engineered molecules designed to target two different epitopes or antigens. The mechanism of action is determined by the bsAb molecular targets and structure (or format), which can be manipulated to create variable and novel functionalities, including linking immune cells with tumor cells, or dual signaling pathway blockade. Several bsAbs have already changed the treatment landscape of hematological malignancies and select solid cancers. However, the mechanisms of resistance to these agents are understudied and the management of toxicities remains challenging. Herein, we review the principles in bsAb engineering, current understanding of mechanisms of action and resistance, data for clinical application, and provide a perspective on ongoing challenges and future developments in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercedes Herrera
- Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Giulia Pretelli
- Department of Medical Oncology, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jayesh Desai
- Department of Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Elena Garralda
- Department of Medical Oncology, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Medical Oncology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lillian L Siu
- Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Thiago M Steiner
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Cancer Immunology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Lewis Au
- Department of Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Cancer Immunology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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Menschikowski H, Bednar C, Kübel S, Hermann M, Bauer L, Thomas M, Cordsmeier A, Ensser A. Evaluation of Bispecific T-Cell Engagers Targeting Murine Cytomegalovirus. Viruses 2024; 16:869. [PMID: 38932161 PMCID: PMC11209133 DOI: 10.3390/v16060869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus is a ubiquitous herpesvirus that, while latent in most individuals, poses a great risk to immunocompromised patients. In contrast to directly acting traditional antiviral drugs, such as ganciclovir, we aim to emulate a physiological infection control using T cells. For this, we constructed several bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) constructs targeting different viral glycoproteins of the murine cytomegalovirus and evaluated them in vitro for their efficacy. To isolate the target specific effect without viral immune evasion, we established stable reporter cell lines expressing the viral target glycoprotein B, and the glycoprotein complexes gN-gM and gH-gL, as well as nano-luciferase (nLuc). First, we evaluated binding capacities using flow cytometry and established killing assays, measuring nLuc-release upon cell lysis. All BiTE constructs proved to be functional mediators for T-cell recruitment and will allow a proof of concept for this treatment option. This might pave the way for strikingly safer immunosuppression in vulnerable patient groups.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Armin Ensser
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (H.M.); (S.K.); (M.H.); (A.C.)
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Thoreau F, Szijj PA, Greene MK, Rochet LNC, Thanasi IA, Blayney JK, Maruani A, Baker JR, Scott CJ, Chudasama V. Modular Chemical Construction of IgG-like Mono- and Bispecific Synthetic Antibodies (SynAbs). ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2023; 9:476-487. [PMID: 36968530 PMCID: PMC10037451 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.2c01437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
In recent years there has been rising interest in the field of protein-protein conjugation, especially related to bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) and their therapeutic applications. These constructs contain two paratopes capable of binding two distinct epitopes on target molecules and are thus able to perform complex biological functions (mechanisms of action) not available to monospecific mAbs. Traditionally these bsAbs have been constructed through protein engineering, but recently chemical methods for their construction have started to (re)emerge. While these have been shown to offer increased modularity, speed, and for some methods even the inherent capacity for further functionalization (e.g., with small molecule cargo), most of these approaches lacked the ability to include a fragment crystallizable (Fc) modality. The Fc component of IgG antibodies offers effector function and increased half-life. Here we report a first-in-class disulfide rebridging and click-chemistry-based method for the generation of Fc-containing, IgG-like mono- and bispecific antibodies. These are in the FcZ-(FabX)-FabY format, i.e., two distinct Fabs and an Fc, potentially all from different antibodies, attached in a homogeneous and covalent manner. We have dubbed these molecules synthetic antibodies (SynAbs). We have constructed a T cell-engager (TCE) SynAb, FcCD20-(FabHER2)-FabCD3, and have confirmed that it exhibits the expected biological functions, including the ability to kill HER2+ target cells in a coculture assay with T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabien Thoreau
- Department
of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AJ, U.K.
| | - Peter A. Szijj
- Department
of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AJ, U.K.
| | - Michelle K. Greene
- Patrick
G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry
and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s
University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7AEU.K.
| | - Léa N. C. Rochet
- Department
of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AJ, U.K.
| | - Ioanna A. Thanasi
- Department
of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AJ, U.K.
| | - Jaine K. Blayney
- Patrick
G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry
and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s
University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7AEU.K.
| | - Antoine Maruani
- Department
of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AJ, U.K.
| | - James R. Baker
- Department
of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AJ, U.K.
| | - Christopher J. Scott
- Patrick
G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry
and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s
University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7AEU.K.
| | - Vijay Chudasama
- Department
of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AJ, U.K.
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Combination gemcitabine and PD-L1xCD3 bispecific T cell engager (BiTE) enhances T lymphocyte cytotoxicity against cholangiocarcinoma cells. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6154. [PMID: 35418130 PMCID: PMC9007942 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09964-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a lethal cancer with rapid progression and poor survival. Novel and more effective therapies than those currently available are, therefore, urgently needed. Our research group previously reported the combination of gemcitabine and cytotoxic T lymphocytes to be more effective than single-agent treatment for the elimination of CCA cells. However, gemcitabine treatment of CCA cells upregulates the expression of an immune checkpoint protein (programmed death-ligand 1 [PD-L1]) that consequently inhibits the cytotoxicity of T lymphocytes. To overcome this challenge and take advantage of PD-L1 upregulation upon gemcitabine treatment, we generated recombinant PD-L1xCD3 bispecific T cell engagers (BiTEs) to simultaneously block PD-1/PD-L1 signaling and recruit T lymphocytes to eliminate CCA cells. Two recombinant PD-L1xCD3 BiTEs (mBiTE and sBiTE contain anti-PD-L1 scFv region from atezolizumab and from a published sequence, respectively) were able to specifically bind to both CD3 on T lymphocytes, and to PD-L1 overexpressed after gemcitabine treatment on CCA (KKU213A, KKU055, and KKU100) cells. mBiTE and sBiTE significantly enhanced T lymphocyte cytotoxicity against CCA cells, especially after gemcitabine treatment, and their magnitudes of cytotoxicity were positively associated with the levels of PD-L1 expression. Our findings suggest combination gemcitabine and PD-L1xCD3 BiTE as a potential alternative therapy for CCA.
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Mesothelin: An Immunotherapeutic Target beyond Solid Tumors. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14061550. [PMID: 35326701 PMCID: PMC8946840 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14061550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary This review summarizes the current knowledge on mesothelin’s function, its role in cancer, and opportunities for immunotherapeutic targeting of mesothelin. Immunotherapies including monoclonal antibodies, antibody–drug conjugates, chimeric antigen receptor T and NK-cells, targeted alpha therapies, and bispecific T cell engaging molecules are reviewed. We show future directions for mesothelin targeting in hematological malignancies, including acute myeloid leukemia. Abstract Modern targeted cancer therapies rely on the overexpression of tumor associated antigens with very little to no expression in normal cell types. Mesothelin is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored cell surface protein that has been identified in many different tumor types, including lung adenocarcinomas, ovarian carcinomas, and most recently in hematological malignancies, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Although the function of mesothelin is widely unknown, interactions with MUC16/CA125 indicate that mesothelin plays a role in the regulation of proliferation, growth, and adhesion signaling. Most research on mesothelin currently focuses on utilizing mesothelin to design targeted cancer therapies such as monoclonal antibodies, antibody–drug conjugates, chimeric antigen receptor T and NK cells, bispecific T cell engaging molecules, and targeted alpha therapies, amongst others. Both in vitro and in vivo studies using different immunotherapeutic modalities in mesothelin-positive AML models highlight the potential impact of this approach as a unique opportunity to treat hard-to-cure AML.
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