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Paulus J, Sewald N. Small molecule- and peptide-drug conjugates addressing integrins: A story of targeted cancer treatment. J Pept Sci 2024; 30:e3561. [PMID: 38382900 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3561] [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: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Targeted cancer treatment should avoid side effects and damage to healthy cells commonly encountered during traditional chemotherapy. By combining small molecule or peptidic ligands as homing devices with cytotoxic drugs connected by a cleavable or non-cleavable linker in peptide-drug conjugates (PDCs) or small molecule-drug conjugates (SMDCs), cancer cells and tumours can be selectively targeted. The development of highly affine, selective peptides and small molecules in recent years has allowed PDCs and SMDCs to increasingly compete with antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). Integrins represent an excellent target for conjugates because they are overexpressed by most cancer cells and because of the broad knowledge about native binding partners as well as the multitude of small-molecule and peptidic ligands that have been developed over the last 30 years. In particular, integrin αVβ3 has been addressed using a variety of different PDCs and SMDCs over the last two decades, following various strategies. This review summarises and describes integrin-addressing PDCs and SMDCs while highlighting points of great interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jannik Paulus
- Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Norbert Sewald
- Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
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Wang T, Li M, Wei R, Wang X, Lin Z, Chen J, Wu X. Small Molecule-Drug Conjugates Emerge as a New Promising Approach for Cancer Treatment. Mol Pharm 2024; 21:1038-1055. [PMID: 38344996 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c01049] [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] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) have emerged as a new promising class of anti- cancer agents. However, limitations such as higher costs and unavoidable immunogenicity due to their relatively large structures cannot be ignored. Therefore, the development of lightweight drugs such as small molecule-drug conjugates (SMDCs) based on the ADC design idea has become a new option for targeted therapy. SMDCs are derived from the coupling of small-molecule targeting ligands with cytotoxic drugs. They are composed of three parts: small-molecule targeting ligands, cytotoxic molecules, and linkers. Compared with ADCs, SMDCs can be more rapidly and evenly dispersed into tumor tissues, with low cost and no immunogenicity. In this article, we will give a comprehensive review of different types of SMDCs currently under clinical trials to provide ideas and inspirations for the development of clinically applicable SMDCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiansi Wang
- Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1, Qiuyang Road, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China
- Shanghai Wei Er Lab, Shanghai 201799, China
| | - Meichai Li
- Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1, Qiuyang Road, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China
- Shanghai Wei Er Lab, Shanghai 201799, China
| | - Ruting Wei
- Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1, Qiuyang Road, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China
- Shanghai Wei Er Lab, Shanghai 201799, China
| | - Xinyu Wang
- Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1, Qiuyang Road, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China
- Shanghai Wei Er Lab, Shanghai 201799, China
| | - Zhizhe Lin
- Shanghai Wei Er Lab, Shanghai 201799, China
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.4655, University Road, Jinan, Shandong 250355, China
| | - Jianming Chen
- Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1, Qiuyang Road, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China
- Shanghai Wei Er Lab, Shanghai 201799, China
| | - Xin Wu
- Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1, Qiuyang Road, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China
- Shanghai Wei Er Lab, Shanghai 201799, China
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Rebstock AS, Wiedmann M, Stelte-Ludwig B, Wong H, Johnson AJ, Izumi R, Hamdy A, Lerchen HG. Neutrophil elastase as a versatile cleavage enzyme for activation of αvβ3 integrin-targeted small molecule drug conjugates with different payload classes in the tumor microenvironment. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1358393. [PMID: 38495100 PMCID: PMC10943695 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1358393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The development of bioconjugates for the targeted delivery of anticancer agents is gaining momentum after recent success of antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) in the clinic. Smaller format conjugates may have several advantages including better tumor penetration; however, cellular uptake and trafficking may be substantially different from ADCs. To fully leverage the potential of small molecule drug conjugates (SMDCs) with potent binding molecules mediating tumor homing, novel linker chemistries susceptible for efficient extracellular activation and payload release in the tumor microenvironment (TME) need to be explored. Methods: We designed a novel class of SMDCs, which target αvβ3 integrins for tumor homing and are cleaved by neutrophil elastase (NE), a serine protease active in the TME. A peptidomimetic αvβ3 ligand was attached via optimized linkers composed of substrate peptide sequences of NE connected to different functional groups of various payload classes, such as camptothecins, monomethyl auristatin E, kinesin spindle protein inhibitors (KSPi) and cyclin-dependent kinase 9 inhibitors (CDK-9i). Results: NE-mediated cleavage was found compatible with the diverse linker attachments via hindered ester bonds, amide bonds and sulfoximide bonds. Efficient and traceless release of the respective payloads was demonstrated in biochemical assays. The newly designed SMDCs were highly stable in buffer as well as in rat and human plasma. Cytotoxicity of the SMDCs in cancer cell lines was clearly dependent on NE. IC50 values were in the nanomolar or sub-nanomolar range across several cancer cell lines reaching similar potencies as compared to the respective payloads only in the presence of NE. In vivo pharmacokinetics evaluating SMDC and free payload exposures in rat and particularly the robust efficacy with good tolerability in triple negative breast and small cell lung cancer murine models demonstrate the utility of this approach for selective delivery of payloads to the tumor. Discussion: These results highlight the broad scope of potential payloads and suitable conjugation chemistries paving the way for future SMDCs harnessing the safety features of targeted delivery approaches in combination with NE cleavage in the TME.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Harvey Wong
- Vincerx Pharma, Inc., Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | | | - Raquel Izumi
- Vincerx Pharma, Inc., Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Ahmed Hamdy
- Vincerx Pharma, Inc., Palo Alto, CA, United States
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Lerchen HG, Stelte-Ludwig B, Heroult M, Zubov D, Gericke KM, Wong H, Frigault MM, Johnson AJ, Izumi R, Hamdy A. Discovery of VIP236, an αvβ3-Targeted Small-Molecule-Drug Conjugate with Neutrophil Elastase-Mediated Activation of 7-Ethyl Camptothecin Payload for Treatment of Solid Tumors. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4381. [PMID: 37686656 PMCID: PMC10486604 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15174381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The emerging field of small-molecule-drug conjugates (SMDCs) using small-molecule biomarker-targeted compounds for tumor homing may provide new perspectives for targeted delivery. Here, for the first time, we disclose the structure and the synthesis of VIP236, an SMDC designed for the treatment of metastatic solid tumors by targeting αvβ3 integrins and extracellular cleavage of the 7-ethyl camptothecin payload by neutrophil elastase in the tumor microenvironment. Imaging studies in the Lewis lung mouse model using an elastase cleavable quenched substrate showed pronounced elastase activity in the tumor. Pharmacokinetics studies of VIP236 in tumor-bearing mice demonstrated high stability of the SMDC in plasma and high tumor accumulation of the cleaved payload. Studies in bile-duct-cannulated rats showed that biliary excretion of the unmodified conjugate is the primary route of elimination. Treatment- and time-dependent phosphorylation of H2AX, a marker of DNA damage downstream of topoisomerase 1 inhibition, verified the on-target activity of the payload cleaved from VIP236 in vivo. Treatment with VIP236 resulted in long-lasting tumor regression in subcutaneous patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models from patients with non-small-cell lung, colon, and renal cancer as well as in two orthotopic metastatic triple-negative breast cancer PDX models. In these models, a significant reduction of brain and lung metastases also was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Dmitry Zubov
- Bayer AG, 42096 Wuppertal, Germany; (D.Z.); (K.M.G.)
| | | | - Harvey Wong
- Vincerx Pharma, Inc., Palo Alto, CA 94306, USA; (H.W.); (M.M.F.); (A.J.J.); (R.I.); (A.H.)
| | - Melanie M. Frigault
- Vincerx Pharma, Inc., Palo Alto, CA 94306, USA; (H.W.); (M.M.F.); (A.J.J.); (R.I.); (A.H.)
| | - Amy J. Johnson
- Vincerx Pharma, Inc., Palo Alto, CA 94306, USA; (H.W.); (M.M.F.); (A.J.J.); (R.I.); (A.H.)
| | - Raquel Izumi
- Vincerx Pharma, Inc., Palo Alto, CA 94306, USA; (H.W.); (M.M.F.); (A.J.J.); (R.I.); (A.H.)
| | - Ahmed Hamdy
- Vincerx Pharma, Inc., Palo Alto, CA 94306, USA; (H.W.); (M.M.F.); (A.J.J.); (R.I.); (A.H.)
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Paulus J, Nachtigall B, Meyer P, Sewald N. RGD Peptidomimetic MMAE-Conjugate Addressing Integrin αVβ3-Expressing Cells with High Targeting Index. Chemistry 2023; 29:e202203476. [PMID: 36454662 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202203476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Small molecule-drug conjugates (SMDCs) mimicking the RGD sequence (-Arg-Gly-Asp-) with a non-peptide moiety require a pharmacophore-independent attachment site. A library of 36 sulfonamide-modified RGD mimetics with nM to pM affinity for integrin αV β3 was synthesized and analysed via DAD mapping. The best structure of the conjugable RGD mimetic was used and a linker was attached to an aromatic ring by Negishi cross-coupling. The product retained high affinity and selectivity for integrin αV β3 . The conjugable RGD mimetic was then attached to an enzymatically cleavable GKGEVA linker equipped with a self-immolative PABC and the antimitotic drug monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE). The resulting SMDC preferred binding to integrin αV β3 over α5 β1 in a ratio of 1 : 4519 (ELISA) and showed selectivity for αV β3 -positive WM115 cells over αV β3 -negative M21-L cells in the in vitro cell adhesion assay as well as in cell viability assays with a targeting index of 134 (M21-L/WM115).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jannik Paulus
- Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Beate Nachtigall
- Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Peter Meyer
- Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Norbert Sewald
- Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
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Cheng-Sánchez I, Moya-Utrera F, Porras-Alcalá C, López-Romero JM, Sarabia F. Antibody-Drug Conjugates Containing Payloads from Marine Origin. Mar Drugs 2022; 20:md20080494. [PMID: 36005497 PMCID: PMC9410405 DOI: 10.3390/md20080494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are an important class of therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. Structurally, an ADC comprises an antibody, which serves as the delivery system, a payload drug that is a potent cytotoxin that kills cancer cells, and a chemical linker that connects the payload with the antibody. Unlike conventional chemotherapy methods, an ADC couples the selective targeting and pharmacokinetic characteristics related to the antibody with the potent cytotoxicity of the payload. This results in high specificity and potency by reducing off-target toxicities in patients by limiting the exposure of healthy tissues to the cytotoxic drug. As a consequence of these outstanding features, significant research efforts have been devoted to the design, synthesis, and development of ADCs, and several ADCs have been approved for clinical use. The ADC field not only relies upon biology and biochemistry (antibody) but also upon organic chemistry (linker and payload). In the latter, total synthesis of natural and designed cytotoxic compounds, together with the development of novel synthetic strategies, have been key aspects of the consecution of clinical ADCs. In the case of payloads from marine origin, impressive structural architectures and biological properties are observed, thus making them prime targets for chemical synthesis and the development of ADCs. In this review, we explore the molecular and biological diversity of ADCs, with particular emphasis on those containing marine cytotoxic drugs as the payload.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iván Cheng-Sánchez
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Correspondence:
| | - Federico Moya-Utrera
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain; (F.M.-U.); (C.P.-A.); (J.M.L.-R.); (F.S.)
| | - Cristina Porras-Alcalá
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain; (F.M.-U.); (C.P.-A.); (J.M.L.-R.); (F.S.)
| | - Juan M. López-Romero
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain; (F.M.-U.); (C.P.-A.); (J.M.L.-R.); (F.S.)
| | - Francisco Sarabia
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain; (F.M.-U.); (C.P.-A.); (J.M.L.-R.); (F.S.)
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Śmiłowicz D, Schlyer D, Boros E, Meimetis L. Evaluation of a Radio-IMmunoStimulant (RIMS) in a Syngeneic Model of Murine Prostate Cancer and ImmunoPET Analysis of T-cell Distribution. Mol Pharm 2022; 19:3217-3227. [PMID: 35895995 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.2c00361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
An immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and tumor heterogeneity have led to the resilience of metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) to current treatments. To address these challenges, we developed and evaluated a new drug paradigm, Radio-IMmunostimulant (RIMS), in a syngeneic model of murine prostate cancer. RIMS-1 was generated using a convergent synthesis employing solid phase peptide and solution chemistries. The prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) inhibitory constant for natLu-RIMS-1 was determined, and radiolabeling with 177Lu generated 177Lu-RIMS-1. The TLR 7/8 agonist payload release from natLu-RIMS-1 was determined using a cathepsin B assay. The biodistribution of 177Lu-RIMS-1 was evaluated in a bilateral xenograft model in NCru nude mice bearing PSMA(+) (PC3-PiP) and PSMA(-) (PC3-Flu) tumors at 2, 24, and 72 h. The therapeutic effect of 177Lu-RIMS-1 was evaluated in C57BL/6J mice bearing RM1-PGLS (PSMA-positive, green fluorescent protein-positive, and luciferase-positive) tumors and compared to that of 177Lu-PSMA-617 at the same total administered radioactivity of 57 MBq and molar activity of 5.18 MBq/nmol. natLu-RIMS-1 and vehicle were evaluated as the controls. Immuno-positron emission tomography (PET) using 89Zr-DFO-anti-CD3 was used to visualize T-cell distribution during treatment. 177Lu-RIMS-1 was quantitatively radiolabeled at >99% radiochemical purity and maintained a high affinity toward PSMA (Ki = 3.77 ± 0.5 nM). Cathepsin B efficiently released the entire immunostimulant payload in 17.6 h. 177Lu-RIMS-1 displayed a sustained uptake in PSMA(+) tumor tissue up to 72 h (2.65 ± 1.03% ID/g) and was not statistically different (P = 0.1936) compared to 177Lu-PSMA-617 (3.65 ± 0.59% ID/g). All animals treated with 177Lu-RIMS-1 displayed tumor growth suppression and provided a median survival of 30 days (P = 0.0007) while 177Lu-PSMA-617 provided a median survival of 15 days, which was not statistically significant (P = 0.3548) compared to the vehicle group (14 days). ImmunoPET analysis revealed 2-fold more tumor infiltrating T-cells in 177Lu-RIMS-1-treated animals compared to 177Lu-PSMA-617-treated animals; 177Lu-RIMS-1 improves therapeutic outcomes in a syngeneic model of mouse prostate cancer and elicits greater T-cell infiltration to the tumor compared to 177Lu-PSMA-617. These results support further investigation of the RIMS paradigm as the first example of a single molecular entity combining radiotherapy and immunostimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dariusz Śmiłowicz
- Department of Chemistry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, United States
| | - David Schlyer
- Department of Radiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, United States.,Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, United States
| | - Eszter Boros
- Department of Chemistry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, United States
| | - Labros Meimetis
- Department of Radiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, United States
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