1
|
Arras P, Zimmermann J, Lipinski B, Valldorf B, Evers A, Elter D, Krah S, Doerner A, Guarnera E, Siegmund V, Kolmar H, Pekar L, Zielonka S. Bovine ultralong CDR-H3 derived knob paratopes elicit potent TNF-α neutralization and enable the generation of novel adalimumab-based antibody architectures with augmented features. Biol Chem 2024; 405:461-470. [PMID: 38373142 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2023-0370] [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: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
In this work we have generated cattle-derived chimeric ultralong CDR-H3 antibodies targeting tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) via immunization and yeast surface display. We identified one particular ultralong CDR-H3 paratope that potently neutralized TNF-α. Interestingly, grafting of the knob architecture onto a peripheral loop of the CH3 domain of the Fc part of an IgG1 resulted in the generation of a TNF-α neutralizing Fc (Fcknob) that did not show any potency loss compared with the parental chimeric IgG format. Eventually, grafting this knob onto the CH3 region of adalimumab enabled the engineering of a novel TNF-α targeting antibody architecture displaying augmented TNF-α inhibition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul Arras
- Antibody Discovery & Protein Engineering, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Frankfurter Straße 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
- Biomolecular Immunotherapy, Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Peter-Grünberg-Strasse 4, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany
- Targeted mRNA Delivery, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Straße 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Jasmin Zimmermann
- Antibody Discovery & Protein Engineering, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Frankfurter Straße 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Britta Lipinski
- Antibody Discovery & Protein Engineering, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Frankfurter Straße 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
- Biomolecular Immunotherapy, Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Peter-Grünberg-Strasse 4, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Bernhard Valldorf
- Targeted mRNA Delivery, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Straße 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Andreas Evers
- Antibody Discovery & Protein Engineering, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Frankfurter Straße 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Desislava Elter
- Antibody Discovery & Protein Engineering, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Frankfurter Straße 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Simon Krah
- Antibody Discovery & Protein Engineering, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Frankfurter Straße 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Achim Doerner
- Antibody Discovery & Protein Engineering, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Frankfurter Straße 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Enrico Guarnera
- Antibody Discovery & Protein Engineering, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Frankfurter Straße 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Vanessa Siegmund
- Early Protein Supply & Characterization, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Frankfurter Straße 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Harald Kolmar
- Applied Biochemistry, Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Peter-Grünberg-Strasse 4, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Lukas Pekar
- Antibody Discovery & Protein Engineering, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Frankfurter Straße 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Stefan Zielonka
- Antibody Discovery & Protein Engineering, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Frankfurter Straße 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
- Biomolecular Immunotherapy, Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Peter-Grünberg-Strasse 4, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mortensen M, Bertolini M, Mock J, Scheuermann J, Oehler S. Site-Specific Chemical Modification of a Cytokine Mimic for Small Molecule-Based Tumor Targeting. Bioconjug Chem 2023; 34:1374-1379. [PMID: 37462264 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.3c00194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
The targeted delivery of bioactive proteins, such as cytokines, for cancer immunotherapy approaches mostly relies on antibodies or antibody fragments. However, fusion proteins may display low tissue penetration due to a large molecular size. Small molecule ligands with high affinity toward tumor-associated antigens provide a promising alternative for the selective delivery of cytokines to tumor lesions. We developed a one-pot procedure for the site-specific thiazolidine formation between an aldehyde bearing small molecule and the in situ generated N-terminal cysteine of a bioactive protein. Thereby, neoleukin-2/15 (Neo-2/15), a computationally engineered interleukin-2 and -15 mimic, was chemically conjugated to acetazolamide plus, a potent carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) ligand. The conjugate retained the biological activity of Neo-2/15 and revealed its ability to accumulate in renal cell carcinoma (SK-RC-52) xenografts upon systemic intravenous administration. The results highlight the potential of small molecule targeting moieties to drive the accumulation of a protein cargo to the respective disease site while conserving the small construct size.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Mortensen
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), 8112 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Marco Bertolini
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), 8112 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Jacqueline Mock
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), 8112 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Jörg Scheuermann
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), 8112 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian Oehler
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), 8112 Zürich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Dumontet C, Reichert JM, Senter PD, Lambert JM, Beck A. Antibody-drug conjugates come of age in oncology. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2023; 22:641-661. [PMID: 37308581 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-023-00709-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 114.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) combine the specificity of monoclonal antibodies with the potency of highly cytotoxic agents, potentially reducing the severity of side effects by preferentially targeting their payload to the tumour site. ADCs are being increasingly used in combination with other agents, including as first-line cancer therapies. As the technology to produce these complex therapeutics has matured, many more ADCs have been approved or are in late-phase clinical trials. The diversification of antigenic targets as well as bioactive payloads is rapidly broadening the scope of tumour indications for ADCs. Moreover, novel vector protein formats as well as warheads targeting the tumour microenvironment are expected to improve the intratumour distribution or activation of ADCs, and consequently their anticancer activity for difficult-to-treat tumour types. However, toxicity remains a key issue in the development of these agents, and better understanding and management of ADC-related toxicities will be essential for further optimization. This Review provides a broad overview of the recent advances and challenges in ADC development for cancer treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charles Dumontet
- CRCL INSERM 1052/CNRS 5286, University of Lyon, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France.
| | | | | | | | - Alain Beck
- Institut de Recherche Pierre Fabre, CIPF, Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, France
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Fu Y, Tang R, Zhao X. Engineering cytokines for cancer immunotherapy: a systematic review. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1218082. [PMID: 37483629 PMCID: PMC10357296 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1218082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytokines are pivotal mediators of cell communication in the tumor microenvironment. Multiple cytokines are involved in the host antitumor response, but the production and function of these cytokines are usually dysregulated during malignant tumor progression. Considering their clinical potential and the early successful use of cytokines in cancer immunotherapy, such as interferon alpha-2b (IFNα-2b; IntronA®) and IL-2 (Proleukin®), cytokine-based therapeutics have been extensively evaluated in many follow-up clinical trials. Following these initial breakthroughs, however, clinical translation of these natural messenger molecules has been greatly limited owing to their high-degree pleiotropic features and complex biological properties in many cell types. These characteristics, coupled with poor pharmacokinetics (a short half-life), have hampered the delivery of cytokines via systemic administration, particularly because of severe dose-limiting toxicities. New engineering approaches have been developed to widen the therapeutic window, prolong pharmacokinetic effects, enhance tumor targeting and reduce adverse effects, thereby improving therapeutic efficacy. In this review, we focus on the recent progress and competitive landscape in cytokine engineering strategies and preclinical/clinical therapeutics for cancer. In addition, aiming to promote engineered cytokine-based cancer immunotherapy, we present a profound discussion about the feasibility of recently developed methods in clinical medicine translation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yong Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Neurology and Oncology Drug Development, Jiangsu Simcere Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Simcere Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd., Nanjing, China
| | - Renhong Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Neurology and Oncology Drug Development, Jiangsu Simcere Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Nanjing, China
- Simcere Zaiming Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd., Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaofeng Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Neurology and Oncology Drug Development, Jiangsu Simcere Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Simcere Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd., Nanjing, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Sulsenti R, Jachetti E. Frenemies in the Microenvironment: Harnessing Mast Cells for Cancer Immunotherapy. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1692. [PMID: 37376140 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15061692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor development, progression, and resistance to therapies are influenced by the interactions between tumor cells and the surrounding microenvironment, comprising fibroblasts, immune cells, and extracellular matrix proteins. In this context, mast cells (MCs) have recently emerged as important players. Yet, their role is still controversial, as MCs can exert pro- or anti-tumor functions in different tumor types depending on their location within or around the tumor mass and their interaction with other components of the tumor microenvironment. In this review, we describe the main aspects of MC biology and the different contribution of MCs in promoting or inhibiting cancer growth. We then discuss possible therapeutic strategies aimed at targeting MCs for cancer immunotherapy, which include: (1) targeting c-Kit signaling; (2) stabilizing MC degranulation; (3) triggering activating/inhibiting receptors; (4) modulating MC recruitment; (5) harnessing MC mediators; (6) adoptive transferring of MCs. Such strategies should aim to either restrain or sustain MC activity according to specific contexts. Further investigation would allow us to better dissect the multifaceted roles of MCs in cancer and tailor novel approaches for an "MC-guided" personalized medicine to be used in combination with conventional anti-cancer therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Sulsenti
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Jachetti
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
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: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [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.
Collapse
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.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Corti A, Calimeri T, Curnis F, Ferreri AJM. Targeting the Blood–Brain Tumor Barrier with Tumor Necrosis Factor-α. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14071414. [PMID: 35890309 PMCID: PMC9315592 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14071414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The blood–brain tumor barrier represents a major obstacle for anticancer drug delivery to brain tumors. Thus, novel strategies aimed at targeting and breaching this structure are of great experimental and clinical interest. This review is primarily focused on the development and use of a derivative of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) that can target and alter the blood–brain-tumor-barrier. This drug, called NGR-TNF, consists of a TNF molecule fused to the Cys-Asn-Gly-Arg-Cys-Gly (CNGRCG) peptide (called NGR), a ligand of aminopeptidase N (CD13)-positive tumor blood vessels. Results of preclinical studies suggest that this peptide-cytokine fusion product represents a valuable strategy for delivering TNF to tumor vessels in an amount sufficient to break the biological barriers that restrict drug penetration in cancer lesions. Moreover, clinical studies performed in patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma, have shown that an extremely low dose of NGR-TNF (0.8 µg/m2) is sufficient to promote selective blood–brain-tumor-barrier alteration, increase the efficacy of R-CHOP (a chemo-immunotherapy regimen) and improve patient survival. Besides reviewing these findings, we discuss the potential problems related to the instability and molecular heterogeneity of NGR-TNF and review the various approaches so far developed to obtain more robust and homogeneous TNF derivatives, as well as the pharmacological properties of other peptide/antibody-TNF fusion products, muteins and nanoparticles that are potentially useful for targeting the blood–brain tumor barrier. Compared to other TNF-related drugs, the administration of extremely low-doses of NGR-TNF or its derivatives appear as promising non-immunogenic approaches to overcome TNF counter-regulatory mechanism and systemic toxicity, thereby enabling safe breaking of the BBTB.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Corti
- Tumor Biology and Vascular Targeting Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy;
- Faculty of Medicine, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.C.); (A.J.M.F.); Tel.: +39-02-2643-4802 (A.C.); +39-02-2643-7649 (A.J.M.F.); Fax: +39-02-2643-7534 (A.J.M.F.)
| | - Teresa Calimeri
- Lymphoma Unit, Department of Onco-Hematology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy;
| | - Flavio Curnis
- Tumor Biology and Vascular Targeting Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy;
| | - Andres J. M. Ferreri
- Lymphoma Unit, Department of Onco-Hematology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy;
- Correspondence: (A.C.); (A.J.M.F.); Tel.: +39-02-2643-4802 (A.C.); +39-02-2643-7649 (A.J.M.F.); Fax: +39-02-2643-7534 (A.J.M.F.)
| |
Collapse
|