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Reschke N, Looser T, Krieg J, Bianchi M, Schildknecht P, Bassler N, Gruebler Y, Grimm S, Jeanbart L, Hospodarsch T, Neculcea A, Steiner D, Schlereth B, Reichen C. Abstract 525: Novel DARPin multi-specific T-cell engager with an improved therapeutic window to overcome dose limiting toxicities in AML therapies. Cancer Res 2021. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2021-525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Purpose: The medical need due to high mortality in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains high, and the treatment of relapsed or refractory AML continues to be therapeutically challenging. MYLOTARG, the only approved anti-CD33 antibody drug conjugate (ADC), has provided proof-of-concept for targeted immunotherapies in AML. Currently, a plethora of ADCs and T-cell engager (TCE) therapies have entered clinical development in AML, but those therapies are often accompanied by dose limiting toxicities, preventing dose escalation to desired anti-tumor efficacy. The biggest challenges seem to be limited target specificity and hyperstimulation of the immune system leading to e.g. myelotoxicities and cytokine release syndrome, respectively. Therefore, more selective therapies are needed to allow for robust anti-tumor activity with a more acceptable safety profile.
Experimental design: To address the selectivity challenge, we have generated multi-specific T-cell engaging DARPin® molecules, targeting two different tumor associated antigens (TAAs) with optimized affinity for their targets. In order to find the right target combination, the optimal affinity to increase tumor specificity via avidity, as well as the best molecular architecture, we took advantage of our unique modular DARPin® platform and screened 1000s of combinations of multi-specific DARPin® molecules, binding simultaneously to multiple TAAs in conjunction with our CD3-binding DARPin® molecule.
Results: We constructed multi-specific TCEs targeting two different AML antigens with optimized affinity leading to a substantial avidity gain when both targets are co-expressed on tumor cells. The avidity gain resulted in strongly enhanced in vitro potency as shown by activation of both CD8+ and CD4+ T cells and subsequent killing of AML tumor cells, with bioactivities in the range of established TCE benchmark formats (e.g. BiTE® and DART®). In contrast, in an ex vivo whole blood assay the multi-specific DARPin® constructs induced profoundly less cytokine release as compared to benchmark molecules indicating an improved therapeutic window. Finally, we also demonstrated tumor regression in PMBC humanized mouse models bearing MOLM-13 tumors, using both half-life extended (HLE) and non-HLE lead constructs.
In conclusion, we have generated TCEs based on multi-specific DARPin® constructs with high potency, selectivity and ultimately with the potential for an improved therapeutic window for the treatment of AML.
Citation Format: Nina Reschke, Thamar Looser, Jennifer Krieg, Matteo Bianchi, Patricia Schildknecht, Nicole Bassler, Yvonne Gruebler, Sebastian Grimm, Laura Jeanbart, Tanja Hospodarsch, Alexandra Neculcea, Daniel Steiner, Bernd Schlereth, Christian Reichen. Novel DARPin multi-specific T-cell engager with an improved therapeutic window to overcome dose limiting toxicities in AML therapies [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 525.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Reschke
- Molecular Partners AG, Zurich-Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Thamar Looser
- Molecular Partners AG, Zurich-Schlieren, Switzerland
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Wilson DS, Hirosue S, Raczy MM, Bonilla-Ramirez L, Jeanbart L, Wang R, Kwissa M, Franetich JF, Broggi MAS, Diaceri G, Quaglia-Thermes X, Mazier D, Swartz MA, Hubbell JA. Antigens reversibly conjugated to a polymeric glyco-adjuvant induce protective humoral and cellular immunity. Nat Mater 2019; 18:175-185. [PMID: 30643235 DOI: 10.1038/s41563-018-0256-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Fully effective vaccines for complex infections must elicit a diverse repertoire of antibodies (humoral immunity) and CD8+ T-cell responses (cellular immunity). Here, we present a synthetic glyco-adjuvant named p(Man-TLR7), which, when conjugated to antigens, elicits robust humoral and cellular immunity. p(Man-TLR7) is a random copolymer composed of monomers that either target dendritic cells (DCs) via mannose-binding receptors or activate DCs via Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7). Protein antigens are conjugated to p(Man-TLR7) via a self-immolative linkage that releases chemically unmodified antigen after endocytosis, thus amplifying antigen presentation to T cells. Studies with ovalbumin (OVA)-p(Man-TLR7) conjugates demonstrate that OVA-p(Man-TLR7) generates greater humoral and cellular immunity than OVA conjugated to polymers lacking either mannose targeting or TLR7 ligand. We show significant enhancement of Plasmodium falciparum-derived circumsporozoite protein (CSP)-specific T-cell responses, expansion in the breadth of the αCSP IgG response and increased inhibition of sporozoite invasion into hepatocytes with CSP-p(Man-TLR7) when compared with CSP formulated with MPLA/QS-21-loaded liposomes-the adjuvant used in the most clinically advanced malaria vaccine. We conclude that our antigen-p(Man-TLR7) platform offers a strategy to enhance the immunogenicity of protein subunit vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Scott Wilson
- Institute for Bioengineering, School of Life Science and School of Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sachiko Hirosue
- Institute for Bioengineering, School of Life Science and School of Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Michal M Raczy
- Institute for Bioengineering, School of Life Science and School of Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Leonardo Bonilla-Ramirez
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI, Paris, France
| | - Laura Jeanbart
- Institute for Bioengineering, School of Life Science and School of Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ruyi Wang
- Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Marcin Kwissa
- Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jean-Francois Franetich
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI, Paris, France
| | - Maria A S Broggi
- Institute for Bioengineering, School of Life Science and School of Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Giacomo Diaceri
- Institute for Bioengineering, School of Life Science and School of Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Xavier Quaglia-Thermes
- Institute for Bioengineering, School of Life Science and School of Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Mazier
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI, Paris, France
| | - Melody A Swartz
- Institute for Bioengineering, School of Life Science and School of Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Hubbell
- Institute for Bioengineering, School of Life Science and School of Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Fankhauser M, Broggi MAS, Potin L, Bordry N, Jeanbart L, Lund AW, Da Costa E, Hauert S, Rincon-Restrepo M, Tremblay C, Cabello E, Homicsko K, Michielin O, Hanahan D, Speiser DE, Swartz MA. Tumor lymphangiogenesis promotes T cell infiltration and potentiates immunotherapy in melanoma. Sci Transl Med 2018; 9:9/407/eaal4712. [PMID: 28904226 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aal4712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2016] [Revised: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
In melanoma, vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) expression and consequent lymphangiogenesis correlate with metastasis and poor prognosis. VEGF-C also promotes tumor immunosuppression, suggesting that lymphangiogenesis inhibitors may be clinically useful in combination with immunotherapy. We addressed this concept in mouse melanoma models with VEGF receptor-3 (VEGFR-3)-blocking antibodies and unexpectedly found that VEGF-C signaling enhanced rather than suppressed the response to immunotherapy. We further found that this effect was mediated by VEGF-C-induced CCL21 and tumor infiltration of naïve T cells before immunotherapy because CCR7 blockade reversed the potentiating effects of VEGF-C. In human metastatic melanoma, gene expression of VEGF-C strongly correlated with CCL21 and T cell inflammation, and serum VEGF-C concentrations associated with both T cell activation and expansion after peptide vaccination and clinical response to checkpoint blockade. We propose that VEGF-C potentiates immunotherapy by attracting naïve T cells, which are locally activated upon immunotherapy-induced tumor cell killing, and that serum VEGF-C may serve as a predictive biomarker for immunotherapy response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Fankhauser
- Institute of Bioengineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Maria A S Broggi
- Institute of Bioengineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.,Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Lambert Potin
- Institute of Bioengineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.,Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Natacha Bordry
- Department of Oncology and Ludwig Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Laura Jeanbart
- Institute of Bioengineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Amanda W Lund
- Institute of Bioengineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.,Department of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology and Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Elodie Da Costa
- Institute of Bioengineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sylvie Hauert
- Institute of Bioengineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.,Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Marcela Rincon-Restrepo
- Institute of Bioengineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Christopher Tremblay
- Institute of Bioengineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Elena Cabello
- The Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Core Facility, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Krisztian Homicsko
- Department of Oncology and Ludwig Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, School of Life Sciences, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Michielin
- Department of Oncology and Ludwig Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Douglas Hanahan
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, School of Life Sciences, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Daniel E Speiser
- Department of Oncology and Ludwig Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Melody A Swartz
- Institute of Bioengineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland. .,Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.,Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, School of Life Sciences, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland.,The Ben May Department for Cancer Research, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
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Julier Z, Martino MM, de Titta A, Jeanbart L, Hubbell JA. The TLR4 agonist fibronectin extra domain A is cryptic, exposed by elastase-2; use in a fibrin matrix cancer vaccine. Sci Rep 2015; 5:8569. [PMID: 25708982 PMCID: PMC4338432 DOI: 10.1038/srep08569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2014] [Accepted: 01/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibronectin (FN) is an extracellular matrix (ECM) protein including numerous fibronectin type III (FNIII) repeats with different functions. The alternatively spliced FN variant containing the extra domain A (FNIII EDA), located between FNIII 11 and FNIII 12, is expressed in sites of injury, chronic inflammation, and solid tumors. Although its function is not well understood, FNIII EDA is known to agonize Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Here, by producing various FN fragments containing FNIII EDA, we found that FNIII EDA's immunological activity depends upon its local intramolecular context within the FN chain. N-terminal extension of the isolated FNIII EDA with its neighboring FNIII repeats (FNIII 9-10-11) enhanced its activity in agonizing TLR4, while C-terminal extension with the native FNIII 12-13-14 heparin-binding domain abrogated it. In addition, we reveal that an elastase 2 cleavage site is present between FNIII EDA and FNIII 12. Activity of the C-terminally extended FNIII EDA could be restored after cleavage of the FNIII 12-13-14 domain by elastase 2. FN being naturally bound to the ECM, we immobilized FNIII EDA-containing FN fragments within a fibrin matrix model along with antigenic peptides. Such matrices were shown to stimulate cytotoxic CD8+ T cell responses in two murine cancer models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziad Julier
- Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Mikaël M Martino
- 1] Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland [2] World Premier International Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Alexandre de Titta
- Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Laura Jeanbart
- Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jeffrey A Hubbell
- 1] Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland [2] Institute for Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland [3] Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA [4] Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439, USA
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Capurso NA, Look M, Jeanbart L, Nowyhed H, Abraham C, Craft J, Fahmy TM. Development of a nanoparticulate formulation of retinoic acid that suppresses Th17 cells and upregulates regulatory T cells. Self Nonself 2014; 1:335-340. [PMID: 21487509 DOI: 10.4161/self.1.4.13946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2010] [Accepted: 10/14/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Retinoic acid (RA) is a small molecule capable of shunting developing T cells away from the Th17 lineage and towards the Treg phenotype, making it a potentially useful therapeutic for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. However, therapy can be complicated by systemic toxicity and unpredictable bioavailability, making a targeted drug delivery vehicle for local therapy desirable. A promising approach is the use of nanoparticles, which have been demonstrated to increase potency and decrease toxicity of therapies in a variety of disease models including Th17 mediated diseases. Nanoparticles can also be targeted to specific cell types via surface modification, further increasing the potential specificity of this approach. We therefore constructed a nanoparticulate drug delivery platform from poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) capable of encapsulating and releasing RA. Here we report the fabrication, characterization, and in vitro bioactivity of this platform. We demonstrate that RA containing PLGA nanoparticles suppress IL-17 production and ROR-γ(t) expression in T cells polarized towards the Th17 phenotype in vitro with similar potency to that of free drug. Furthermore, we show that these particles enhance TGF-β dependent Foxp3 expression and IL-10 production of T cells in vitro with similar potency to free RA. Finally, we demonstrate that T cells polarized towards the Th17 phenotype in the presence of free and nanoparticulate RA have similarly suppressed ability to induce IL-6 production by fibroblasts. Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of RA delivery via biodegradable nanoparticles and represent an exciting technology for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noah A Capurso
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University; New Haven, CT USA
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Jeanbart L, Ballester M, de Titta A, Corthésy P, Romero P, Hubbell JA, Swartz MA. Enhancing efficacy of anticancer vaccines by targeted delivery to tumor-draining lymph nodes. Cancer Immunol Res 2014; 2:436-47. [PMID: 24795356 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-14-0019-t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The sentinel or tumor-draining lymph node (tdLN) serves as a metastatic niche for many solid tumors and is altered via tumor-derived factors that support tumor progression and metastasis. tdLNs are often removed surgically, and therapeutic vaccines against tumor antigens are typically administered systemically or in non-tumor-associated sites. Although the tdLN is immune-suppressed, it is also antigen experienced through drainage of tumor-associated antigens (TAA), so we asked whether therapeutic vaccines targeting the tdLN would be more or less effective than those targeting the non-tdLN. Using LN-targeting nanoparticle (NP)-conjugate vaccines consisting of TAA-NP and CpG-NP, we compared delivery to the tdLN versus non-tdLN in two different cancer models, E.G7-OVA lymphoma (expressing the nonendogenous TAA ovalbumin) and B16-F10 melanoma. Surprisingly, despite the immune-suppressed state of the tdLN, tdLN-targeting vaccination induced substantially stronger cytotoxic CD8+ T-cell responses, both locally and systemically, than non-tdLN-targeting vaccination, leading to enhanced tumor regression and host survival. This improved tumor regression correlated with a shift in the tumor-infiltrating leukocyte repertoire toward a less suppressive and more immunogenic balance. Nanoparticle coupling of adjuvant and antigen was required for effective tdLN targeting, as nanoparticle coupling dramatically increased the delivery of antigen and adjuvant to LN-resident antigen-presenting cells, thereby increasing therapeutic efficacy. This work highlights the tdLN as a target for cancer immunotherapy and shows how its antigen-experienced but immune-suppressed state can be reprogrammed with a targeted vaccine yielding antitumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Jeanbart
- Authors' Affiliations: Ludwig Center for Cancer Research, Université de Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
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