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Shigeta K, Datta M, Hato T, Kitahara S, Chen IX, Matsui A, Kikuchi H, Mamessier E, Aoki S, Ramjiawan RR, Ochiai H, Bardeesy N, Huang P, Cobbold M, Zhu AX, Jain RK, Duda DG. Dual Programmed Death Receptor-1 and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 Blockade Promotes Vascular Normalization and Enhances Antitumor Immune Responses in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Hepatology 2020; 71:1247-1261. [PMID: 31378984 PMCID: PMC7000304 DOI: 10.1002/hep.30889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 221] [Impact Index Per Article: 55.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Activation of the antitumor immune response using programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) blockade showed benefit only in a fraction of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Combining PD-1 blockade with antiangiogenesis has shown promise in substantially increasing the fraction of patients with HCC who respond to treatment, but the mechanism of this interaction is unknown. APPROACH AND RESULTS We recapitulated these clinical outcomes using orthotopic-grafted or induced-murine models of HCC. Specific blockade of vascular endothelial receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) using a murine antibody significantly delayed primary tumor growth but failed to prolong survival, while anti-PD-1 antibody treatment alone conferred a minor survival advantage in one model. However, dual anti-PD-1/VEGFR-2 therapy significantly inhibited primary tumor growth and doubled survival in both models. Combination therapy reprogrammed the immune microenvironment by increasing cluster of differentiation 8-positive (CD8+ ) cytotoxic T cell infiltration and activation, shifting the M1/M2 ratio of tumor-associated macrophages and reducing T regulatory cell (Treg) and chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 2-positive monocyte infiltration in HCC tissue. In these models, VEGFR-2 was selectively expressed in tumor endothelial cells. Using spheroid cultures of HCC tissue, we found that PD-ligand 1 expression in HCC cells was induced in a paracrine manner upon anti-VEGFR-2 blockade in endothelial cells in part through interferon-gamma expression. Moreover, we found that VEGFR-2 blockade increased PD-1 expression in tumor-infiltrating CD4+ cells. We also found that under anti-PD-1 therapy, CD4+ cells promote normalized vessel formation in the face of antiangiogenic therapy with anti-VEGFR-2 antibody. CONCLUSIONS We show that dual anti-PD-1/VEGFR-2 therapy has a durable vessel fortification effect in HCC and can overcome treatment resistance to either treatment alone and increase overall survival in both anti-PD-1 therapy-resistant and anti-PD-1 therapy-responsive HCC models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kohei Shigeta
- Edwin. L. Steele Laboratories for Tumor Biology, Department
of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA, USA
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Saitama Medical Center,
Saitama, Japan
| | - Meenal Datta
- Edwin. L. Steele Laboratories for Tumor Biology, Department
of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA, USA
| | - Tai Hato
- Edwin. L. Steele Laboratories for Tumor Biology, Department
of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA, USA
- Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine,
Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shuji Kitahara
- Edwin. L. Steele Laboratories for Tumor Biology, Department
of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA, USA
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Tokyo
Women’s Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ivy X. Chen
- Edwin. L. Steele Laboratories for Tumor Biology, Department
of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA, USA
| | - Aya Matsui
- Edwin. L. Steele Laboratories for Tumor Biology, Department
of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA, USA
| | - Hiroto Kikuchi
- Edwin. L. Steele Laboratories for Tumor Biology, Department
of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA, USA
| | - Emilie Mamessier
- Edwin. L. Steele Laboratories for Tumor Biology, Department
of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA, USA
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Research Center,
Marseille, France
| | - Shuichi Aoki
- Edwin. L. Steele Laboratories for Tumor Biology, Department
of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA, USA
- Department of Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of
Medicine, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Rakesh R. Ramjiawan
- Edwin. L. Steele Laboratories for Tumor Biology, Department
of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA, USA
- Angiogenesis Laboratory, Cancer Center Amsterdam,
Department of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The
Netherlands
| | - Hiroki Ochiai
- Edwin. L. Steele Laboratories for Tumor Biology, Department
of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA, USA
- Department of Surgery, National Cancer Institute Central
Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nabeel Bardeesy
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA,
USA
| | - Peigen Huang
- Edwin. L. Steele Laboratories for Tumor Biology, Department
of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA, USA
| | - Mark Cobbold
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA,
USA
| | - Andrew X. Zhu
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA,
USA
| | - Rakesh K. Jain
- Edwin. L. Steele Laboratories for Tumor Biology, Department
of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA, USA
| | - Dan G. Duda
- Edwin. L. Steele Laboratories for Tumor Biology, Department
of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA, USA
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Dote S, Yamaguchi D, Hira D, Noda S, Kobayashi Y, Terada T. Thyroid Dysfunction Related to the Antiangiogenic VEGFR2-Binding Monoclonal Antibody Ramucirumab: A Series of 14 Cases and a Descriptive Study. Biol Pharm Bull 2020; 43:752-756. [PMID: 32238718 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b19-01071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Hypothyroidism is a well-established toxicity of small-molecule anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) tyrosine kinase inhibitors. However, its association with anti-VEGF biologics is uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence, time course, clinical features, and severity of thyroid dysfunction in patients receiving ramucirumab (an antiangiogenic VEGF receptor 2-binding monoclonal antibody). After retrospectively reviewing electronic medical records from September 2015 to December 2018 at Kyoto-Katsura Hospital, we identified 38 patients who received ramucirumab and had thyroid function testing available to review (case series). We also evaluated the change of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level during ramucirumab chemotherapy in 16 out of 38 patients who were regularly confirmed TSH (descriptive study). A total of 14 (36.8%) patients developed thyroid dysfunction (TSH >10 mU/L) after ramucirumab chemotherapy. Thyroid autoantibodies were detected in one of the 10 patients (10.0%) who were tested for thyroid autoantibodies. The median time to onset of thyroid dysfunction after ramucirumab initiation was 275 (range, 63-553) days. Levothyroxine replacement was needed in 10 (71.4%) patients. Sixteen patients had thyroid function regularly monitored; the mean TSH level was significantly increased after ramucirumab chemotherapy compared with that at baseline (10.7 ± 10.0 mU/L vs. 4.1 ± 2.8 mU/L; p < 0.01). Our findings indicate that ramucirumab can result in thyroid dysfunction. We propose that thyroid function testing should be performed regularly to detect hypothyroidism and guide its management in patients receiving ramucirumab chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Dote
- Department of Pharmacy, Kyoto-Katsura Hospital
- Department of Pharmacy, Shiga University of Medical Science Hospital
| | | | - Daiki Hira
- Department of Pharmacy, Shiga University of Medical Science Hospital
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ritsumeikan University
| | - Satoshi Noda
- Department of Pharmacy, Shiga University of Medical Science Hospital
| | | | - Tomohiro Terada
- Department of Pharmacy, Shiga University of Medical Science Hospital
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Ding N, Fu X, Ruan Y, Zhu J, Guo P, Han L, Zhang J, Hu X. Extracellular production of recombinant N-glycosylated anti-VEGFR2 monobody in leaky Escherichia coli strain. Biotechnol Lett 2019; 41:1265-1274. [PMID: 31541332 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-019-02731-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To improve the production yield of N-glycosylated anti-VEGFR2 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2) monobody (FN3VEGFR2-Gly) in lpp knockout Escherichia coli cells harboring Campylobacter jejuni N-glycosylation pathway. RESULTS The leaky CLM37-Δlpp strain efficiently secreted FN3VEGFR2-Gly into culture medium. The extracellular levels of glycosylated FN3VEGFR2-Gly in CLM37-Δlpp culture medium were approximately 11 and 15 times higher compared to those in CLM37 cells via IPTG and auto-induction, respectively. In addition, the highest level of total glycosylated FN3VEGFR2-Gly (70 ± 3.4 mg/L) was found in culture medium via auto-induction. Furthermore, glycosylated FN3VEGFR2-Gly was more stable than unglycosylated FN3VEGFR2-Gly in this expression system, but their bioactivities were relatively similar. CONCLUSIONS Lpp knockout leaky E. coli strain combined with auto-induction method can enhance the extracellular production of homogenous N-glycosylated FN3VEGFR2-Gly, and facilitate the downstream protein purification. The findings of this study may provide practical implications for the large-scale production and cost-effective harvesting of N-glycosylation proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Ding
- Academic Centre for Medical Research, Medical College, Dalian University, Liaoning, 116622, China
- School of Life Science and Medicine, Dalian University of Technology, Liaoning, 124000, China
| | - Xin Fu
- Academic Centre for Medical Research, Medical College, Dalian University, Liaoning, 116622, China
| | - Yao Ruan
- Academic Centre for Medical Research, Medical College, Dalian University, Liaoning, 116622, China
| | - Jing Zhu
- Academic Centre for Medical Research, Medical College, Dalian University, Liaoning, 116622, China
| | - Pingping Guo
- Academic Centre for Medical Research, Medical College, Dalian University, Liaoning, 116622, China
| | - Lichi Han
- Academic Centre for Medical Research, Medical College, Dalian University, Liaoning, 116622, China
| | - Jianing Zhang
- School of Life Science and Medicine, Dalian University of Technology, Liaoning, 124000, China.
| | - Xuejun Hu
- Academic Centre for Medical Research, Medical College, Dalian University, Liaoning, 116622, China.
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Zhang Y, Yong L, Luo Y, Ding X, Xu D, Gao X, Yan S, Wang Q, Luo J, Pu D, Zou J. Enhancement of HIFU ablation by sonosensitizer-loading liquid fluorocarbon nanoparticles with pre-targeting in a mouse model. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6982. [PMID: 31061456 PMCID: PMC6502828 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-43416-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a noninvasive thermal ablation technique for the treatment of benign and malignant solid masses. To improve the efficacy of HIFU ablation, we developed poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles encapsulating perfluoropentane (PFP) and hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether (HMME) as synergistic agents (HMME+PFP/PLGA). Two-step biotin-avidin pre-targeting technique was applied for the HIFU ablation. We further modified the nanoparticles with streptavidin (HMME+PFP/PLGA-SA). HMME+PFP/PLGA-SA were highly dispersed with spherical morphology (477.8 ± 81.8 nm in diameter). The encapsulation efficiency of HMME and PFP were 46.6 ± 3.3% and 40.1 ± 2.6%, respectively. The binding efficiency of nanoparticles to streptavidin was 95.5 ± 2.5%. The targeting ability of the HMME+PFP/PLGA-SA nanoparticles was tested by parallel plate flow chamber in vitro. In the pre-targeting group (HMME+PFP/PLGA-SA), a large number of nanoparticles bound to the peripheral and surface of the cell. In the HIFU ablation experiment in vivo, compared with the other groups, the largest gray-scale changes and coagulation necrosis areas were observed in the pre-targeting (HMME+PFP/PLGA-SA) group, with the lowest energy efficiency factor value. Moreover, the microvessel density and proliferation index declined, while the apoptotic index increased, in the tumor tissue surrounding the coagulation necrosis area in the pre-targeting group. Meanwhile, the survival time of the tumor-bearing nude mice in the pre-targeting group was significantly longer than that in the HIFU treatment group. These results suggest that HMME+PFP/PLGA-SA have high potential to act as synergistic agents in HIFU ablation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound Engineering in Medicine Co-Founded by Chongqing and the Ministry of Science and Technology, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Collaborative Innovation Center for Minimally-invasive and Noninvasive Medicine, Chongqing, 400016, China
- Department of Ultrasound, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Lijun Yong
- Department of Obstetrics, Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children, Chongqing, 401147, China
| | - Yong Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound Engineering in Medicine Co-Founded by Chongqing and the Ministry of Science and Technology, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Collaborative Innovation Center for Minimally-invasive and Noninvasive Medicine, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Xiaoya Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound Engineering in Medicine Co-Founded by Chongqing and the Ministry of Science and Technology, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Collaborative Innovation Center for Minimally-invasive and Noninvasive Medicine, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Die Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound Engineering in Medicine Co-Founded by Chongqing and the Ministry of Science and Technology, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Collaborative Innovation Center for Minimally-invasive and Noninvasive Medicine, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Xuan Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound Engineering in Medicine Co-Founded by Chongqing and the Ministry of Science and Technology, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Collaborative Innovation Center for Minimally-invasive and Noninvasive Medicine, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Sijing Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound Engineering in Medicine Co-Founded by Chongqing and the Ministry of Science and Technology, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Collaborative Innovation Center for Minimally-invasive and Noninvasive Medicine, Chongqing, 400016, China
- Department of Ultrasound, Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Chongqing, 400021, China
| | - Qi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound Engineering in Medicine Co-Founded by Chongqing and the Ministry of Science and Technology, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Collaborative Innovation Center for Minimally-invasive and Noninvasive Medicine, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Jie Luo
- Department of Ultrasound, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Darong Pu
- Department of Ultrasound, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Jianzhong Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound Engineering in Medicine Co-Founded by Chongqing and the Ministry of Science and Technology, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Collaborative Innovation Center for Minimally-invasive and Noninvasive Medicine, Chongqing, 400016, China.
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Debeuckelaere C, Murgioni S, Lonardi S, Girardi N, Alberti G, Fano C, Gallimberti S, Magro C, Ahcene-Djaballah S, Daniel F, Fassan M, Prenen H, Loupakis F. Ramucirumab: the long and winding road toward being an option for mCRC treatment. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2019; 19:399-409. [PMID: 30917706 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2019.1600505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the main causes of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. Mortality is most often attributable to metastatic disease. Despite the progress achieved so far, life expectancy continues to be limited in most patients. Ramucirumab, a most recent antiangiogenic drug, is vying in the race to metastatic CRC (mCRC) treatment since its approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), based on the results of the RAISE study. AREAS COVERED This article reviews the role of ramucirumab in mCRC, including clinical indication, safety issues, and future perspectives. EXPERT OPINION The use of Ramucirumab in clinical practice is still limited, probably due to economic burden and the lack of specific biomarkers. Future efforts will be addressed to improve our knowledge in the use of this drug and better guide us in patients' care.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sabina Murgioni
- b Department of Oncology, Unit of Oncology 1 , Veneto Institute of Oncology, Scientific Institute for Research and Healthcare (IRCCS) , Padua , Italy
| | - Sara Lonardi
- b Department of Oncology, Unit of Oncology 1 , Veneto Institute of Oncology, Scientific Institute for Research and Healthcare (IRCCS) , Padua , Italy
| | - Noemi Girardi
- c Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology , University of Padua , Padua , Italy
| | - Giulia Alberti
- b Department of Oncology, Unit of Oncology 1 , Veneto Institute of Oncology, Scientific Institute for Research and Healthcare (IRCCS) , Padua , Italy
- c Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology , University of Padua , Padua , Italy
| | - Carolina Fano
- d Research Nurses Coordinating Center, Unit of Oncology 1 , Veneto Institute of Oncology, Scientific Institute for Research and Healthcare (IRCCS) , Padua , Italy
| | - Sara Gallimberti
- d Research Nurses Coordinating Center, Unit of Oncology 1 , Veneto Institute of Oncology, Scientific Institute for Research and Healthcare (IRCCS) , Padua , Italy
| | - Cristina Magro
- d Research Nurses Coordinating Center, Unit of Oncology 1 , Veneto Institute of Oncology, Scientific Institute for Research and Healthcare (IRCCS) , Padua , Italy
| | - Selma Ahcene-Djaballah
- b Department of Oncology, Unit of Oncology 1 , Veneto Institute of Oncology, Scientific Institute for Research and Healthcare (IRCCS) , Padua , Italy
| | - Francesca Daniel
- b Department of Oncology, Unit of Oncology 1 , Veneto Institute of Oncology, Scientific Institute for Research and Healthcare (IRCCS) , Padua , Italy
- e Clinical Oncology, Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine , S. Anna University Hospital , Ferrara , Italy
| | - Matteo Fassan
- f Department of Medicine, Pathology and Cytopathology Unit , Padua University Hospital , Padua , Italy
| | - Hans Prenen
- a Department of Oncology , University Hospital Antwerp , Edegem , Belgium
- g Center for Oncological Research , Antwerp University , Edegem , Belgium
| | - Fotios Loupakis
- b Department of Oncology, Unit of Oncology 1 , Veneto Institute of Oncology, Scientific Institute for Research and Healthcare (IRCCS) , Padua , Italy
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Kannan P, Kretzschmar WW, Winter H, Warren D, Bates R, Allen PD, Syed N, Irving B, Papiez BW, Kaeppler J, Markelc B, Kinchesh P, Gilchrist S, Smart S, Schnabel JA, Maughan T, Harris AL, Muschel RJ, Partridge M, Sharma RA, Kersemans V. Functional Parameters Derived from Magnetic Resonance Imaging Reflect Vascular Morphology in Preclinical Tumors and in Human Liver Metastases. Clin Cancer Res 2018; 24:4694-4704. [PMID: 29959141 PMCID: PMC6171743 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-18-0033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Revised: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: Tumor vessels influence the growth and response of tumors to therapy. Imaging vascular changes in vivo using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) has shown potential to guide clinical decision making for treatment. However, quantitative MR imaging biomarkers of vascular function have not been widely adopted, partly because their relationship to structural changes in vessels remains unclear. We aimed to elucidate the relationships between vessel function and morphology in vivo Experimental Design: Untreated preclinical tumors with different levels of vascularization were imaged sequentially using DCE-MRI and CT. Relationships between functional parameters from MR (iAUC, K trans, and BATfrac) and structural parameters from CT (vessel volume, radius, and tortuosity) were assessed using linear models. Tumors treated with anti-VEGFR2 antibody were then imaged to determine whether antiangiogenic therapy altered these relationships. Finally, functional-structural relationships were measured in 10 patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer.Results: Functional parameters iAUC and K trans primarily reflected vessel volume in untreated preclinical tumors. The relationships varied spatially and with tumor vascularity, and were altered by antiangiogenic treatment. In human liver metastases, all three structural parameters were linearly correlated with iAUC and K trans For iAUC, structural parameters also modified each other's effect.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that MR imaging biomarkers of vascular function are linked to structural changes in tumor vessels and that antiangiogenic therapy can affect this link. Our work also demonstrates the feasibility of three-dimensional functional-structural validation of MR biomarkers in vivo to improve their biological interpretation and clinical utility. Clin Cancer Res; 24(19); 4694-704. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavitra Kannan
- CRUK and MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
| | - Warren W Kretzschmar
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Gene Technology, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Helen Winter
- CRUK and MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Warren
- CRUK and MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Russell Bates
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Philip D Allen
- CRUK and MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Nigar Syed
- CRUK and MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- NHS, Department of Radiology, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin Irving
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Bartlomiej W Papiez
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Jakob Kaeppler
- CRUK and MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Bosjtan Markelc
- CRUK and MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Kinchesh
- CRUK and MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Stuart Gilchrist
- CRUK and MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Sean Smart
- CRUK and MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Julia A Schnabel
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tim Maughan
- CRUK and MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian L Harris
- CRUK and MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ruth J Muschel
- CRUK and MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Mike Partridge
- CRUK and MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ricky A Sharma
- CRUK and MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- NIHR University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Veerle Kersemans
- CRUK and MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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7
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Mirzaee M, Jalali-Javaran M, Moieni A, Zeinali S, Behdani M. Expression of VGRNb-PE immunotoxin in transplastomic lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Plant Mol Biol 2018; 97:103-112. [PMID: 29633168 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-018-0726-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE This research has shown, for the first time, that plant chloroplasts are a suitable compartment for synthesizing recombinant immunotoxins and the transgenic immunotoxin efficiently causes the inhibition of VEGFR2 overexpression, cell growth and proliferation. Angiogenesis refers to the formation of new blood vessels, which resulted in the growth, invasion and metastasis of cancer. The vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) plays a major role in angiogenesis and blocking of its signaling inhibits neovascularization and tumor metastasis. Immunotoxins are promising therapeutics for targeted cancer therapy. They consist of an antibody linked to a protein toxin and are designed to specifically kill the tumor cells. In our previous study, VGRNb-PE immunotoxin protein containing anti-VEGFR2 nanobody fused to the truncated form of Pseudomonas exotoxin A has been established. Here, we expressed this immunotoxin in lettuce chloroplasts. Chloroplast genetic engineering offers several advantages, including high levels of transgene expression, multigene engineering in a single transformation event and maternal inheritance of the transgenes. Site specific integration of transgene into chloroplast genomes, and homoplasmy were confirmed. Immunotoxin levels reached up to 1.1% of total soluble protein or 33.7 µg per 100 mg of leaf tissue (fresh weight). We demonstrated that transgenic immunotoxin efficiently causes the inhibition of VEGFR2 overexpression, cell growth and proliferation. These results indicate that plant chloroplasts are a suitable compartment for synthesizing recombinant immunotoxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malihe Mirzaee
- Department of Plant Breeding & Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box 1497713111, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mokhtar Jalali-Javaran
- Department of Plant Breeding & Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box 1497713111, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Ahmad Moieni
- Department of Plant Breeding & Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box 1497713111, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sirous Zeinali
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdi Behdani
- Biotechnology Research Center, Biotechnology Department, Venom & Biotherapeutics Molecules Lab., Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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Ballmer-Hofer K, A C Hyde C, Schleier T, Avramovic D. ScFvs as Allosteric Inhibitors of VEGFR-2: Novel Tools to Harness VEGF Signaling. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E1334. [PMID: 29723982 PMCID: PMC5983656 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19051334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Revised: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) is the main mediator of angiogenic signaling in endothelial cells and a primary responder to VEGF. VEGF dependent VEGFR-2 activation regulates endothelial cell migration and proliferation, as well as vessel permeability. VEGF is presented as an antiparallel homodimer, and its binding to VEGFR-2 brings two receptors in close proximity. Downstream signaling is triggered by receptor dimerization, kinase activation, and receptor internalization. Our aim was to further investigate allosteric inhibition using binders targeting extracellular subdomains 4⁻7 of VEGFR-2 as an alternative to existing anti-angiogenic therapies, which rely on neutralizing VEGF or blocking of the ligand-binding site on the receptor. We applied phage display technology to produce single chain antibody fragments (scFvs) targeting VEGFR-2. Selected antibody fragments were characterized using biophysical and biological assays. We characterized several antibody fragments, which exert their inhibitory effect of VEGFR-2 independent of ligand binding. These reagents led to rapid clearance of VEGFR-2 from the cell surface without kinase activation, followed by an increase in intracellular receptor-positive vesicles, suggesting receptor internalization. Our highly specific VEGFR-2 binders thus represent novel tools for anti-angiogenic therapy and diagnostic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurt Ballmer-Hofer
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland.
| | - Caroline A C Hyde
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland.
| | - Thomas Schleier
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland.
| | - Dragana Avramovic
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland.
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9
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Denies S, Leyman B, Huysmans H, Combes F, Mc Cafferty S, Cicchelero L, Steppe M, De Temmerman J, Sanders NN. Evaluation of a xenogeneic vascular endothelial growth factor-2 vaccine in two preclinical metastatic tumor models in mice. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2017; 66:1545-1555. [PMID: 28776079 PMCID: PMC11029140 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-017-2046-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2016] [Accepted: 07/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In this study, a xenogeneic DNA vaccine encoding for human vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (hVEGFR-2) was evaluated in two murine tumor models, the B16-F10 melanoma and the EO771 breast carcinoma model. The vaccine was administered by intradermal injection followed by electroporation. The immunogenicity and the biological efficacy of the vaccine were tested in (1) a prophylactic setting, (2) a therapeutic setting, and (3) a therapeutic setting combined with surgical removal of the primary tumor. The tumor growth, survival, and development of an immune response were followed. The cellular immune response was measured by a bioluminescence-based cytotoxicity assay with vascular endothelial growth factor-2 (VEGFR-2)-expressing target cells. Humoral immune responses were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Ex vivo bioluminescence imaging and immunohistological observation of organs were used to detect (micro)metastases. A cellular and humoral immune response was present in prophylactically and therapeutically vaccinated mice, in both tumor models. Nevertheless, survival in prophylactically vaccinated mice was only moderately increased, and no beneficial effect on survival in therapeutically vaccinated mice could be demonstrated. An influx of CD3+ cells and a slight decrease in VEGFR-2 were noticed in the tumors of vaccinated mice. Unexpectedly, the vaccine caused an increased quantity of early micrometastases in the liver. Lung metastases were not increased by the vaccine. These early liver micrometastases did however not grow into macroscopic metastases in either control or vaccinated mice when allowed to develop further after surgical removal of the primary tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie Denies
- Laboratory of Gene Therapy, Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Heidestraat 19, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
- iTeos Therapeutics, Rue Clément Ader 16, 6041, Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Bregje Leyman
- Laboratory of Gene Therapy, Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Heidestraat 19, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Hanne Huysmans
- Laboratory of Gene Therapy, Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Heidestraat 19, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Francis Combes
- Laboratory of Gene Therapy, Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Heidestraat 19, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Séan Mc Cafferty
- Laboratory of Gene Therapy, Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Heidestraat 19, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Laetitia Cicchelero
- Laboratory of Gene Therapy, Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Heidestraat 19, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
- Bimetra, Clinical Research Centre Ghent, De Pintelaan 185, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marjan Steppe
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Joyca De Temmerman
- Laboratory of Gene Therapy, Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Heidestraat 19, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Niek N Sanders
- Laboratory of Gene Therapy, Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Heidestraat 19, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
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10
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Arnold D, Fuchs CS, Tabernero J, Ohtsu A, Zhu AX, Garon EB, Mackey JR, Paz-Ares L, Baron AD, Okusaka T, Yoshino T, Yoon HH, Das M, Ferry D, Zhang Y, Lin Y, Binder P, Sashegyi A, Chau I. Meta-analysis of individual patient safety data from six randomized, placebo-controlled trials with the antiangiogenic VEGFR2-binding monoclonal antibody ramucirumab. Ann Oncol 2017; 28:2932-2942. [PMID: 28950290 PMCID: PMC5834052 DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdx514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ramucirumab, the human immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody receptor antagonist of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, has been approved for treating gastric/gastroesophageal junction, non-small-cell lung, and metastatic colorectal cancers. With the completion of six global, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III trials across multiple tumor types, an opportunity now exists to further establish the safety parameters of ramucirumab across a large patient population. MATERIALS AND METHODS An individual patient meta-analysis across the six completed phase III trials was conducted and the relative risk (RR) and associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were derived using fixed-effects or mixed-effects models for all-grade and high-grade adverse events (AEs) possibly related to vascular endothelial growth factor pathway inhibition. The number needed to harm was also calculable due to the placebo-controlled nature of all six registration standard trials. RESULTS A total of 4996 treated patients (N = 2748 in the ramucirumab arm and N = 2248 in the control, placebo arm) were included in this meta-analysis. Arterial thromboembolic events [ATE; all-grade, RR: 0.8, 95% CI 0.5-1.3; high-grade (grade ≥3), RR: 0.9, 95% CI 0.5-1.7], venous thromboembolic events (VTE; all-grade, RR: 0.7, 95% CI 0.5-1.1; high-grade, RR: 0.7, 95% CI 0.4-1.2), high-grade bleeding (RR: 1.1, 95% CI 0.8-1.5), and high-grade gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding (RR: 1.1, 95% CI 0.7-1.7) did not demonstrate a definite increased risk with ramucirumab. A higher percentage of hypertension, proteinuria, low-grade (grade 1-2) bleeding, GI perforation, infusion-related reaction, and wound-healing complications were observed in the ramucirumab arm compared with the control arm. CONCLUSIONS Ramucirumab may be distinct among antiangiogenic agents in terms of ATE, VTE, high-grade bleeding, or high-grade GI bleeding by showing no clear evidence for an increased risk of these AEs in this meta-analysis of a large and diverse patient population. Ramucirumab is consistent with other angiogenic inhibitors in the risk of developing certain AEs. Clinical Trial Numbers: NCT00917384 (REGARD), NCT01170663 (RAINBOW), NCT01168973 (REVEL), NCT01183780 (RAISE), NCT01140347 (REACH), and NCT00703326 (ROSE).
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MESH Headings
- Angiogenesis Inhibitors/adverse effects
- Angiogenesis Inhibitors/immunology
- Angiogenesis Inhibitors/therapeutic use
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/administration & dosage
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/adverse effects
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/therapeutic use
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
- Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological/adverse effects
- Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological/immunology
- Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological/therapeutic use
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/adverse effects
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/immunology
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use
- Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic
- Humans
- Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
- Risk Assessment
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2/immunology
- Ramucirumab
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Affiliation(s)
- D Arnold
- Oncology, Instituto CUF de Oncologia (I.C.O.), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - C S Fuchs
- Internal Medicine, Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - J Tabernero
- Medical Oncology Department, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital and Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A Ohtsu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan
| | - A X Zhu
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - E B Garon
- Hematology Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Translational Research in Oncology-US Network, Santa Monica, USA
| | - J R Mackey
- Department of Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - L Paz-Ares
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario Doce de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
| | - A D Baron
- Division of Hematology Oncology, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, USA
| | - T Okusaka
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - T Yoshino
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan
| | - H H Yoon
- Division of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA
| | - M Das
- Oncology, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, USA
| | - D Ferry
- Oncology, Eli Lilly and Company, Bridgewater, USA
| | - Y Zhang
- Oncology, Eli Lilly and Company, Bridgewater, USA
| | - Y Lin
- Oncology, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, USA
| | - P Binder
- Oncology, Eli Lilly and Company, Bridgewater, USA
| | - A Sashegyi
- Oncology, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, USA
| | - I Chau
- Department of Medicine, Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, UK
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11
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Miyazawa M, Katsuda M, Maguchi H, Katanuma A, Ishii H, Ozaka M, Yamao K, Imaoka H, Kawai M, Hirono S, Okada KI, Yamaue H. Phase II clinical trial using novel peptide cocktail vaccine as a postoperative adjuvant treatment for surgically resected pancreatic cancer patients. Int J Cancer 2017; 140:973-982. [PMID: 27861852 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.30510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2016] [Accepted: 10/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
We investigated peptide cocktail vaccine OCV-C01 containing epitope peptides derived from KIF20A, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)1 and VEGFR2 combined with gemcitabine in the adjuvant treatment for resected pancreatic cancer patients. A single-arm multicenter phase II study was performed on 30 patients with pancreatic ductal carcinoma who underwent pancreatectomy. At each 28-day treatment cycle, patients received weekly subcutaneous injection of OCV-C01 for 48 weeks and gemcitabine was administered intravenously at 1,000 mg/m2 on days 1, 8 and 15 for 24 weeks. Patients were followed for 18 months. The primary endpoint was disease-free survival (DFS) and secondary endpoints included safety, overall survival (OS) and immunological assays on peptide-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity and KIF20A expression in resected pancreatic cancer. The median DFS was 15.8 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 11.1-20.6] and the DFS rate at 18 months was 34.6% (95% CI, 18.3-51.6). The median OS was not reached and the OS rate at 18 months was 69.0% (95% CI, 48.8-82.5). The administration of OCV-C01 was well tolerated. In the per protocol set, there were significant differences in DFS between patients with KIF20A-specific CTL responses and without (p = 0.027), and between patients with KIF20A expression and without (p = 0.014). In addition, all four patients who underwent R0 resection with KIF20A expression had no recurrence of pancreatic cancer with KIF20A-specific CTL responses. OCV-C01 combined with gemcitabine was tolerable with a median DFS of 15.8 months, which was favorable compared with previous data for resected pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Motoki Miyazawa
- Second Department of Surgery, Wakayama Medical University School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Masahiro Katsuda
- Second Department of Surgery, Wakayama Medical University School of Medicine, Japan
| | | | - Akio Katanuma
- Center for Gastroenterology, Teine-Keijinkai Hospital, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Ishii
- Department of Gastroenterology, Cancer Institute Hospital of Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Japan
| | - Masato Ozaka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Cancer Institute Hospital of Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Japan
| | - Kenji Yamao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Imaoka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital, Japan
| | - Manabu Kawai
- Second Department of Surgery, Wakayama Medical University School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Seiko Hirono
- Second Department of Surgery, Wakayama Medical University School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Ken-Ichi Okada
- Second Department of Surgery, Wakayama Medical University School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Hiroki Yamaue
- Second Department of Surgery, Wakayama Medical University School of Medicine, Japan
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12
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Suzuki N, Hazama S, Iguchi H, Uesugi K, Tanaka H, Hirakawa K, Aruga A, Hatori T, Ishizaki H, Umeda Y, Fujiwara T, Ikemoto T, Shimada M, Yoshimatsu K, Shimizu R, Hayashi H, Sakata K, Takenouchi H, Matsui H, Shindo Y, Iida M, Koki Y, Arima H, Furukawa H, Ueno T, Yoshino S, Nakamura Y, Oka M, Nagano H. Phase II clinical trial of peptide cocktail therapy for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer: VENUS-PC study. Cancer Sci 2017; 108:73-80. [PMID: 27783849 PMCID: PMC5276830 DOI: 10.1111/cas.13113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2016] [Revised: 10/12/2016] [Accepted: 10/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously conducted a phase I clinical trial combining the HLA-A*2402-restricted KIF20A-derived peptide vaccine with gemcitabine for advanced pancreatic cancer (PC) and confirmed its safety and immunogenicity in cancer patients. In this study, we conducted a multicenter, single-armed, phase II trial using two antiangiogenic cancer vaccines targeting VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 in addition to the KIF20A peptide. We attempted to evaluate the clinical benefit of the cancer vaccination in combination with gemcitabine. Chemotherapy naïve PC patients were enrolled to evaluate primarily the 1-year survival rate, and secondarily overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS), response rate (RR), disease control rate (DCR) and the peptide-specific immune responses. All enrolled patients received therapy without the HLA-A information, and the HLA genotypes were used for classification of the patients. Between June 2012 and May 2013, a total of 68 patients were enrolled. No severe systemic adverse effects of Grade 3 or higher related to these three peptides were observed. The 1-year survival rates between the HLA-A*2402-matched and -unmatched groups were not significantly different. In the HLA-A*2402 matched group, patients showing peptide-specific CTL induction for KIF20A or VEGFR1 showed a better prognosis compared to those without such induction (P = 0.023, P = 0.009, respectively). In the HLA-A*2402-matched group, the patients who showed a strong injection site reaction had a better survival rate (P = 0.017) compared to those with a weak or no injection site reaction. This phase II study demonstrated that this therapeutic peptide cocktail might be effective in patients who demonstrate peptide-specific immune reactions although predictive biomarkers are needed for patient selection in its further clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuaki Suzuki
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine SurgeryYamaguchi University Graduate School of MedicineUbeJapan
| | - Shoichi Hazama
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine SurgeryYamaguchi University Graduate School of MedicineUbeJapan
| | - Haruo Iguchi
- Clinical Research CenterShikoku Cancer Center, NHOMatsuyamaJapan
| | - Kazuhiro Uesugi
- Clinical Research CenterShikoku Cancer Center, NHOMatsuyamaJapan
| | - Hiroaki Tanaka
- Department of Surgical OncologyOsaka City University Graduate School of MedicineOsakaJapan
| | - Kosei Hirakawa
- Department of Surgical OncologyOsaka City University Graduate School of MedicineOsakaJapan
| | - Atsushi Aruga
- Institute of GastroenterologyTokyo Women's Medical UniversityTokyoJapan
| | - Takashi Hatori
- Institute of GastroenterologyTokyo Women's Medical UniversityTokyoJapan
| | - Hidenobu Ishizaki
- Department of Surgical Oncology and Regulation of Organ FunctionMiyazaki University School of MedicineMiyazakiJapan
| | - Yuzo Umeda
- Department of Gastroenterological SurgeryOkayama University Graduate School of MedicineOkayamaJapan
| | - Toshiyoshi Fujiwara
- Department of Gastroenterological SurgeryOkayama University Graduate School of MedicineOkayamaJapan
| | - Tetsuya Ikemoto
- Department of Digestive and Transplant SurgeryTokushima University Graduate School of MedicineTokushimaJapan
| | - Mitsuo Shimada
- Department of Digestive and Transplant SurgeryTokushima University Graduate School of MedicineTokushimaJapan
| | - Kazuhiko Yoshimatsu
- Department of SurgeryTokyo Women's Medical University Medical Center EastTokyoJapan
| | - Ryoichi Shimizu
- Department of SurgeryOgori Dai‐ichi General HospitalYamaguchiJapan
| | - Hiroto Hayashi
- Department of SurgeryKanmon Medical Center, NHOShimonosekiJapan
| | - Koichiro Sakata
- Department of SurgeryShimonoseki Medical Center, JCHOShimonosekiJapan
| | - Hiroko Takenouchi
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine SurgeryYamaguchi University Graduate School of MedicineUbeJapan
| | - Hiroto Matsui
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine SurgeryYamaguchi University Graduate School of MedicineUbeJapan
| | - Yoshitaro Shindo
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine SurgeryYamaguchi University Graduate School of MedicineUbeJapan
| | - Michihisa Iida
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine SurgeryYamaguchi University Graduate School of MedicineUbeJapan
| | - Yasunobu Koki
- Department of PharmacyYamaguchi University HospitalUbeJapan
| | - Hideki Arima
- Department of PharmacyYamaguchi University HospitalUbeJapan
| | | | - Tomio Ueno
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine SurgeryYamaguchi University Graduate School of MedicineUbeJapan
| | - Shigefumi Yoshino
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine SurgeryYamaguchi University Graduate School of MedicineUbeJapan
| | - Yusuke Nakamura
- Section of Hematology/OncologyDepartment of MedicineThe University of ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | | | - Hiroaki Nagano
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine SurgeryYamaguchi University Graduate School of MedicineUbeJapan
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13
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Fleetwood F, Güler R, Gordon E, Ståhl S, Claesson-Welsh L, Löfblom J. Novel affinity binders for neutralization of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling. Cell Mol Life Sci 2016; 73:1671-83. [PMID: 26552422 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-015-2088-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2015] [Revised: 10/19/2015] [Accepted: 11/03/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Angiogenesis denotes the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing vasculature. Progression of diseases such as cancer and several ophthalmological disorders may be promoted by excess angiogenesis. Novel therapeutics to inhibit angiogenesis and diagnostic tools for monitoring angiogenesis during therapy, hold great potential for improving treatment of such diseases. We have previously generated so-called biparatopic Affibody constructs with high affinity for the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2), which recognize two non-overlapping epitopes in the ligand-binding site on the receptor. Affibody molecules have previously been demonstrated suitable for imaging purposes. Their small size also makes them attractive for applications where an alternative route of administration is beneficial, such as topical delivery using eye drops. In this study, we show that decreasing linker length between the two Affibody domains resulted in even slower dissociation from the receptor. The new variants of the biparatopic Affibody bound to VEGFR2-expressing cells, blocked VEGFA binding, and inhibited VEGFA-induced signaling of VEGFR2 over expressing cells. Moreover, the biparatopic Affibody inhibited sprout formation of endothelial cells in an in vitro angiogenesis assay with similar potency as the bivalent monoclonal antibody ramucirumab. This study demonstrates that the biparatopic Affibody constructs show promise for future therapeutic as well as in vivo imaging applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippa Fleetwood
- Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology, KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rezan Güler
- Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology, KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Emma Gordon
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Dag Hammarskjöldsv. 20, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Stefan Ståhl
- Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology, KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lena Claesson-Welsh
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Dag Hammarskjöldsv. 20, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - John Löfblom
- Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology, KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden.
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14
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Calvetti L, Pilotto S, Carbognin L, Ferrara R, Caccese M, Tortora G, Bria E. The coming of ramucirumab in the landscape of anti-angiogenic drugs: potential clinical and translational perspectives. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2015; 15:1359-70. [PMID: 26190526 DOI: 10.1517/14712598.2015.1071350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Angiogenesis plays a pivotal role in the development and progression of tumors and it represents a crucial target for therapeutic strategies. Until now, regulatory agencies approved antiangiogenic agents targeting the VEGF and multi-target agents carrying antiangiogenic and anti-proliferative effects. They often provide only a modest survival benefit and their role in clinical practice is debated. The limited efficacy may be partially explained by the complexity of the molecular background of angiogenic processes, composed of several pathways interacting with both tumor cells and the microenvironment. AREAS COVERED Ramucirumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody selectively binding and inhibiting the VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2), a crucial molecule involved in angiogenesis. A series of Phase I-II trials conducted in a wide spectrum of malignancies reported promising antitumor activity. In 2014, data from large Phase III clinical trials in gastrointestinal, lung and breast malignancies were released. EXPERT OPINION Considering the evidences of efficacy emerging from the available Phase III trials, the antiangiogenic approach emerged as a promising strategy particularly for the treatment of gastric cancer. Nevertheless, the identification and validation of potentially predictive biomarkers are necessary to improve the selection of patients and the globally awaited clinical benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Calvetti
- University of Verona, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Medical Oncology , P.le L.A. Scuro 10, 37124 Verona , Italy
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15
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Chiorean EG, Hurwitz HI, Cohen RB, Schwartz JD, Dalal RP, Fox FE, Gao L, Sweeney CJ. Phase I study of every 2- or 3-week dosing of ramucirumab, a human immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 in patients with advanced solid tumors. Ann Oncol 2015; 26:1230-1237. [PMID: 25787923 DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdv144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2015] [Accepted: 03/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ramucirumab is a fully human immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody receptor antagonist designed to block the ligand-binding site of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2). An initial phase I study evaluated ramucirumab administered weekly in advanced cancer patients. This phase I study of ramucirumab [administered every 2 or 3 weeks (Q2W or Q3W)] examined safety, maximum tolerated dose, pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, antitumor activity, and pharmacodynamics. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with advanced solid malignancies were treated with escalating doses of ramucirumab i.v. over 1 h. Blood was sampled for pharmacokinetics studies throughout treatment; levels of circulating vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and soluble VEGF receptors (R)-1 and -2 were assessed. RESULTS Twenty-five patients were treated with ramucirumab: 13 with 6, 8, or 10 mg/kg Q2W, and 12 with 15 or 20 mg/kg Q3W. The median treatment duration was 12 weeks (range 2-81). No dose-limiting toxicities were observed. The most frequently reported adverse events (AEs) included proteinuria and hypertension (n = 6 each), and diarrhea, fatigue and headache (n = 4 each). Treatment-related grade 3/4 AEs were: two grade 3 hypertension (10 and 20 mg/kg), one each grade 3 vomiting, fatigue (20 mg/kg), atrial flutter (15 mg/kg), and one each grade 4 duodenal ulcer hemorrhage (6 mg/kg) and grade 4 pneumothorax (20 mg/kg). Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed low clearance and half-life of ∼110-160 h. Analysis of serum biomarkers indicated considerable patient-to-patient variability, but trends toward elevated VEGF-A and a transient decline in soluble VEGFR-2. Fifteen patients (60%) had best response of stable disease, with a median duration of 13 months (range 2-18 months) in tumor types including colorectal, renal, liver, and neuroendocrine cancers. CONCLUSION Ramucirumab was well tolerated. Study results led to recommended phase II doses of 8 mg/kg Q2W and 10 mg/kg Q3W. Prolonged stable disease was observed, suggesting ramucirumab efficacy in various solid tumors. CLINICALTRIALSGOV NCT00786383.
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Affiliation(s)
- E G Chiorean
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle.
| | - H I Hurwitz
- GI Oncology Unit, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham
| | - R B Cohen
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine, Philadelphia
| | - J D Schwartz
- Clinical Development, Eli Lilly and Company, Bridgewater
| | - R P Dalal
- Clinical Development, Eli Lilly and Company, Bridgewater
| | - F E Fox
- Clinical Development, Eli Lilly and Company, Bridgewater
| | - L Gao
- Clinical Development, Eli Lilly and Company, Bridgewater
| | - C J Sweeney
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
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16
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Han X, Chen Y, Yang L, He Y, Chen M, Liu H. Construction and measuring combination of KDR-targeted ultrasound contrast agent in vitro for evaluating endometrial receptivity. CLIN EXP OBSTET GYN 2015; 42:595-599. [PMID: 26524805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the preparation of a new kind of targeted lipid ultrasound contrast agent with anti-KDR antibody based on biotin-avidin bridge (MB-BAB-KDR) which could combine specifically with KDR that increases during the time of embryo implantation. Then its binding capability in vitro was evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS The agitation of high-speed method was employed to prepare biotin-microbubbles (MB-B), and biotin-avidin mediated technique was used to produce MB-BAB-KDR. MB-BAB-KDR, MB-B, and biotin-microbubbles-KDR (MB-B-KDR) were incubated with fluorescein-conjugated affiniPure goat anti-rat IgG (H+L) to assess the linked condition. Second, MB-BAB-KDR and control groups (MB-B and MB-B-KDR) were incubated with human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC). Rosette formation rate was observed and calculated. Then, the parallel plate flow chamber technology was used to access attachment efficiency to KDR Fc. RESULTS The surface of bubbles could carry KDR antibody through "biotin-avidin" bridge. After incubated with second antibody, bright green fluorescence (II grade) could be observed in MB-BAB-KDR group, as compared with weak fluorescence in control groups of MB-B (0 grade) and MB-B-KDR (I grade). The surrounding rosette formation rate on HUVEC was 89.86% in MB-BAB-KDR group and that of control groups were 7.13% (MB-B-KDR) and 3.02% (MB-B) (p < 0.05). The number of MB-BAB-KDR bound to KDR Fc increased as the KDR Fc density increased (p < 0.05). Under the same concentration, the MB-BAB-KDR bound to KDR Fc increased as time extended. CONCLUSION The successful preparation of MB-BAB-KDR with anti-KDR antibody which shows specially targeting binding capability with HUVEC and stability in shear stress may be served as a noninvasive detection of endometrial vascular KDR expression and provide an experimental foundation for evaluating endometrial receptivity in vivo.
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Xuan ZX, Li LN, Zhang Q, Xu CW, Yang DX, Yuan Y, An YH, Wang SS, Li XW, Yuan SJ. Fully human VEGFR2 monoclonal antibody BC001 attenuates tumor angiogenesis and inhibits tumor growth. Int J Oncol 2014; 45:2411-20. [PMID: 25269419 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2014.2690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2014] [Accepted: 09/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The critical role of VEGFR2 in tumor neovascularization and progression has allowed the design of clinically beneficial therapies based on it. Here we show that BC001, a new fully human anti-VEGFR2 monoclonal antibody, inhibits VEGF-stimulated endothelial cell migration, tube formation, and effectively suppressed the transdifferentiation of cancer stem cells into endothelial cells in vitro. Since BC001 exhibited no activity against the mouse VEGFR2 and mouse based study was required to confirm its efficacy in vivo, BC101, the mouse analogue of BC001, was developed. BC101 significantly attenuated angiogenesis according to Matrigel plug assay and resulted in ~80% growth inhibition of mouse B16F10 homograft tumors relative to vehicle control. Similarly, human analogue BC001 suppressed the growth of human xenograft tumors HCT116 and BGC823. Furthermore, immunohistochemical results showed reduced expression of CD31, VEGFR2 and Ki-67, as well as increased expression of Caspase 3 in BC001-treated tumor, which indicated BC001 was able to significantly decrease microvessel density, suppress proliferation and promote apoptosis. These results demonstrate the fully human VEGFR2 monoclonal antibody BC001 can work as an effective inhibitor of tumor angiogenesis and tumor growth both in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Xue Xuan
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, P.R. China
| | - Lin-Na Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, P.R. China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, P.R. China
| | - Cheng-Wang Xu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, P.R. China
| | - De-Xuan Yang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, P.R. China
| | - Ye Yuan
- Department of Production Technology, Shandong Buchang Shenzhou Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Heze 274000, P.R. China
| | - Ying-Hong An
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, P.R. China
| | - Shan-Shan Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Wen Li
- Department of Production Technology, Shandong Buchang Shenzhou Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Heze 274000, P.R. China
| | - Shou-Jun Yuan
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, P.R. China
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Xie W, Li D, Zhang J, Li Z, Acheampong DO, He Y, Wang Y, Chen Z, Wang M. Generation and characterization of a novel human IgG1 antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2014; 63:877-88. [PMID: 24893856 PMCID: PMC11028991 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-014-1560-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2013] [Accepted: 05/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
VEGF and its receptors, especially VEGFR2 (KDR), are known to play a critical role in angiogenesis under both physiological and pathological conditions, including cancer and angiogenic retinopathies. This study was aimed at developing a fully human IgG1 antibody (mAb-04) constructed from a phage-derived scFv, targeting the VEGF/VEGFR2 pathway. Firstly, an innovative transfection system, containing two recombinant expression vectors (pMH3 and pCApuro), were introduced into CHO-s cells and clones with higher yield selected accordingly. After an optimal fermentation condition was determined, fed-batch fermentation was performed in 5-L bioreactor with a final yield up to 60 mg/L. Further, cell proliferation, wound healing, transwell invasion, tube formation and chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane assays showed significant anti-angiogenic activity of mAb-04 in vitro and in vivo. In addition, the results of Western blotting indicated the ability of mAb-04 to inhibit VEGF-induced VEGFR2 signaling pathway. Finally, ADCC assay demonstrated that mAb-04 is capable of mediating tumor cell killing in presence of effector cells. This study has therefore proved that the full-length antibody targeting human VEGFR2 has potential clinical applications in the treatment of cancer and other diseases where pathological angiogenesis is involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, 154#, Tong Jia Xiang 24, Nanjing, 210009 People’s Republic of China
| | - Daojuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, 154#, Tong Jia Xiang 24, Nanjing, 210009 People’s Republic of China
| | - Juan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, 154#, Tong Jia Xiang 24, Nanjing, 210009 People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhike Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, 154#, Tong Jia Xiang 24, Nanjing, 210009 People’s Republic of China
| | - Desmond Omane Acheampong
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, 154#, Tong Jia Xiang 24, Nanjing, 210009 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuan He
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, 154#, Tong Jia Xiang 24, Nanjing, 210009 People’s Republic of China
| | - Youfu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, 154#, Tong Jia Xiang 24, Nanjing, 210009 People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhiguo Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, 154#, Tong Jia Xiang 24, Nanjing, 210009 People’s Republic of China
| | - Min Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, 154#, Tong Jia Xiang 24, Nanjing, 210009 People’s Republic of China
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Monoclonal antibodies and small molecules targeting the VEGF pathway are part of the arsenal to treat malignant tumors. Antiangiogenesis therapies has been studied in breast cancer with partial success, reflected by the approval of bevacizumab in Europe but not in United States, for metastatic breast cancer (mBC). Ramucirumab is a mAb against VEGFR-2 interfering with the normal activation of this receptor by its natural ligand VEGF. AREAS COVERED This article will review the preclinical data available to date for ramucirumab, as well as survey the main clinical trials of antiangiogenic agents reported in breast cancer, focusing on Phase III clinical trials. It will also review the clinical trial data for ramucirumab in mBC, including the design of the Phase II trials, and report on the preliminary results of the TRIO-012 trial. This trial did not meet its primary end point in progression-free survival and has to be considered as a negative trial. EXPERT OPINION Despite preliminary positive data with ramucirumab in other metastatic solid tumors reported to date, the results of TRIO-012 discourage pursuing more efforts with ramucirumab in mBC unless predictive and reproducible biomarkers can be established to select those patients who are most likely to benefit from it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geraldine O'Sullivan Coyne
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health National, Center for Cancer Research, Medical Oncology Service , 12N226, Bethesda, MD 20892 , USA +1 301 496 4916 ; +1 301 402 0172 ; geraldine.o'
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20
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Terashima T, Mizukoshi E, Arai K, Yamashita T, Yoshida M, Ota H, Onishi I, Kayahara M, Ohtsubo K, Kagaya T, Honda M, Kaneko S. P53, hTERT, WT-1, and VEGFR2 are the most suitable targets for cancer vaccine therapy in HLA-A24 positive pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2014; 63:479-89. [PMID: 24633336 PMCID: PMC11029706 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-014-1529-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2013] [Accepted: 02/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Cancer vaccine therapy is one of the most attractive therapies as a new treatment procedure for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Recent technical advances have enabled the identification of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes in various tumor-associated antigens (TAAs). However, little is known about which TAA and its epitope are the most immunogenic and useful for a cancer vaccine for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. We examined the expression of 17 kinds of TAA in 9 pancreatic cancer cell lines and 12 pancreatic cancer tissues. CTL responses to 23 epitopes derived from these TAAs were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT), CTL, and tetramer assays in 41 patients, and factors affecting the immune responses were investigated. All TAAs were frequently expressed in pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells, except for adenocarcinoma antigens recognized by T cells 1, melanoma-associated antigen (MAGE)-A1, and MAGE-A3. Among the epitopes recognized by CTLs in more than two patients in the ELISPOT assay, 6 epitopes derived from 5 TAAs, namely, MAGE-A3, p53, human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), Wilms tumor (WT)-1, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)2, could induce specific CTLs that showed cytotoxicity against pancreatic cancer cell lines. The frequency of lymphocyte subsets correlated well with TAA-specific immune response. Overall survival was significantly longer in patients with TAA-specific CTL responses than in those without. P53, hTERT, WT-1, and VEGFR2 were shown to be attractive targets for immunotherapy in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, and the induction of TAA-specific CTLs may improve the prognosis of these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Terashima
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-Machi, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Ishikawa, Japan,
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21
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Sharma V, Köllmer M, Szymusiak M, Nitsche LC, Gemeinhart RA, Liu Y. Toroidal-spiral particles for codelivery of anti-VEGFR-2 antibody and irinotecan: a potential implant to hinder recurrence of glioblastoma multiforme. Biomacromolecules 2014; 15:756-62. [PMID: 24460101 PMCID: PMC3983134 DOI: 10.1021/bm401550r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2013] [Revised: 01/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Heterogeneous toroidal-spiral particles (TSPs) were generated by polymer droplet sedimentation, interaction, and cross-linking. TSPs provide a platform for encapsulation and release of multiple compounds of different sizes and physicochemical properties. As a model system, we demonstrate the encapsulation and independently controlled release of an anti-VEGFR-2 antibody and irinotecan for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme. The anti-VEGFR-2 antibody was released from the TS channels and its binding to HUVECs was confirmed by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry, suggesting active antibody encapsulation and release. Irinotecan, a small molecule drug, was released from the dense polymer matrix of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (MW ~ 700 g/mol; PEGDA 700). Released irinotecan inhibited the proliferation of U251 malignant glioma cells. Since the therapeutic compounds are released through different pathways, specifically diffusion through the polymer matrix versus TS channels, the release rate can be controlled independently through the design of the structure and material of particle components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishal Sharma
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, United States
| | - Melanie Köllmer
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences and Department of Ophthalmology and Visual
Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois 60612, United States
| | - Magdalena Szymusiak
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, United States
| | - Ludwig C. Nitsche
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, United States
| | - Richard A. Gemeinhart
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, United States
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences and Department of Ophthalmology and Visual
Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois 60612, United States
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, United States
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences and Department of Ophthalmology and Visual
Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois 60612, United States
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Abstract
Gastroesophageal cancer is responsible for over 1 million deaths annually worldwide; for patients with advanced disease treatment options are limited. Angiogenesis is an attractive therapeutic target that has been successfully exploited in other cancers. Ramucirumab, a fully humanized monoclonal antibody targeting VEGFR-2 has demonstrated efficacy as a single agent and in combination with paclitaxel in two large randomized trials (REGARD and RAINBOW) for the treatment of advanced previously treated gastroesophageal cancer. In combination with paclitaxel chemotherapy ramucirumab treated patients demonstrated increased rates of neutropenia, and ramucirumab is also associated with hypertension consistent with other antiangiogenic agents. Ramucirumab has been US FDA approved for patients with advanced gastroesophageal cancer who have progressed during or after treatment with fluoropyrimidine- or platinum-containing chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth C Smyth
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Royal Marsden Hospital, Downs Road, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5PT, UK
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23
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Smith NR, Baker D, Farren M, Pommier A, Swann R, Wang X, Mistry S, McDaid K, Kendrew J, Womack C, Wedge SR, Barry ST. Tumor stromal architecture can define the intrinsic tumor response to VEGF-targeted therapy. Clin Cancer Res 2013. [PMID: 24030704 DOI: 10.1158/1078–0432.ccr-13-1637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of the study was to investigate the vascular and stromal architecture of preclinical tumor models and patient tumor specimens from malignancies with known clinical outcomes to VEGFi treatment, to gain insight into potential determinants of intrinsic sensitivity and resistance. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN The tumor stroma architecture of preclinical and clinical tumor samples were analyzed by staining for CD31 and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Tumor models representative of each phenotype were then tested for sensitivity to the VEGFR2-blocking antibody DC101. RESULTS Human tumor types with high response rates to VEGF inhibitors (e.g., renal cell carcinoma) have vessels distributed amongst the tumor cells (a "tumor vessel" phenotype, TV). In contrast, those malignancies where single-agent responses are lower, such as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), display a complex morphology involving the encapsulation of tumor cells within stroma that also supports the majority of vessels (a "stromal vessel" phenotype). Only 1 of 31 tumor xenograft models displayed the stromal vessel phenotype. Tumor vessel models were sensitive to VEGFR2-blocking antibody DC101, whereas the stromal vessel models were exclusively refractory. The tumor vessel phenotype was also associated with a better Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) response to bevacizumab + chemotherapy in metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). CONCLUSION The tumor stromal architecture can differentiate between human tumor types that respond to a VEGF signaling inhibitor as single-agent therapy. In addition to reconciling the clinical experience with these agents versus their broad activity in preclinical models, these findings may help to select solid tumor types with intrinsic sensitivity to a VEGFi or other vascular-directed therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil R Smith
- Authors' Affiliations: Oncology Innovative Medicines, AstraZeneca, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire; and Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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Webb E. International Phase III clinical trial demonstrates efficacy of a new second-line drug for gastric cancer. Immunotherapy 2013; 5:1276. [PMID: 24283847 DOI: 10.2217/imt.13.148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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Li ZK, He Y, Zhang J, Xie W, Cao WL, Wang ZG, Wang M. [Construction of anti-VEGFR-2 IgG1 like human antibody and its expression in CHO-k cells]. Yao Xue Xue Bao 2013; 48:1544-1549. [PMID: 24417080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Anti-angiogenesis mechanism plays a vital role in tumor targeting immunotherapy. Based on the amino acid sequence of an anti-VEGFR-2 scFv-Fc fusion antibody (AK404R-Fc), this article is aimed to generate an anti-VEGFR-2 human IgG1-like full length antibody (Mab-04). Firstly, the light chain (L-chain) and heavy chain (H-chain) were obtained by overlap PCR and then linked to eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1, separately. The recombinant plasmids (pcDNA3.1-L-chain and pcDNA3.1-H-chain) were then co-transfected into CHO-k cells using liposome transient transfection. Subsequently, Mab-04 antibody was expressed and purified by Protein A affinity chromatography. Western blotting was applied to identify the expression of Mab-04 and its affinity was detected by ELISA assay. DNA sequencing revealed the successful construction of recombinant plasmids and Western blotting assay proved the successful expression of full-length antibody (1 microg x mL(-1)). Finally, ELISA assay illustrated that the binding of the antibody to its antigen was in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50: 50 nmol x L(-1)). These outcomes above indicated that Mab-04 was successfully expressed and assembled, which laid the foundation for further preparation and antineoplastic activity study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Ke Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, College of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yuan He
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, College of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Juan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, College of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Wei Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, College of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Wan-Lu Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, College of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Ze-Gen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, College of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Min Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, College of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University Nanjing 210009, China
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26
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Liu H, Han X, Yang L, Ji L, Li S. [Detection of binding capability of targeted KDR ultrasound contrast agent in vitro for evaluating endometrial receptivity]. Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao 2013; 33:1308-1311. [PMID: 24067209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To prepare a new targeted liposome ultrasonic contrast agent with anti-KDR antibody that binds specifically with KDR as the main receptor of VEGF and evaluate its physical characteristics, biological activity and specific binding capability in vitro. METHODS A sonicator was used to prepare the biotinylated lipid micro-bubbles (MB-B), and biotin-avidin-mediated technique was used for attachment of anti-mouse KDR monoclonal antibody to the micro-bubble shell to generate MB-BAB-KDR. MB-BAB-KDR was incubated with fluorescent second antibody to assess the link condition, and the control groups were the MB-B and micro-bubbles with the antibody alone (MB-B-KDR). A parallel plate flow chamber system was used to characterize micro-bubbles attachment efficiency to KDR Fc. RESULTS The surface of the micro-bubbles could carry KDR antibody through the biotin-avidin bridge and MB-BAB-KDR were spherical and well-distributed. After incubation with the second antibody, MB-BAB-KDR could be observed to emit bright green fluorescence (Grade II) as compared with little or weak fluorescence in the control MB-B group (Grade 0) and MB-B-KDR group (Grade I). Targeted micro-bubbles bound to KDR Fc increased as the KDR Fc concentration increased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The targeted liposome contrast agent linked with KDR antibody by biotin-avidin bridge we prepared shows an increased binding number as the KDR Fc concentration increases, which provides a novel approach to molecular imaging study of endometrial receptivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongmei Liu
- Department of Ultrasound, Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510630, China.E-mail:
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27
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Abstract
Ramucirumab (IMC-1121B) is a fully humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to VEGFR2 and can inhibit angiogenesis, a quintessential mechanism for promoting tumor growth and metastasis. Several antiangiogenesis agents are already approved for cancer therapy; however, ramucirumab's selectivity for VEGFR2 makes it interesting. The selectivity of an agent can improve safety and efficacy. This article describes the mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, safety and clinical trial results of ramucirumab with particular emphasis on gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roopma Wadhwa
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Unit 426, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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dela Paz NG, Melchior B, Frangos JA. Early VEGFR2 activation in response to flow is VEGF-dependent and mediated by MMP activity. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2013; 434:641-6. [PMID: 23583373 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2013.03.134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2013] [Accepted: 03/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Although several potential mechanosensors/mechanotransducers have been proposed, the precise mechanisms by which ECs sense and respond to mechanical forces and translate them into biochemical signals remains unclear. Here, we report that two major ligand-dependent tyrosine autophosphorylation sites of VEGFR2, Y1175 and Y1214, are rapidly activated by shear stress in human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs). Neutralizing antibody against VEGFR2 not only abrogates flow-induced phosphorylation of these tyrosine residues, but also has a marked inhibitory effect on downstream eNOS activation. In situ proximity ligation assay revealed that VEGF and VEGFR2 are closely associated in HCAECs, and more importantly, this association is increased with flow. Finally, we show that flow-induced VEGFR2 activation is attenuated in the presence of the broad spectrum matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor, GM6001. Taken together, our results suggest that a ligand-dependent mechanism involving the activity of MMPs plays a key role in the early, shear stress-induced activation of VEGFR2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel G dela Paz
- La Jolla Bioengineering Institute, 3535 General Atomics Court, Suite 210, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
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29
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Behdani M, Zeinali S, Karimipour M, Khanahmad H, Schoonooghe S, Aslemarz A, Seyed N, Moazami-Godarzi R, Baniahmad F, Habibi-Anbouhi M, Hassanzadeh-Ghassabeh G, Muyldermans S. Development of VEGFR2-specific Nanobody Pseudomonas exotoxin A conjugated to provide efficient inhibition of tumor cell growth. N Biotechnol 2013; 30:205-9. [PMID: 23031816 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2012.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2012] [Revised: 09/09/2012] [Accepted: 09/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Angiogenesis targeting is an attractive approach for cancer treatment. Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) is such an important target that is overexpressed in tumor vasculature compared to the endothelium cells of resting blood vessels and blocking of its signaling inhibits neovascularization and tumor metastasis. Immunotoxins represent a promising group of targeted therapeutics to combat tumors. They consist of an antibody linked to a toxin and are designed to kill specifically the tumor cells. In this study, we fused a VEGFR2-specific Nanobody, the antigen-binding single-domain fragment derived from functional Heavy-chain antibody of Camelidae, to the truncated form of Pseudomonas exotoxin A and evaluated its ability to bind the VEGFR2 molecule on the cell surface. We demonstrate that this immunotoxin inhibits the proliferation of VEGFR2-expressing cells in vitro. This finding is considered to be a significant achievement in tumor therapy and it forms a basis for further studies in animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahdi Behdani
- Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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30
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Wang W, Yin X, Li Y, Tian R, Yan J, Gao J, Yu J. [Prokaryotic expression, purification and antigenicity identification of mouse VEGFR2 extracellular 1-4 IgG-like domains]. Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao 2013; 33:13-17. [PMID: 23353147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To obtain 1-4 IgG-like domains of mouse vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) fusion protein (mVEGFR2D1-4/GST) and identify its antiginicity and biological activity. METHODS The gene of mVEGFR2D1-4 was amplified by RT-PCR from 14-days embryos of Balb/c mice. The PCR product was cloned into pET-42a prokaryotic expression vector to construct the recombinant plasmid pET-42a-mVEGFR2D1-4, which was transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3) strain for mVEGFR2D1-4/GST expression. The fusion protein was identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting, and the antigenicity of the protein purified by affinity chromatography was characterized by ELISA. The VEGF blocking effect of the purified protein in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were evaluated in in vitro cell cultures. RESULTS The mVEGFR2D1-4 gene was obtained, which had an identical sequence to that retrieved in GenBank. The prokaryotic expression vector for mVEGFR2D1-4 was successfully constructed as confirmed by enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing. Both Western blotting and ELISA demonstrated the antigenicity of the purified mVEGFR2D1-4 fusion protein, which obviously blocked the effect of VEGF in promoting HUVEC proliferation in vitro. CONCLUSION The mVEGFR2D1-4/GST fusion protein obtained shows a strong antigenicity and biological activity to facilitate further study of active anti-tumor immunotherapy targeting VEGFR2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- Department of Urology, General Hospital of PLA, Beijing, China.
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31
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Zhou YQ, Zhang J, Jin HZ, He Y, Wang T, Wang M. [Construction and expression of an anti-EGFR/anti-KDR bispecific single-chain diabody]. Yao Xue Xue Bao 2012; 47:1317-1322. [PMID: 23289143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Bispecific antibodies have been exploited as both cancer immunodiagnostics and cancer therapeutics, which have shown promises in clinical trials in cancer imaging and therapy. To improve the anti-tumor effect, an scDb (bispecific single-chain diabody) was constructed from the variable domain genes of two scFvs (single-chain variable fragment antibodies) directed against human EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) and VEGFR2 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2) extracellular domains. The anti-EGFR/ anti-KDR scDb was constructed into pHEN2 plasmid and expressed in Escherichia coli HB2151 host. After purification by one-step affinity chromatography of IMAC, scDb protein was characterized by Western blotting. The yield of scDb protein was 570 microg per liter medium. scDb bound to EGFR as efficiently as the parental antibody scFv-E10, while a little bit weaker than the parental antibody scFv-AK404R when bound to KDR. In conclusion, the scDb protein could bind both EGFR and KDR specifically and could be applied for further anti-tumor research.
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Qi HD, Miao XN, Zhang J, Gu K, Zhang SW, Wang M. [Affinity maturation of a single chain antibody against VEGFR2 by hydrophilic shuffling]. Yao Xue Xue Bao 2012; 47:1323-1328. [PMID: 23289144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Abstract: This study is to improve the affinity of scFv-AK404R against VEGFR2. The secondary mutational library was constructed by hydrophilic shuffling in CDR3 region of the heavy chain. VEGFR2-specific screening was performed by phage display technology and the protein of mutants was expressed in periplasm of E.coli HB2151 and purified by affinity chromatography. The affinity constant of scFvs was measured by competitive ELISA, and the structure of scFvs was analyzed by bioinformatics. The result showed that a library with 6.4x10(5) scFv members was established by electro-transformation. Two mutated clones with high absorbance value were isolated after screening. After purification by affinity chromatography, electrophoretically pure scFv proteins were obtained. The competitive ELISA showed that the affinities of WZ01 and WZ02 were three times higher than that of the parental AK404R, and bioinformatics analysis showed that the enlarged contact surface and fitted closely with KDR3 surface may be the reasons for improved affinity. These results suggest that introducing hydrophilic amino acids to the heavy chain CDR3 region is an effective approach to improve the affinity of scFv.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-di Qi
- China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
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33
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Yasuda S, Tsuchiya I, Okada K, Tanaka A, Suzuki T, Sadahiro S, Takeda K, Yamamoto S, Nakui M. Significant clinical response of advanced colon cancer to peptide vaccine therapy: a case report. Tokai J Exp Clin Med 2012; 37:57-61. [PMID: 22763829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2012] [Accepted: 05/23/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Partial response (PR) was obtained in a patient with advanced colon cancer following peptide vaccine therapy. A 61-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for peptide vaccine therapy. She had undergone sigmoidectomy at a nearby hospital and eventually developed multiple metastases to the lung and pelvic lymph nodes with left hydronephrosis. A ureteral stenting catheter had been inserted for left hydronephrosis, and oral opioids had been administered for relief of pain in the left pelvic region. Three tumor-antigen-derived peptides (RNF43, TOMM34, and KOC1) and two human VEGFR-derived peptides (VEGFR1 and VEGFR2) were used as a cocktail. The peptide cocktail was subcutaneously inoculated on days 1, 8, 15, and 22 and repeated at 14-day intervals. The patient's serum level of carcinoembryonic antigen was 28.9 ng/mL (N<5 ng/mL) before treatment, and it decreased promptly after the initiation of therapy to within a normal range. Evaluation of computed tomography images at week 5 revealed PR as determined by the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumor criteria. After month 3, the oral opioid was discontinued. The PR lasted for 4 months and was followed by stable disease for another 4 months. No particular adverse effects were observed. A cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response was evaluated by immunosorbent spot assay, and a positive CTL response was recognized against at least one of five peptides at each end of the six courses. Immunotherapy has been proven to slow tumor growth by inducing an active antitumor immune response; and therefore, significant tumor shrinkage is rarely observed. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of PR presented in a patient with advanced colon cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seiei Yasuda
- Department of Surgery, Tokai University School of Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa 259-1193, Japan.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are known to be altered in heart failure (HF), but monocyte-derived EPCs in HF have not been assessed. We aimed to characterize monocyte-derived EPCs in systolic HF. METHODS AND RESULTS We recruited 128 subjects with systolic HF: 50 South Asian (SA), 50 white, and 28 African-Caribbean (AC), for interethnic comparisons. Additionally, SAs with HF were compared with 40 SAs with coronary artery disease (CAD) without HF (disease controls [DCs]) and 40 SA healthy controls (HCs). Counts of CD34(+) and kinase domain receptor (KDR)(+) monocytes attributed to specific monocyte subsets (CD14(++) /CD16(-) [Mon1], CD14(++)/CD16(+) [Mon2], and CD14(+)/CD16(++) [Mon3]) and monocyte expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor 1 were analyzed by flow cytometry. We also enumerated CD34(+)/KDR(+) EPCs derived from mononuclear cells ('classic' EPC definition). RESULTS SAs with HF had significantly reduced counts of CD34(+) monocytes, attributed to the Mon1 and Mon2 subsets. KDR(+) Mon1 counts were 4.5-fold increased in DCs as compared with HCs, but significantly reduced in HF subjects vs. DCs. VEGF receptor type 1 expression on Mon1 and Mon2 cells was significantly reduced in HF patients as compared with DCs. Also, CD34(+)/KDR(+) EPC numbers were reduced in HF subjects. Whites had significantly fewer KDR(+) Mon3 cells than ACs, but significantly more CD34(+) Mon2 cells than SAs and ACs. VEGF receptor type 1 expression by Mon1 cells was predictive for left ventricular ejection fraction after adjustment for ethnicity (β = - 0.25. P = 0.039). CD34(+) Mon2 counts correlated with measures of microvascular endothelial function, and were predictive of the future risk of hospital admission. CONCLUSIONS Circulating counts of monocyte-derived EPCs are significantly altered in HF, with significant ethnic differences in the levels of monocyte-derived EPCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Shantsila
- University of Birmingham Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, City Hospital, Birmingham Primary Care Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
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35
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Wei Y, Sun Y, Song C, Li H, Li Y, Zhang K, Gong J, Liu F, Liu Z, August JT, Jin B, Yang K. Enhancement of DNA vaccine efficacy by targeting the xenogeneic human chorionic gonadotropin, survivin and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 combined tumor antigen to the major histocompatibility complex class II pathway. J Gene Med 2012; 14:353-62. [PMID: 22438278 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.2624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A number of strategies have been used to improve the efficacy of the DNA vaccine for the treatment of tumors. These strategies, ranging from activating CD4+ T cell, manipulating antigen presentation and/or processing to anti-angiogenesis, focus on one certain aspect in the functioning of the vaccine. Therefore, their combination is necessary for rational DNA vaccines design by synergizing different regimens and overcoming the limitations of each strategy. METHODS A DNA fragment (HSV) encoding the C terminal 37 amino acids of human chorionic gonadotropin β chain (hCGβ), 5 different HLA-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitopes from human survivin and the third and fourth extracellular domains of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) was inserted into the sequence between the luminal and transmembrane domain of human lysosome-associated membrane protein-1 cDNA for the construction of a novel DNA vaccine. RESULTS This novel vaccine, named p-L/HSV, has a potent antitumor effect on the LL/2 lung carcinoma model in syngeneic C57BL/6 mice. The immunologic mechanism involved in the antitumor effect referred to the activation of both cellular and humoral immune response. In addition, the tumor vasculature was abrogated as observed by immunohistochemistry in p-L/HSV immunized mice. Furthermore, the immunized mice received an additional boost with p-L/HSV 6 months later and showed a strong immune recall response. CONCLUSIONS The present study indicates that the strategies of combining antitumor with antiangiogenesis and targeting the tumor antigen to the major histocompatibility complex class II pathway cooperate well. Such a study may shed new light on designing vaccine for cancer in the future.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antigens, Neoplasm/genetics
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes
- Cancer Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Cancer Vaccines/genetics
- Carcinoma, Lewis Lung/genetics
- Carcinoma, Lewis Lung/therapy
- Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human/genetics
- Epitopes/genetics
- Female
- Genetic Vectors/administration & dosage
- HEK293 Cells
- Humans
- Immunity, Active/genetics
- Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins/genetics
- Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins/immunology
- Lysosomal Membrane Proteins/genetics
- Lysosomal Membrane Proteins/immunology
- Major Histocompatibility Complex/genetics
- Major Histocompatibility Complex/immunology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Survivin
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology
- Vaccines, DNA/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, DNA/genetics
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2/genetics
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuying Wei
- Department of Immunology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China
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Dai LJ, Yan CW, Li SZ, Chen L, Li XY, Shan RH, Yu XW, Tang XB. [Expression and immunological activity of an anti-CD3×VEGFR2 bispecific single-chain antibody]. Xi Bao Yu Fen Zi Mian Yi Xue Za Zhi 2011; 27:883-886. [PMID: 21806887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
AIM To construct and express an anti-VEGFR2/anti-CD3 bispecific single-chain antibody (bscVEGFR2×CD3)and to identify its binding specificities to CD3 and VEGFR2. METHODS The gene encoding anti-VEGFR2/anti-CD3 bispecific single-chain antibody was designed and synthesized. Bispecific single-chain antibody (bsc-Ab) DNA was subcloned into a eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1(+), then transfected into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and stable expression cell lines were selected. Expressed Bsc-Ab was purified by His-tag affinity chromatography and confirmed by 120 g/L SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. Antigen binding activity of the bsc-Ab was analyzed by FACS. RESULTS The plasmid DNA containing bispecific single-chain fragments were confirmed. BscVEGFR2×CD3 was secreted by CHO into the supernatant. Six stable expression cell lines were established. The molecular weight of bsc-Ab was correct indicated by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. The bsc-Ab could specifically bind to CD3(+); jurkat cells and VEGFR2(+); A375 cells. CONCLUSION An anti-VEGFR2/anti-CD3 bispecific single-chain antibody is successfully constructed and expressed, and the antibody has specific binding capacity to CD3 and VEGFR2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-juan Dai
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
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Ren S, Zuo S, Zhao M, Wang X, Wang X, Chen Y, Wu Z, Ren Z. Inhibition of tumor angiogenesis in lung cancer by T4 phage surface displaying mVEGFR2 vaccine. Vaccine 2011; 29:5802-11. [PMID: 21482223 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.03.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2010] [Revised: 02/16/2011] [Accepted: 03/17/2011] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been known as a potential vasculogenic and angiogenic factor and its receptor (VEGFR2) is a major receptor to response to the angiogenic activity of VEGF. The technique that to break the immune tolerance of "self-antigens" associated with angiogenesis is an attractive approach for cancer therapy with T4 phage display system. In this experiment, mouse VEGFR2 was constructed on T4 phage nanometer-particle surface as a recombinant vaccine. T4-mVEGFR2 recombinant vaccine was identified by PCR and western blot assay. Immunotherapy with T4-mVEGFR2 was confirmed by protective immunity against Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) in mice. The antibody against mVEGFR2 was detected by ELISPOT, ELISA and Dot ELISA. The inhibitive effects against angiogenesis were studied using CD31 and CD105 via histological analysis. VEGF-mediated endothelial cells proliferation and tube formation were inhibited in vitro by immunoglobulin induced by T4-mVEGFR2. The antitumor activity was substantiated from the adoptive transfer of the purified immunoglobulin. Antitumor activity and autoantibody production of mVEGFR2 could be neutralized by the depletion of CD4+T lymphocytes. These studies strongly suggest that T4-mVEGFR2 recombinant vaccine might be a promising antitumor approach.
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MESH Headings
- Adoptive Transfer
- Angiogenesis Inhibitors/administration & dosage
- Animals
- Bacteriophage T4/genetics
- Bacteriophage T4/immunology
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Cancer Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Cancer Vaccines/immunology
- Cancer Vaccines/pharmacology
- Carcinoma, Lewis Lung/blood supply
- Carcinoma, Lewis Lung/immunology
- Carcinoma, Lewis Lung/therapy
- Cell Proliferation
- Endoglin
- Endothelial Cells/metabolism
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
- Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay
- Immunotherapy/methods
- Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/blood
- Lung Neoplasms/blood supply
- Lung Neoplasms/immunology
- Lung Neoplasms/therapy
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/immunology
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/prevention & control
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/therapy
- Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1/blood
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/administration & dosage
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/immunology
- Vaccines, Synthetic/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, Synthetic/immunology
- Vaccines, Synthetic/pharmacology
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2/administration & dosage
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunxiang Ren
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
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Abstract
Angiogenesis, a well-recognized characteristic of malignancy, has been exploited more than any other pathway targeted by biologic anti-neoplastic therapies. Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) is the critical receptor involved in malignant angiogenesis with its activation inducing a number of other cellular modifications resulting in tumor growth and metastases. Ramucirumab (IMC-1121B; ImClone Systems Corporation, Branchburg, NJ) is a fully human monoclonal antibody developed to specifically inhibit VEGFR-2. Ramucirumab is currently being investigated in multiple clinical trials across a variety of tumor types. Herein, angiogenesis inhibition in cancer is reviewed and up-to-date information on the clinical development of ramucirumab is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Spratlin
- Cross Cancer Institute, University of Alberta, 11560 University Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
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Zhao J, Lu J, Liu YQ, Yang HY, Huang YT, Zhao JM, Li S, Zhai JM, Zhao MY, Zhang X, Dong ZM. [Study on the specific immunity induced by dendritic cell vaccine loading allogenic microvascular endothelial cell bEnd.3 antigen against U14 cervical cancer cell in mice]. Zhonghua Fu Chan Ke Za Zhi 2011; 46:52-57. [PMID: 21429436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore the specific cellular and humoral immunity induced by dendritic cells (DC) vaccine loading allogenic microvascular endothelial cell bEnd.3 antigen against U14 cervical cancer cell of mice. METHODS Mouse brain microvascular endothelial cell bEnd.3 was cultured and identified for preparation endothelial cell bEnd.3 antigen. The level of mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGF-R₂) and integrin αV was detected by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR. The BALB/c mice were immuned with DC loading bEnd.3 antigen 4 times in 4 weeks (bEnd.3-DC group), while the mice only were immuned with DC or injected with phosphate buffer saline (PBS group) as control group. One week after last vaccination, U14 cervical cancer cells were injected subcutaneously into the mice. The tumor size, cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response of spleen lymphocytes in vitro, the percentage of CD₃+CD₈+ surface markers of spleen lymphocytes, and the titer of serum antibody were detected. The specific immunity was examined by immunocytochemistry and western blot. RESULTS The expression of VEGF-R₂ and integrin αV gene in bEnd.3 cells were expressed highly. After the vaccine was injected, the tumors of mice in PBS group grew faster than those in other groups, while the tumors in bEnd.3-DC group grew slowly and disappeared after 2 weeks. The volume of tumors in DC group grew slower than those in PBS group [(0.11 ± 0.13) cm³ versus (3.38 ± 0.34) cm³]. The CTL response of spleen lymphocytes in vitro showed that bEnd.3-DC cells could kill bEnd.3 cells, the special lysis rate was more than 60%. The percentage of CD₃+CD₈+ spleen lymphocytes in bEnd.3-DC group [(38.6 ± 0.7)%] was higher than those in other groups (P < 0.05). The titer of serum antibody of bEnd.3-DC group was 1:3200, while it was 1:800 in DC group and there were not any in PBS group. Immunocytochemistry analysis indicated there were specific antigen-antibody reaction to bEnd.3 cell in bEnd.3-DC group. Western blot analysis revealed that there were specific bands at 220,000 (VEGF-R₂). CONCLUSIONS bEnd.3-DC vaccine can inhibit the tumor growth of U14 cervical cancer cell of mice, which indicates that the special cellular and humoral immunity are induced by bEnd.3-DC antigen which maybe have some antigens in bEnd.3 cells that reacts with endothelial cell proliferation-related antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Zhao
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
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Cheong SJ, Lee CM, Kim EM, Uhm TB, Jeong HJ, Kim DW, Lim ST, Sohn MH. Evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy of a VEGFR2-blocking antibody using sodium-iodide symporter molecular imaging in a tumor xenograft model. Nucl Med Biol 2010; 38:93-101. [PMID: 21220132 DOI: 10.1016/j.nucmedbio.2010.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2009] [Revised: 05/27/2010] [Accepted: 05/30/2010] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2-blocking antibody (DC101) has inhibitory effects on tumor growth and angiogenesis in vivo. The human sodium/iodide symporter (hNIS) gene has been shown to be a useful molecular imaging reporter gene. Here, we investigated the evaluation of therapeutic efficacy by molecular imaging in reporter gene transfected tumor xenografts using a gamma imaging system. METHODS The hNIS gene was transfected into MDA-MB-231 cells using Lipofectamine. The correlation between the number of MDA-MB-231-hNIS cells and the uptake of (99m)Tc-pertechnetate or (125)I was investigated in vitro by gamma imaging and counting. MDA-MB-231-hNIS cells were injected subcutaneously into mice. When the tumor volume reached 180-200 mm(3), we randomly assigned five animals to each of three groups representing different tumor therapies; no DC101 (control), 100 μg, or 150 μg DC101/mouse. One week and 2 weeks after the first injection of DC101, gamma imaging was performed. Mice were sacrificed 2 weeks after the first injection of DC101. The tumor tissues were used for reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and CD31 staining. RESULTS Uptake of (125)I and (99m)Tc-pertechnetate into MDA-MB-231-hNIS cells in vitro showed correlation with the number of cells. In DC101 treatment groups, the mean tumor volume was smaller than that of the control mice. Furthermore, tumor uptake of (125)I was lower than in the controls. The CD31 staining and RT-PCR assay results showed that vessel formation and expression of the hNIS gene were significantly reduced in the tumor tissues of treatment groups. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated the power of molecular imaging using a gamma imaging system for evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of an antitumor treatment. Molecular imaging systems may be useful in evaluation and development of effective diagnostic and/or therapeutic antibodies for specific target molecules.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/pharmacology
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/therapeutic use
- Breast Neoplasms/blood supply
- Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Breast Neoplasms/metabolism
- Breast Neoplasms/pathology
- Cell Count
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Proliferation/drug effects
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects
- Humans
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Molecular Imaging/methods
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/drug therapy
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/metabolism
- Rats
- Symporters/metabolism
- Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed
- Tumor Burden/drug effects
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2/immunology
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
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Affiliation(s)
- Su-Jin Cheong
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk 561-712, Republic of Korea
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Shrimali RK, Yu Z, Theoret MR, Chinnasamy D, Restifo NP, Rosenberg SA. Antiangiogenic agents can increase lymphocyte infiltration into tumor and enhance the effectiveness of adoptive immunotherapy of cancer. Cancer Res 2010; 70:6171-80. [PMID: 20631075 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-10-0153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 487] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Adoptive cell transfer (ACT)-based immunotherapies can mediate objective cancer regression in animal models and in up to 70% of patients with metastatic melanoma; however, it remains unclear whether the tumor vasculature impedes the egress of tumor-specific T cells, thus hindering this immunotherapy. Disruption of the proangiogenic interaction of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) with its receptor (VEGFR-2) has been reported to "normalize" tumor vasculature, enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents by increasing their delivery to the tumor intersitium. We thus sought to determine whether disrupting VEGF/VEGFR-2 signaling could enhance the effectiveness of ACT in a murine cancer model. The administration of an antibody against mouse VEGF synergized with ACT to enhance inhibition of established, vascularized, B16 melanoma (P = 0.009) and improve survival (P = 0.003). Additive effects of an antibody against VEGFR-2 in conjunction with ACT were seen in this model (P = 0.013). Anti-VEGF, but not anti-VEGFR-2, antibody significantly increased infiltration of transferred cells into the tumor. Thus, normalization of tumor vasculature through disruption of the VEGF/VEGFR-2 axis can increase extravasation of adoptively transferred T cells into the tumor and improve ACT-based immunotherapy. These studies provide a rationale for the exploration of combining antiangiogenic agents with ACT for the treatment of patients with cancer.
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MESH Headings
- Angiogenesis Inhibitors/pharmacology
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/pharmacology
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
- Bevacizumab
- Combined Modality Therapy
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/drug effects
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/immunology
- Melanoma, Experimental/immunology
- Melanoma, Experimental/therapy
- Membrane Glycoproteins/immunology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Transgenic
- Skin Neoplasms/immunology
- Skin Neoplasms/therapy
- T-Lymphocytes/drug effects
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/antagonists & inhibitors
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/immunology
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2/antagonists & inhibitors
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2/immunology
- Whole-Body Irradiation
- gp100 Melanoma Antigen
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajeev K Shrimali
- Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1201, USA
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Jin L, Zhao YW, Li ZM, Zhao CJ, Wang XF, Zhang L, Yang HS. [Anti-tumor effects induced by the DNA vaccine coding human and mouse soluble VEGFR2]. Sichuan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 2010; 41:563-566. [PMID: 20848769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To develop a novel anti-angiogenesis strategy based on a DNA vaccine coding both human and mouse soluble VEGFR2. METHODS The gene fragments coding human and mouse sVEGFR2 were amplified with PCR and cloned into pVITRO2 to generate pVITRO2-hm-sVEGFR2 recombinant. The in vitro VEGF blocking effect of the pVITRO2-hm-sVEGFR2 expression products on HUVEC cells were evaluated. The anti-tumor effect of pVITRO2-hm-sVEGFR2 was studied in mouse B16 model. The microvessels were stained by using CD31 antibody. RESULTS The co-expressing vector pVITRO2-hm-sVEGFR2 was constructed successfully, confirmed by the restriction endonuclease digestion and sequencing. The expressing products of pVITRO2-hm-sVEGFR2 could obviously block the function of VEGF on promoting the proliferation of HUVEC in vitro. The tumor growth in mice was also significantly inhibited by pVITRO2-hm-sVEGFR2 expression. CD31 staining demonstrated that the microvessel density obviously decreased in tumor tissues treated with pVITRO2-hm-sVEGFR2. Both anti-tumor and anti-angiogenesis effects of pVITRO2-hm-sVEGFR2 were stronger than that of plasmids which coding only human or mouse sVEGFR2. CONCLUSION pVITRO2-hm-sVEGFR2 could be a novel DNA vaccine for the anti-tumor therapy by inhibiting angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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Liang PH, Zhang KQ, Xu GL, Li YF, Wang LF, Nie ZL, Ye J, Wu G, Ge CG, Jin FS. Construction of a DNA vaccine encoding Flk-1 extracellular domain and C3d fusion gene and investigation of its suppressing effect on tumor growth. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2010; 59:93-101. [PMID: 19543726 PMCID: PMC11030964 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-009-0727-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2008] [Accepted: 06/02/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Although the critical role of complement component C3d as a molecular adjuvant in preventing virus infection is well established, its role in cancer prophylaxis and treatment is unclear. In this study, we constructed a recombinant plasmid encoding Flk-1 and C3d3 fusion proteins and investigated its transient expression in vitro in transfected eukaryotic cells and its antibody response in immunized mice. Subsequently, we investigated the vaccine's ability to elicit an immune response leading to suppression of angiogenesis and tumor growth in mice bearing bladder transitional cell carcinoma. Using Western blotting, immunocytochemistry, and flow cytometry, we detected the expression of Flk-1 and C3d3 fusion proteins in COS-7 cells transfected with these recombinant plasmids. Further binding experiment using CR2 (C3d receptor) positive Raji cells that were incubated with transfected COS-7 supernatant indicated that C3d was successfully fused to Flk-1. Although both vaccines elicited peak antibody levels at 5 weeks, Flk-1-specific antibody titer in pSG.SS.Flk-1(ECD).C3d3.YL-immunized mice was significantly higher when compared to pSG.SS.Flk-1(ECD).YL-immunized mice. The results of experiments with bladder tumor-bearing mice showed that the vaccine inhibited tumor growth significantly. These results suggest that C3d plays a critical role in tumor immunotherapy by promoting antibody response in Flk-1-based DNA vaccines. This approach may provide a new strategy for the rational design of anti-angiogenic therapies for the treatment of solid tumors and provide a basis for the further exploitation and application of the anti-angiogenesis DNA vaccines.
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MESH Headings
- Adjuvants, Immunologic
- Animals
- Cancer Vaccines/genetics
- Cancer Vaccines/immunology
- Cancer Vaccines/therapeutic use
- Carcinoma, Transitional Cell/immunology
- Carcinoma, Transitional Cell/pathology
- Carcinoma, Transitional Cell/therapy
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Chlorocebus aethiops
- Complement C3d/genetics
- Complement C3d/immunology
- Female
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Neoplasm Transplantation
- Protein Structure, Tertiary
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/genetics
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/immunology
- Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/immunology
- Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/pathology
- Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/therapy
- Vaccines, DNA/genetics
- Vaccines, DNA/immunology
- Vaccines, DNA/therapeutic use
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2/genetics
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-he Liang
- Department of Urology, Daping Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, 10 Changjiang Branch Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, China.
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Kondo N, Ogawa M, Wada H, Nishikawa SI. Thrombin induces rapid disassembly of claudin-5 from the tight junction of endothelial cells. Exp Cell Res 2009; 315:2879-87. [PMID: 19665016 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2009.07.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2008] [Revised: 03/25/2009] [Accepted: 07/24/2009] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The cell-to-cell junction of endothelial cells (ECs) regulates the fence function of the vascular system. Previously we showed that ECs derived from embryonic stem cells (i.e., EECs) develop to form stable endothelial sheets in monolayer cultures. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that these EECs formed intercellular junctions with the help of vascular endothelial cadherin (VECD) and claudin-5. In this study, we investigated the response of EC sheets to stimuli that are known to increase vascular permeability. While vascular endothelial growth factor A and histamine disrupted the EC junction by enhancing contraction of EECs, thrombin affected specifically the localization of claudin-5 at this junction. We could not detect any significant effect of thrombin on the localization of VECD. Concerning thrombin receptors, EECs expressed protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) but not PAR4. Consistent with this expression pattern, PAR1 agonists eliminated claudin-5 as effectively as thrombin itself. This is the first report to show that claudin-5 can be disassembled from the EC junction in a signal-dependent manner and to suggest that claudin-5 mobilization is a cause of PAR1-induced increase in vascular permeability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuyuki Kondo
- Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, Center for Developmental Biology, Riken, Kobe, Japan.
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Zhang H, Li Y, Li H, Bassi R, Jimenez X, Witte L, Bohlen P, Hicklin D, Zhu Z. Inhibition of Both the Autocrine and the Paracrine Growth of Human Leukemia with a Fully Human Antibody Directed Against Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2. Leuk Lymphoma 2009; 45:1887-97. [PMID: 15223651 DOI: 10.1080/10428190410001712225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors (VEGFR) have been implicated in promoting solid tumor growth and metastasis via stimulating tumor-associated angiogenesis. Here we show that certain "liquid" tumors such as acute myeloid leukemia not only produce VEGF but also express functional VEGFR, resulting in an autocrine loop for tumor growth and propagation. In addition, the leukemia-derived VEGF can also stimulate the production of growth factors, including interleukin 6 (IL6) and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), by human endothelial cells, which in turn further promotes the growth of leukemia cells (the paracrine loop). A fully human anti-VEGFR2 (or kinase insert domain-containing receptor, KDR) antibody, IMC-2C6, strongly blocks KDR/VEGF interaction and neutralizes VEGF-stimulated activation of KDR in endothelial cells. In a system where leukemia cells are co-cultured with endothelial cells, IMC-2C6 inhibits both the production of IL6 and GM-CSF by endothelial cells and the growth of leukemia cells. Finally, IMC-2C6 effectively blocks VEGF-induced migration of KDR+ human leukemia cells, and when administered in vivo, significantly prolonged survival of mice inoculated with KDR+ human leukemia cells. Taken together, our data suggest that anti-KDR antibodies may have broad applications in the treatment of both solid tumors and certain types of leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haifan Zhang
- Department of Antibody Technology, ImClone Systems Incorporated, New York, New York 10014, USA
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Sibal L, Aldibbiat A, Agarwal SC, Mitchell G, Oates C, Razvi S, Weaver JU, Shaw JA, Home PD. Circulating endothelial progenitor cells, endothelial function, carotid intima-media thickness and circulating markers of endothelial dysfunction in people with type 1 diabetes without macrovascular disease or microalbuminuria. Diabetologia 2009; 52:1464-73. [PMID: 19484217 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-009-1401-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2009] [Accepted: 04/30/2009] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS Type 1 diabetes is associated with premature arterial disease. Bone-marrow derived, circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are believed to contribute to endothelial repair. The hypothesis tested was that circulating EPCs are reduced in young people with type 1 diabetes without vascular injury and that this is associated with impaired endothelial function and increased carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). METHODS We compared 74 people with type 1 diabetes with 80 healthy controls. CD34, CD133, vascular endothelial (VE) growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) and VE-cadherin antibodies were used to quantify EPCs and progenitor cell subtypes using flow-cytometry. Ultrasound assessment of endothelial function by brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and CIMT was made. Circulating endothelial markers, inflammatory markers and plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels were measured. RESULTS CD34+VE-cadherin+, CD133+VE-cadherin+ and CD133+VEGFR-2+ EPC counts were significantly lower in people with diabetes (46-69%; p = 0.004-0.043). In people with type 1 diabetes, FMD was reduced by 45% (p < 0.001) and CIMT increased by 25% (p < 0.001), these being correlated (r = -0.25, p = 0.033). There was a significant relationship between FMD and CD34+VE-cadherin+ (r = 0.39, p = 0.001), CD133+VEGFR-2+ (r = 0.25, p = 0.037) and CD34+ (r = 0.34, p = 0.003) counts. Circulating high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, PAI-1, interleukin-6 and E-selectin were significantly higher in the diabetes group (p < 0.001 to p = 0.049), the last two of these correlating with FMD (r = -0.27, p = 0.028 and r = -0.24, p = 0.048, respectively). CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION These findings suggest that abnormalities of endothelial function in addition to pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic states are already common in people with type 1 diabetes before development of clinically evident arterial damage. Low EPC counts confirm risk of macrovascular complications and may account for impaired endothelial function and predict future cardiovascular events.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Sibal
- ICM-Diabetes, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK.
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Coronella J, Li L, Johnson K, Pirie-Shepherd S, Roxas G, Levin N. Selective activity against proliferating tumor endothelial cells by CVX-22, a thrombospondin-1 mimetic CovX-Body. Anticancer Res 2009; 29:2243-2252. [PMID: 19528489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
CVX-22 is a CovX-Body, produced by covalently attaching a thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) type 1 repeat peptide mimetic to a humanized IgG1 molecule. To dissect the antiangiogenic mechanism of CVX-22, the numbers and proliferative status of defined tumor endothelial cell (TEC) subsets from the B16 and C32 melanoma models were examined. CVX-22 treatment reduced the numbers of activated, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2)-positive TECs. Because the vast majority of mitotically active TECs reside in the VEGFR2 subset, a reduction in numbers of this compartment resulted in an 82% overall decrease in BrdU labeling of TEC. However, the rate of proliferation and VEGFR2 receptor density of this VEGFR2-positive subpopulation were unaffected. Instead, CVX-22 induced endothelial cell apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo, indicating that CVX-22 acts by selective deletion of activated, VEGFR2-positive TEC. The overrepresentation of activated cells in sites of tumor angiogenesis may confer a unique specificity of CVX-22 for tumor vasculature.
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Tonra JR, Corcoran E, Deevi DS, Steiner P, Kearney J, Li H, Ludwig DL, Zhu Z, Witte L, Surguladze D, Hicklin DJ. Prioritization of EGFR/IGF-IR/VEGFR2 combination targeted therapies utilizing cancer models. Anticancer Res 2009; 29:1999-2007. [PMID: 19528458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rational strategies utilizing anticancer efficacy and biological principles are needed for the prioritization of specific combination targeted therapy approaches for clinical development, from among the many with experimental support. MATERIALS AND METHODS Antibodies targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) (cetuximab), insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-IR) (IMC-A12) or vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) (DC101), were dosed alone or in combination, in 11 human tumor xenograft models established in mice. Efficacy readouts included the tumor burden and incidence of metastasis, as well as tumor active hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), human VEGF and blood vessel density. RESULTS Cetuximab and DC101 contributed potent and non-overlapping benefits to the combination approach. Moreover, DC101 prevented escape from IMC-A12 + cetuximab in a colorectal cancer model and cetuximab prevented escape from DC101 therapy in a pancreatic cancer model. CONCLUSION Targeting VEGFR2 + EGFR was prioritized over other treatment strategies utilizing EGFR, IGF-IR and VEGFR2 antibodies. The criteria that proved to be valuable were a non-overlapping spectrum of anticancer activity and the prevention of resistance to another therapy in the combination.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/therapeutic use
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
- Antineoplastic Agents
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cetuximab
- Colorectal Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Colorectal Neoplasms/metabolism
- Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology
- Disease Models, Animal
- Drug Therapy, Combination
- ErbB Receptors/antagonists & inhibitors
- ErbB Receptors/immunology
- ErbB Receptors/metabolism
- Female
- Humans
- Mice
- Mice, Nude
- Pancreatic Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Pancreatic Neoplasms/metabolism
- Pancreatic Neoplasms/pathology
- Receptor, IGF Type 1/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptor, IGF Type 1/immunology
- Receptor, IGF Type 1/metabolism
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2/antagonists & inhibitors
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2/immunology
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2/metabolism
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
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Affiliation(s)
- James R Tonra
- ImClone Systems, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company, New York, NY10014, U.S.A.
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Krupitskaya Y, Wakelee HA. Ramucirumab, a fully human mAb to the transmembrane signaling tyrosine kinase VEGFR-2 for the potential treatment of cancer. Curr Opin Investig Drugs 2009; 10:597-605. [PMID: 19513949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Angiogenesis is essential for tumor growth, invasion and metastasis, and is mediated, at least in part, by a large family of VEGF ligands and receptors. Ramucirumab, which is being developed by ImClone Systems Inc, is a fully human mAb that binds human VEGFR-2, thus blocking VEGF binding and inhibiting angiogenesis. Proof-of-concept preclinical studies with the mouse mAb DC-101 supported this hypothesis, and ramucirumab inhibited cell proliferation in vitro, as well as tumor progression in mouse xenograft models of human cancer. Ramucirumab was well tolerated on weekly and fortnightly schedules in phase I clinical trials in patients with advanced cancers; mechanism-related DLTs were hypertension and deep venous thrombosis. Stable disease was also observed in several patients treated on either schedule, and several patients on the weekly schedule exhibited partial responses. At the time of publication, ramucirumab was undergoing assessment in phase II trials as a monotherapy in hepatocellular, renal cell and ovarian carcinomas. Ramucirumab was also in phase II trials in combination with dacarbazine in melanoma, with mitoxantrone/prednisone in prostate cancer, with carboplatin/paclitaxel in NSCLC and with oxaliplatin/folinic acid/5-fluorouracil in colorectal cancer. A phase III trial in combination with docetaxel in breast cancer was also ongoing. Pending results from these trials, ramucirumab may be a useful addition to current antiangiogenic therapies. The results are awaited with interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yelena Krupitskaya
- Stanford University, Stanford Cancer Center, 875 Blake Wilbur Drive, Room 2233, Stanford, CA 94305-5826, USA
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