1
|
Xu T, Schulga A, Konovalova E, Rinne SS, Zhang H, Vorontsova O, Orlova A, Deyev SM, Tolmachev V, Vorobyeva A. Feasibility of Co-Targeting HER3 and EpCAM Using Seribantumab and DARPin-Toxin Fusion in a Pancreatic Cancer Xenograft Model. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032838. [PMID: 36769161 PMCID: PMC9917732 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most aggressive malignancies. A combination of targeted therapies could increase the therapeutic efficacy in tumors with heterogeneous target expression. Overexpression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor type 3 (HER3) and the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) in up to 40% and 30% of PCs, respectively, is associated with poor prognosis and highlights the relevance of these targets. Designed ankyrin repeat protein (DARPin) Ec1 fused with the low immunogenic bacterial toxin LoPE provides specific and potent cytotoxicity against EpCAM-expressing cancer cells. Here, we investigated whether the co-targeting of HER3 using the monoclonal antibody seribantumab (MM-121) and of EpCAM using Ec1-LoPE would improve the therapeutic efficacy in comparison to the individual agents. Radiolabeled 99mTc(CO)3-Ec1-LoPE showed specific binding with rapid internalization in EpCAM-expressing PC cells. MM-121 did not interfere with the binding of Ec1-LoPE to EpCAM. Evaluation of cytotoxicity indicated synergism between Ec1-LoPE and MM-121 in vitro. An experimental therapy study using Ec1-LoPE and MM-121 in mice bearing EpCAM- and HER3-expressing BxPC3 xenografts demonstrated the feasibility of the therapy. Further development of the co-targeting approach using HER3 and EpCAM could therefore be justified.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tianqi Xu
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Alexey Schulga
- Research Centrum for Oncotheranostics, Research School of Chemistry and Applied Biomedical Sciences, National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk 634050, Russia
- Molecular Immunology Laboratory, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Elena Konovalova
- Molecular Immunology Laboratory, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Sara S. Rinne
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Hongchao Zhang
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Olga Vorontsova
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Orlova
- Research Centrum for Oncotheranostics, Research School of Chemistry and Applied Biomedical Sciences, National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk 634050, Russia
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sergey M. Deyev
- Research Centrum for Oncotheranostics, Research School of Chemistry and Applied Biomedical Sciences, National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk 634050, Russia
- Molecular Immunology Laboratory, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117997, Russia
- Bio-Nanophotonic Laboratory, Institute of Engineering Physics for Biomedicine (PhysBio), National Research Nuclear University ‘MEPhI’, Moscow 115409, Russia
- Center of Biomedical Engineering, Sechenov University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Vladimir Tolmachev
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
- Research Centrum for Oncotheranostics, Research School of Chemistry and Applied Biomedical Sciences, National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk 634050, Russia
| | - Anzhelika Vorobyeva
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Rinne SS, Leitao CD, Abouzayed A, Vorobyeva A, Tolmachev V, Ståhl S, Löfblom J, Orlova A. HER3 PET Imaging: 68Ga-Labeled Affibody Molecules Provide Superior HER3 Contrast to 89Zr-Labeled Antibody and Antibody-Fragment-Based Tracers. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:4791. [PMID: 34638277 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13194791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary HER3 is a known driver for oncogenesis and therapy resistance in solid cancers. PET imaging could be a useful tool to non-invasively detect and monitor HER3 expression and aid in the selection of patients for HER3-targeted therapy. PET tracers based on therapeutic antibodies have thus far shown limited success in reliably imaging HER3-expressing tumors in clinical trials. Smaller-sized tracers specifically designed for imaging might be needed for higher contrast imaging and sufficient sensitivity. Our group has previously studied the use of radiolabeled affibody molecules for imaging of HER3 expression. In the present study, we compared four different types of potential PET tracers for imaging of HER3 expression in a preclinical model. We demonstrated that the affibody-based tracer, [68Ga]Ga-ZHER3, could provide overall superior imaging contrast to antibody- and antibody-fragment-based tracers shortly after injection. Our results indicate that HER3-targeting affibody molecules are promising agents for PET imaging of HER3 expression. Abstract HER3 (human epidermal growth factor receptor type 3) is a challenging target for diagnostic radionuclide molecular imaging due to the relatively modest overexpression in tumors and substantial expression in healthy organs. In this study, we compared four HER3-targeting PET tracers based on different types of targeting molecules in a preclinical model: the 89Zr-labeled therapeutic antibody seribantumab, a seribantumab-derived F(ab)2-fragment labeled with 89Zr and 68Ga, and the 68Ga-labeled affibody molecule [68Ga]Ga-ZHER3. The novel conjugates were radiolabeled and characterized in vitro using HER3-expressing BxPC-3 and DU145 human cancer cells. Biodistribution was studied using Balb/c nu/nu mice bearing BxPC-3 xenografts. HER3-negative RAMOS xenografts were used to demonstrate binding specificity in vivo. Autoradiography was conducted on the excised tumors. nanoPET/CT imaging was performed. New conjugates specifically bound to HER3 in vitro and in vivo. [68Ga]Ga-DFO-seribantumab-F(ab’)2 was considered unsuitable for imaging due to the low stability and high uptake in normal organs. The highest tumor-to-non-tumor contrast with [89Zr]Zr-DFO-seribantumab and [89Zr]Zr-DFO-seribantumab-F(ab’)2 was achieved at 96 h and 48 h pi, respectively. Despite lower tumor uptake, [68Ga]Ga-ZHER3 provided the best imaging contrast due to the fastest clearance from blood and normal organs. The results of our study suggest that affibody-based tracers are more suitable for PET imaging of HER3 expression than antibody- and antibody-fragment-based tracers.
Collapse
|
3
|
Denlinger CS, Keedy VL, Moyo V, MacBeath G, Shapiro GI. Phase 1 dose escalation study of seribantumab ( MM-121), an anti-HER3 monoclonal antibody, in patients with advanced solid tumors. Invest New Drugs 2021; 39:1604-1612. [PMID: 34250553 PMCID: PMC8541959 DOI: 10.1007/s10637-021-01145-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [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] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Background Overactivation of human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3) triggers multiple intracellular pathways resulting in tumor cell survival. This Phase 1 study assessed the safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics (PK) of seribantumab, a fully human anti-HER3 monoclonal antibody. Methods Adult patients with advanced or refractory solid tumors were treated in six dose cohorts of seribantumab: 3.2, 6, 10, 15, or 20 mg/kg weekly, or 40 mg/kg loading dose followed by 20 mg/kg weekly maintenance dose (40/20 mg/kg) using a modified 3 + 3 dose escalation strategy with cohort expansion. Primary objectives were identification of a recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) and determination of objective response rate. Secondary objectives were assessment of safety, dose-limiting toxicities, and PK. Results Forty-four patients (26 dose escalation; 18 dose expansion) were enrolled. Seribantumab monotherapy was well tolerated with most adverse events being transient and mild to moderate (grade 1 or 2) in severity; maximum tolerated dose was not reached. The highest dose, 40/20 mg/kg, was identified as RP2D. Best response was stable disease, reported in 24% and 39% of patients during the dose escalation and expansion portions of the study, respectively. Seribantumab terminal half-life was ≈100 h; steady state concentrations were reached after 3–4 weekly doses. Conclusions Seribantumab monotherapy was well tolerated across all dose levels. Safety and PK data from this study support further seribantumab investigations in genomically defined populations. Clinical trial registration NCT00734305. August 12, 2008.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/administration & dosage
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/adverse effects
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/pharmacokinetics
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/therapeutic use
- Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage
- Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacokinetics
- Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Female
- Half-Life
- Humans
- Male
- Maximum Tolerated Dose
- Middle Aged
- Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Receptor, ErbB-3/antagonists & inhibitors
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Crystal S Denlinger
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Vicki L Keedy
- Department of Medicine (Hematology and Oncology), Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Victor Moyo
- Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Huebner H, Kurbacher CM, Kuesters G, Hartkopf AD, Lux MP, Huober J, Volz B, Taran FA, Overkamp F, Tesch H, Häberle L, Lüftner D, Wallwiener M, Müller V, Beckmann MW, Belleville E, Ruebner M, Untch M, Fasching PA, Janni W, Fehm TN, Kolberg HC, Wallwiener D, Brucker SY, Schneeweiss A, Ettl J. Heregulin (HRG) assessment for clinical trial eligibility testing in a molecular registry (PRAEGNANT) in Germany. BMC Cancer 2020; 20:1091. [PMID: 33176725 PMCID: PMC7656772 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-020-07546-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Eligibility criteria are a critical part of clinical trials, as they define the patient population under investigation. Besides certain patient characteristics, clinical trials often include biomarker testing for eligibility. However, patient-identification mostly relies on the trial site itself and is often a time-consuming procedure, which could result in missing out on potentially eligible patients. Pre-selection of those patients using a registry could facilitate the process of eligibility testing and increase the number of identified patients. One aim with the PRAEGNANT registry (NCT02338167) is to identify patients for therapies based on clinical and molecular data. Here, we report eligibility testing for the SHERBOC trial using the German PRAEGNANT registry. METHODS Heregulin (HRG) has been reported to identify patients with better responses to therapy with the anti-HER3 monoclonal antibody seribantumab (MM-121). The SHERBOC trial investigated adding seribantumab (MM-121) to standard therapy in patients with advanced HER2-negative, hormone receptor-positive (HR-positive) breast cancer and HRG overexpression. The PRAEGNANT registry was used for identification and tumor testing, helping to link potential HRG positive patients to the trial. Patients enrolled in PRAEGNANT have invasive and metastatic or locally advanced, inoperable breast cancer. Patients eligible for SHERBOC were identified by using the registry. Study aims were to describe the HRG positivity rate, screening procedures, and patient characteristics associated with inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS Among 2769 unselected advanced breast cancer patients, 650 were HER2-negative, HR-positive and currently receiving first- or second-line treatment, thus potentially eligible for SHERBOC at the end of current treatment; 125 patients also met further clinical eligibility criteria (e.g. menopausal status, ECOG). In the first/second treatment lines, patients selected for SHERBOC based on further eligibility criteria had a more favorable prognosis than those not selected. HRG status was tested in 38 patients, 14 of whom (36.8%) proved to be HRG-positive. CONCLUSION Using a real-world breast cancer registry allowed identification of potentially eligible patients for SHERBOC focusing on patients with HER3 overexpressing, HR-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer. This approach may provide insights into differences between patients eligible or non-eligible for clinical trials. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials, NCT02338167 , Registered 14 January 2015 - retrospectively registered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Huebner
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Universitaetsstrasse 21-23, Erlangen, 91054, Germany
| | - Christian M Kurbacher
- Gynecology I (Gynecologic Oncology), Gynecologic Center Bonn-Friedensplatz, Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Andreas D Hartkopf
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Michael P Lux
- Klinik für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe Frauenklinik St. Louise, Paderborn, St. Josefs-Krankenhaus, Salzkotten, Kooperatives Brustzentrum, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Jens Huober
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Bernhard Volz
- Ansbach University of Applied Sciences, Ansbach, Germany
| | | | | | - Hans Tesch
- Oncology Practice at Bethanien Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Lothar Häberle
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Universitaetsstrasse 21-23, Erlangen, 91054, Germany.,Biostatistics Unit, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Diana Lüftner
- Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Charité University Hospital, Berlin, Germany
| | - Markus Wallwiener
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Volkmar Müller
- Department of Gynecology, Hamburg-Eppendorf University Medical Center, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Matthias W Beckmann
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Universitaetsstrasse 21-23, Erlangen, 91054, Germany
| | | | - Matthias Ruebner
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Universitaetsstrasse 21-23, Erlangen, 91054, Germany
| | - Michael Untch
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Helios Clinics Berlin Buch, Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter A Fasching
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Universitaetsstrasse 21-23, Erlangen, 91054, Germany.
| | - Wolfgang Janni
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Tanja N Fehm
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | | | - Diethelm Wallwiener
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Sara Y Brucker
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Andreas Schneeweiss
- National Center for Tumor Diseases and Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Johannes Ettl
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Dahlsson Leitao C, S. Rinne S, Altai M, Vorontsova O, Dunås F, Jonasson P, Tolmachev V, Löfblom J, Ståhl S, Orlova A. Evaluating the Therapeutic Efficacy of Mono- and Bivalent Affibody-Based Fusion Proteins Targeting HER3 in a Pancreatic Cancer Xenograft Model. Pharmaceutics 2020; 12:pharmaceutics12060551. [PMID: 32545760 PMCID: PMC7356278 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12060551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3) has been increasingly scrutinized as a potential drug target since the elucidation of its role in mediating tumor growth and acquired therapy resistance. Affibody molecules are so-called scaffold proteins with favorable biophysical properties, such as a small size for improved tissue penetration and extravasation, thermal and chemical stability, and a high tolerance to modifications. Additionally, affibody molecules are efficiently produced in prokaryotic hosts or by chemical peptide synthesis. We have previously evaluated the biodistribution profiles of five mono- and bivalent anti-HER3 affibody molecules (designated as 3) fused to an albumin-binding domain (designated as A), 3A, 33A, 3A3, A33, and A3, that inhibit ligand-dependent phosphorylation. In the present study, we examined the therapeutic efficacy of the three most promising variants, 3A, 33A, and 3A3, in a direct comparison with the HER3-targeting monoclonal antibody seribantumab (MM-121) in a preclinical BxPC-3 pancreatic cancer model. Xenografted mice were treated with either an affibody construct or MM-121 and the tumor growth was compared to a vehicle group. Receptor occupancy was estimated by positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging using a HER3-targeting affibody imaging agent [68Ga]Ga-(HE)3-Z08698-NODAGA. The affibody molecules could inhibit ligand-dependent phosphorylation and cell proliferation in vitro and demonstrated tumor growth inhibition in vivo comparable to that of MM-121. PET/CT imaging showed full receptor occupancy for all tested drug candidates. Treatment with 3A and 3A3 affibody constructs was more efficient than with 33A and similar to the anti-HER3 antibody seribantumab, showing that the molecular design of affibody-based therapeutics targeting HER3 in terms of the relative position of functional domains and valency has an impact on therapeutic effect.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charles Dahlsson Leitao
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden; (C.D.L.); (J.L.)
| | - Sara S. Rinne
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden; (S.S.R.); or (M.A.)
| | - Mohamed Altai
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden; (S.S.R.); or (M.A.)
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden; (O.V.); (V.T.)
- Division of Oncology and Pathology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Olga Vorontsova
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden; (O.V.); (V.T.)
| | - Finn Dunås
- Affibody AB, 171 65 Solna, Sweden; (F.D.); (P.J.)
| | - Per Jonasson
- Affibody AB, 171 65 Solna, Sweden; (F.D.); (P.J.)
| | - Vladimir Tolmachev
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden; (O.V.); (V.T.)
- Research Centrum for Oncotheranostics, Research School of Chemistry and Applied Biomedical Sciences, Tomsk Polytechnic University, 634050 Tomsk, Russia
| | - John Löfblom
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden; (C.D.L.); (J.L.)
| | - Stefan Ståhl
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden; (C.D.L.); (J.L.)
- Correspondence: (S.S.); (A.O.)
| | - Anna Orlova
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden; (S.S.R.); or (M.A.)
- Research Centrum for Oncotheranostics, Research School of Chemistry and Applied Biomedical Sciences, Tomsk Polytechnic University, 634050 Tomsk, Russia
- Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
- Correspondence: (S.S.); (A.O.)
| |
Collapse
|