RESUMEN
Luminal A (hormone receptor-positive) breast cancer constitutes 70% of total breast cancer patients. In an attempt to develop a targeted therapeutic for this cancer indication, we have identified and characterized Glial cell line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF) Family Receptor Alpha 1 (GFRA1) antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) using a cleavable valine-citrulline-MMAE (vcMMAE) linker-payload. RNAseq and IHC analysis confirmed the abundant expression of GFRA1 in luminal A breast cancer tissues, whereas minimal or no expression was observed in most normal tissues. Anti-GFRA-vcMMAE ADC internalized to the lysosomes and exhibited target-dependent killing of GFRA1-expressing cells both in vitro and in vivo The ADCs using humanized anti-GFRA1 antibodies displayed robust therapeutic activity in clinically relevant cell line-derived (MCF7 and KPL-1) tumor xenograft models. The lead anti-GFRA1 ADC cross-reacts with rodent and cynomolgus monkey GFRA1 antigen and showed optimal pharmacokinetic properties in both species. These properties subsequently enabled a target-dependent toxicity study in rats. Anti-GFRA1 ADC is well tolerated in rats, as seen with other vcMMAE linker-payload based ADCs. Overall, these data suggest that anti-GFRA1-vcMMAE ADC may provide a targeted therapeutic opportunity for luminal A breast cancer patients. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(3); 638-49. ©2017 AACR.
Asunto(s)
Neoplasias de la Mama/tratamiento farmacológico , Receptores del Factor Neurotrófico Derivado de la Línea Celular Glial/antagonistas & inhibidores , Inmunoconjugados/farmacología , Ensayos Antitumor por Modelo de Xenoinjerto , Animales , Anticuerpos/química , Anticuerpos/inmunología , Anticuerpos/farmacología , Antineoplásicos/química , Antineoplásicos/farmacología , Neoplasias de la Mama/genética , Neoplasias de la Mama/metabolismo , Línea Celular Tumoral , Supervivencia Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Supervivencia Celular/genética , Femenino , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica/efectos de los fármacos , Receptores del Factor Neurotrófico Derivado de la Línea Celular Glial/genética , Receptores del Factor Neurotrófico Derivado de la Línea Celular Glial/inmunología , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Inmunoconjugados/inmunología , Inmunoconjugados/farmacocinética , Células MCF-7 , Macaca fascicularis , Ratones Desnudos , Ratones SCID , Ratas Sprague-Dawley , Receptores de Esteroides/metabolismo , Carga Tumoral/efectos de los fármacos , Carga Tumoral/genéticaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: CD22 and CD79b are cell-surface receptors expressed on B-cell-derived malignancies such as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). An anti-mitotic agent, monomethyl auristatin E, was conjugated to anti-CD22 and anti-CD79b antibodies to develop target-specific therapies for NHL. The mechanism of action (MOA) and pharmacological and pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles of these antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) were investigated in cynomolgus monkeys. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Animals were administered anti-CD22 or anti-CD79b ADCs, respective unconjugated antibodies or vehicle. Pharmacodynamic effects on total and proliferating B cells and serum PK were then assessed. Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) of the ADCs were evaluated in vitro. KEY RESULTS: Depletion of B cells was observed after administration of either ADC or the respective unconjugated antibodies. An extended duration of depletion was observed in animals administered ADCs. Similarly, preferential depletion of proliferating B cells in blood and germinal centre B cells in spleen were only observed in animals administered ADCs. Serum PK profiles of ADCs and respective unconjugated antibodies were comparable. In vitro, anti-human CD22 and anti-human CD79b antibodies showed no or only moderate ADCC activity, respectively; neither antibody had CDC activity. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The findings support the proposed MOA: initial depletion of total B cells by antibody-mediated opsonization, followed by preferential, sustained depletion of proliferating B cells by the auristatin conjugate due to its anti-mitotic action. Delivering potent anti-mitotic agents to B cells via the specificity of monoclonal antibodies provides a means to eliminate pathogenic B cells in NHL with improved risk-benefit profiles over traditional chemotherapeutics.