Preclinical Assessment of a MUC12-Targeted BiTE (Bispecific T-cell Engager) Molecule.

MUC12 is a transmembrane mucin that is highly expressed in >50% of primary and metastatic colorectal tumors. MUC12 is also expressed by normal epithelial cells of the colon and small intestine. Although MUC12 localization in normal epithelial cells is restricted to the apical membrane, expression in tumors is depolarized and shows broad membrane localization. The differential localization of MUC12 in tumor cells as compared with normal cells makes it a potential therapeutic target. Here, we evaluated targeting of MUC12 with a BiTE (bispecific T-cell engager) molecule. We generated a panel of proof-of-concept half-life extended (HLE) BiTE molecules that bind MUC12 on tumor cells and CD3 on T cells. We prioritized one molecule based on in vitro activity for further characterization in vivo In vitro, the MUC12 HLE BiTE molecule mediated T-cell-redirected lysis of MUC12-expressing cells with half-maximal lysis of 4.4 ± 0.9 to 117 ± 78 pmol/L. In an exploratory cynomolgus monkey toxicology study, the MUC12 HLE BiTE molecule administered at 200 µg/kg with a step dose to 1,000 µg/kg was tolerated with minimal clinical observations. However, higher doses were not tolerated, and there was evidence of damage in the gastrointestinal tract, suggesting dose levels projected to be required for antitumor activity may be associated with on-target toxicity. Together, these data demonstrate that the apically restricted expression of MUC12 in normal tissues is accessible to BiTE molecule target engagement and highlight the difficult challenge of identifying tumor-selective antigens for solid tumor T-cell engagers.

Cell-Selective Cytotoxicity of a Fluorescent Rhodium Metalloinsertor Conjugate Results from Irreversible DNA Damage at Base Pair Mismatches.

Up to 20% of solid tumors are characterized by DNA mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency and microsatellite instability that confer resistance to standard of care chemotherapy. MMR-deficient cancers have an increased mutation rate, and DNA mismatches accumulate as part of these cancers. We previously described a class of compounds, rhodium metalloinsertors, that bind DNA mismatches with high specificity and selectivity and have potential as targeted therapy. [Rh(chrysi)(phen)(PPO)]2+ (RhPPO) is the most potent, selective compound in this class and acts by targeting DNA mismatches, resulting in preferential cytotoxicity to MMR-deficient cancers. To explore further the cellular mechanism of action of RhPPO, we conjugated the metal complex to a fluorescent probe, cyanine 3 (Cy3). RhPPO-Cy3 binds DNA mismatches and retains the selectivity and potent cytotoxic activity of RhPPO for MMR-deficient cell lines. RhPPO-Cy3 forms discrete foci in the cell nucleus that overlap with sites of DNA damage, suggesting that the lesions occur at or near DNA mismatch sites. RhPPO-Cy3 foci persist over time, despite initial processing of the lesion and recruitment of repair proteins, consistent with the idea that the complex binding to a mismatch prevents repair. RhPPO-Cy3 binding does not lead to activation of p53 and the apoptotic pathway. Together, these findings support the idea that RhPPO-Cy3 binding leads to irreversible DNA damage at DNA mismatches that enables selective cytotoxicity to MMR-deficient cells.

Rhodium metalloinsertor binding generates a lesion with selective cytotoxicity for mismatch repair-deficient cells.

The DNA mismatch repair (MMR) pathway recognizes and repairs errors in base pairing and acts to maintain genome stability. Cancers that have lost MMR function are common and comprise an important clinical subtype that is resistant to many standard of care chemotherapeutics such as cisplatin. We have identified a family of rhodium metalloinsertors that bind DNA mismatches with high specificity and are preferentially cytotoxic to MMR-deficient cells. Here, we characterize the cellular mechanism of action of the most potent and selective complex in this family, [Rh(chrysi)(phen)(PPO)]2+ (Rh-PPO). We find that Rh-PPO binding induces a lesion that triggers the DNA damage response (DDR). DDR activation results in cell-cycle blockade and inhibition of DNA replication and transcription. Significantly, the lesion induced by Rh-PPO is not repaired in MMR-deficient cells, resulting in selective cytotoxicity. The Rh-PPO mechanism is reminiscent of DNA repair enzymes that displace mismatched bases, and is differentiated from other DNA-targeted chemotherapeutics such as cisplatin by its potency, cellular mechanism, and selectivity for MMR-deficient cells.

Effect of aqueous tobacco smoke extract and shear stress on PECAM-1 expression and cell motility in human uterine endothelial cells.

Tobacco smoke constituents have several adverse effects on endothelial cells. Exposure to tobacco smoke during pregnancy is associated with adverse effects on pregnancy outcome possibly related to endothelial dysfunction. Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) is an important regulator of endothelial function. This study tests the idea that an aqueous extract of cigarette smoke alters the expression of PECAM-1 in uterine endothelial cells. Human uterine microvascular endothelial cells were cultured in cigarette smoke-conditioned medium (CSM) under arterial physiological flow conditions (shear or frictional stress in the range 7.5-15 dyne/cm(2)) and the expression of PECAM-1 was assessed by immunofluorescence microscopy and Western blotting. Thick reticular PECAM-1-associated bands found at cell-cell junctions in static cultures became significantly thinner or disappeared when the cells were exposed to shear stress or to CSM for 24 h. This diminution at cell junctions was accompanied by increased punctate cytoplasmic/cell surface staining. Under shear stress conditions, PECAM-1 was equally distributed between cell surface and intracellular sites. In contrast, when cells were exposed to both shear stress and CSM, PECAM-1 was predominantly localized to the cell surface. It was shown that shear stress increased endothelial cell migration and that CSM abrogated this effect. These results suggest that, under shear stress conditions, PECAM-1 is not predominantly concentrated at intercellular junctions in uterine endothelial cells. Exposure of cells to unidentified soluble components of cigarette smoke leads to alterations in PECAM-1 distribution that may cause endothelial dysfunction. If this occurs in vivo it could contribute to the adverse effects on pregnancy outcome associated with exposure to cigarette smoke.