Evaluation of a novel hexavalent humanized anti-IGF-1R antibody and its bivalent parental IgG in diverse cancer cell lines.

A major mechanism of monoclonal antibodies that selectively target the insulin-like growth factor type 1 receptor (IGF-1R) to inhibit tumor growth is by downregulating the receptor, regardless whether they are capable (antagonistic) or incapable (agonistic) of blocking the binding of cognate ligands. We have developed and characterized a novel agonistic anti-IGF-1R humanized antibody, hR1, and used the Dock-and-Lock (DNL) method to construct Hex-hR1, the first multivalent antibody comprising 6 functional Fabs of hR1, with the aim of enhancing potency of hR1. Based on cross-blocking experiments, hR1 recognizes a region of cysteine-rich domain on the α-subunit, different from the epitopes mapped for existing anti-IGF-1R antibodies, yet hR1 is similar to other anti-IGF-1R antibodies in downregulating IGF-1R and inhibiting proliferation, colony formation, or invasion of selected cancer cell lines in vitro, as well as suppressing growth of the RH-30 rhabdomyosarcoma xenograft in nude mice when combined with the mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin. Hex-hR1 and hR1 are generally comparable in their bioactivities under the in-intro and in-vivo conditions investigated. Nevertheless, in selective experiments involving a direct comparison of potency, Hex-hR1 demonstrated a stronger effect on inhibiting cell proliferation stimulated by IGF-1 and could effectively downregulate IGF-1R at a concentration as low as 20 pM.

Bispecific antibody pretargeting PET (immunoPET) with an 124I-labeled hapten-peptide.

UNLABELLED: We previously described a highly flexible bispecific antibody (bs-mAb) pretargeting procedure using a multivalent, recombinant anti-CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) x anti-HSG (histamine-succinyl-glycine) fusion protein with peptides radiolabeled with 111In, 90Y, 177Lu, and 99mTc. The objective of this study was to develop a radioiodination procedure primarily to assess PET imaging with 124I. METHODS: A new peptide, DOTA-D-Tyr-D-Lys(HSG)-D-Glu-D-Lys(HSG)-NH2 (DOTA is 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N'',N'''-tetraacetic acid), was synthesized and conditions were established for radioiodination with yields of approximately 70% for 131I and 60% for 124I. Pretargeting with the 131I- and 124I-labeled peptide was tested in nude mice bearing LS174T human colonic tumors that were first given the anti-CEA x anti-HSG bs-mAb. Imaging (including small-animal PET) and necropsy data were collected at several intervals over 24 h. Comparisons were made between animals given 124I-anti-CEA Fab', 18F-FDG, the same peptide radiolabeled with 111In and pretargeted with the bs-mAb, and the radioiodinated peptide alone. RESULTS: The radioiodinated peptide alone cleared quickly from the blood with no evidence of tumor targeting, but when pretargeted with the bs-mAb, tumor uptake increased 70-fold, with efficient and rapid clearance from normal tissues, allowing clear visualization of tumor within 1-2 h. Tumor uptake measured at necropsy was 3- to 15-fold higher and tumor-to-blood ratios were 10- to 20-fold higher than those for 124I-Fab' at 1 and 24 h, respectively. Thyroid and stomach uptake was observed with the radioiodinated peptide several hours after injection (animals were not premedicated to reduce uptake in these tissues), but gastric uptake was much more pronounced with 124I-Fab'. Tumor visualization with 18F-FDG at approximately 1.5 h was also good but showed substantially more uptake in several normal tissues, making image interpretation in the pretargeted animals less ambiguous than with 18F-FDG. CONCLUSION: Bispecific antibody pretargeting has a significant advantage for tumor imaging over directly radiolabeled antibodies and could provide additional enhancements for oncologic imaging, particularly for improving targeting specificity as compared with 18F-FDG.

Pretargeting of carcinoembryonic antigen-expressing cancers with a trivalent bispecific fusion protein produced in myeloma cells.

PURPOSE: To characterize a novel trivalent bispecific fusion protein and evaluate its potential utility for pretargeted delivery of radionuclides to tumors. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: hBS14, a recombinant fusion protein that binds bispecifically to carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and the hapten, histamine-succinyl-glycine (HSG), was produced by transgenic myeloma cells and purified to near homogeneity in a single step using a novel HSG-based affinity chromatography system. Biochemical characterization included size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography (SE-HPLC), SDS-PAGE, and isoelectric focusing. Functional characterization was provided by BIAcore and SE-HPLC. The efficacy of hBS14 for tumor pretargeting was evaluated in CEA-expressing GW-39 human colon tumor-bearing nude mice using a bivalent HSG hapten (IMP-241) labeled with (111)In. RESULTS: Biochemical analysis showed that single-step affinity chromatography provided highly purified material. SE-HPLC shows a single protein peak consistent with the predicted molecular size of hBS14. SDS-PAGE analysis shows only two polypeptide bands, which are consistent with the calculated molecular weights of the hBS14 polypeptides. BIAcore showed the bispecific binding properties and suggested that hBS14 possesses two functional CEA-binding sites. This was supported by SE-HPLC immunoreactivity experiments. All of the data suggest that the structure of hBS14 is an 80 kDa heterodimer with one HSG and two CEA binding sites. Pretargeting experiments in the mouse model showed high uptake of radiopeptide in the tumor, with favorable tumor-to-nontumor ratios as early as 3 hours postinjection. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that hBS14 is an attractive candidate for use in a variety of pretargeting applications, particularly tumor therapy with radionuclides and drugs.

Phase I radioimmunotherapy trial with iodine-131--labeled humanized MN-14 anti-carcinoembryonic antigen monoclonal antibody in patients with metastatic gastrointestinal and colorectal cancer.

This trial was conducted to determine the pharmacokinetics, dosimetry, dose-limiting toxicity, and the maximum tolerated dose of iodine-131 humanized MN-14 immunoglobulin G (131I-hMN-14 IgG), a humanized complementary-determining region-grafted anti-carcinoembryonic antigen monoclonal antibody, in metastatic gastrointestinal and colorectal cancer patients. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group A consisted of patients who had prior external beam radiation therapy (n = 8), and group B included patients who had received standard chemotherapy (n = 13). All patients received a diagnostic infusion of 131I-hMN-14 IgG (approximately 8.0 mCi, 15 mg/m2) to study the pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and dosimetry. One week later, 17 of 21 patients received infusional therapy of escalating radioactive doses of 131I-hMN-14 IgG. Blood pharmacokinetics and quantitative imaging were performed again after the therapeutic dose. Radiation-absorbed doses to normal organs and tumors were determined by MIRDOSE-3 algorithms. The primary dose-limiting toxicity was hematologic toxicity at 40 mCi/m2. The blood half-life (n = 20) was identical for the diagnostic and therapy infusions. The mean red marrow dose was 2.2 +/- 2.4 cGy/mCi. The mean tumor radiation dose (n = 8) was 24.2 +/- 22.6 cGy/mCi. Tumor targeting was seen in most large metastatic lesions. No objective responses were seen in these heavily pretreated and mostly advanced patients. In conclusion, 131I-hMN-14 IgG has good targeting, good tumor to normal organs radiation absorbed ratios, and an acceptable toxicity profile in advanced metastatic gastrointestinal and colorectal cancer patients.