Antibody-enzyme conjugates for cancer therapy.

The use of antibody-enzyme conjugates directed at tumor-associated antigens to achieve site-specific activation of prodrugs to potent cytotoxic species, termed "antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy" (ADEPT), has attracted considerable interest since the concept was first described in 1987. Prodrug forms of both clinically used anticancer agents and novel cytotoxic compounds have been developed to take advantage of potential prodrug-generating technology employing a variety of enzymes with widely differing substrate specificities. A particular advantage of the ADEPT approach is that it may allow the use of extremely potent agents such as nitrogen mustards and palytoxin, which are too toxic to be readily used in conventional chemotherapy. Preliminary studies using an antibody-enzyme conjugate constructed with a bacterial enzyme and a murine monoclonal antibody not only have established the value of the ADEPT technique, but also have highlighted the potential problem of immunogenicity of proteins of nonhuman origin. This problem has been tackled in the first instance by the use of immunosuppressive agents, but long-term solutions are being investigated in the development of second-generation ADEPT systems, including the development of human antibody-human enzyme fusion proteins and catalytic antibodies. Such improvements, coupled with further refinement of the prodrug-drug element of the system and the wide variety of antibody-enzyme-drug combinations available, should mean that ADEPT-based approaches will form an important element of the search for the anticancer drugs of the future.

Enhancement of trimetrexate cytotoxicity in vitro and in vivo by carboxypeptidase G2.

Carboxypeptidase G2 (CPG2), an enzyme produced by Pseudomonas strain RS-16, hydrolyzes the glutamate residue from methotrexate and other folates. The possibility of enhancing trimetrexate cytotoxicity by CPG2 induced folate depletion was investigated in vitro in a human leukemia cell line, CCRF-CEM, and in three sublines of these cells each with a different methotrexate resistance phenotype. The cytotoxic effect in vitro was detected using a colorimetric assay with a tetrazolium salt, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide. Dose-effect relationships of drugs alone and in combination were analyzed by the median effect principle and by the combination indices for quantitation of synergy or antagonism with the aid of a computer program. Trimetrexate alone was cytotoxic against the parent and all the resistant cell lines with the drug concentrations required to decrease the cell count to 50% of control in the nanomolar range (1.4, 1.6, 1.5, and 0.7 nM in CCRF-CEM, CCRF-CEM/E, CCRF-CEM/P, and CCRF-CEM/T, respectively) following 5 days of exposure. The concentration of CPG2 required to decrease the cell count to 50% control for these cell lines was 3.5, 2.6, 26.6, and 7.9 x 10(-5) units/ml for CCRF-CEM, CCRF-CEM/E, CCRF-CEM/P, and CCRF-CEM/T, respectively. A synergistic cytotoxic effect of trimetrexate after simultaneous continuous exposure with CPG2 was observed with CCRF-CEM cells and with the three resistant cell lines. This drug combination given to BALB/c x DBA/2 F1 mice bearing L1210 cells also produced synergy over a narrow range of drug doses. The activity of this combination in both methotrexate sensitive and methotrexate resistant cell lines indicates that clinical trials of this combination should be undertaken.

Metal ion-promoted binding of proteins to immobilized triazine dye affinity adsorbents.

Low concentrations of metal ions, particularly those of the first row transition series such as Zn2+, Co2+, Mn2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, and, to a lesser extent, the group IIA ions, Ca2+ and Mg2+, promotes binding of carboxypeptidase G2, alkaline phosphatase and yeast hexokinase to immobilized Procion Red H-8BN, Procion Yellow H-A and Cibacron Blue F3G-A respectively. The binding of ovalbumin to immobilized Cibacron Blue F3G-A and Procion Orange MX-G is selectively enhanced in the presence of AI3+. With ovalbumin and alkaline phosphatase, the effect is almost totally specific for both the metal ion and dye, whereas with carboxypeptidase G2 and hexokinase, metal ions such as Co2+, Ni2+, Mn2+, Cu2+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ also promote binding to varying degrees. Almost all other monovalent and trivalent metal ions appear to be ineffective. Metal ion-bound enzymes can subsequently be eluted with appropriate chelating agents of the amine, aminocarboxylate or substituted pyridine classes.

Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of carboxypeptidase G2 from Pseudomonas sp. strain RS-16.

Carboxypeptidase G2, a zinc metalloenzyme isolated from Pseudomonas sp. strain RS-16, which catalyses the hydrolytic cleavage of reduced and non-reduced folates to pteroates and L-glutamate, has been crystallized from polyethylene glycol (average Mr 4000) by vapour diffusion. The crystal symmetry is monoclinic C2, with unit cell dimensions a = 206 A, b = 82 A, c = 116 A and beta = 118 degrees. The molecular mass and volume of the unit cell suggest that there are two dimers of the enzyme in the asymmetric unit. The crystals diffract to at least 3.0 A and are suitable for X-ray structure analysis.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the Pseudomonas gene coding for carboxypeptidase G2.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the Pseudomonas chromosomal gene coding for the enzyme carboxypeptidase G2 (CPG2) has been determined. The nucleotide sequence obtained has been confirmed by comparing the predicted amino acid sequence with that of randomly derived peptide fragments and by N-terminal sequencing of the purified protein. The gene has been shown to code for a 22 amino acid signal peptide at its N-terminus which closely resembles the signal peptides of other secreted proteins. An alternative 36 amino acid signal peptide which may function in Pseudomonas has also been identified. The codon utilisation of the gene is influenced by the high G + C (67.2%) content of the DNA and exhibits a 92.8% preference for codons ending in G or C. This unusual codon preference may contribute to the generally observed weak expression of Pseudomonas genes in Escherichia coli. A region of DNA upstream of the structural gene has also been sequenced and a ribosome binding site and two putative promoter sequences identified.

Tumour necrosis factor increases tumour uptake of co-administered antibody-carboxypeptidase G2 conjugate.

Increased tumour uptake of antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates has been demonstrated following pretreatment of animals with recombinant human tumour necrosis factor-alpha (rTNF-alpha) and interleukin 2 immunoconjugates. The experiments reported here were performed to determine whether improved tumour localisation of antibody-carboxypeptidase G2 conjugates could be achieved, with a view to applying this technology to antibody-directed enzyme-prodrug therapy (ADEPT). B6CF1 mice bearing the Ly-2.1+ murine thymoma E3 were simultaneously injected with 2.0 micrograms rTNF-alpha and 3.5 micrograms (74kBq) 125I-labelled murine anti-Ly-2.1-CPG2 conjugate. Mice in control groups received phosphate buffered saline in place of rTNF-alpha. The conjugate corresponded in molecular weight to a mixture of 1:1 and 2:1 (CPG2:IgG) conjugate and retained its antigen binding specificity and enzymic activity in vitro. A significant increase in tumour uptake was observed 24 h after administration when rTNF-alpha-treated animals were compared to controls (28.1 +/- 9.7%/g and 11.6 +/- 2.3%/g, respectively). Other tissues, most notably gut, skin and kidney also showed an increased localisation of conjugate. By 48 h, analysis of tissue:blood ratios demonstrated that although tumour:blood ratios were significantly higher in rTNF-alpha-treated animals (P < 0.05), all the other tissue:blood ratios were not significantly different between the two groups.

Ablation of human choriocarcinoma xenografts in nude mice by antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT) with three novel compounds.

Three novel prodrugs have been designed for use as anticancer agents. Each is a bifunctional alkylating agent which has been protected to form a relatively inactive prodrug. They are designed to be activated to their corresponding alkylating agents at a tumour site by prior administration of an antitumour antibody conjugated to the bacterial enzyme carboxypeptidase G2 (CPG2) in a two-phase system called antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT). The Km and Vmax values for three different antibody-CPG2 conjugates were determined in relation to each prodrug. The Km values ranged from 4.5-12 mumol/l and the Vmax from 0.5-1.6 mumol/U/min. Athymic Nu/Nu mice with palpable transplanted human choriocarcinoma xenografts, which are resistant to conventional chemotherapy, were treated with anti-human chorionic gonadotropin antibodies conjugated to CPG2. This was followed by each of the three novel prodrugs. Significant increase in survival was obtained in three of the regimens tested using only one course of treatment. This demonstrates the potential of a tumour-localised bacterial enzyme to activate protected alkylating agents in order to eradicate an established human xenograft.

Optimisation of small-scale coupling of A5B7 monoclonal antibody to carboxypeptidase G2.

Conjugates of F(ab')2 fragment of the monoclonal antibody A5B7 coupled to carboxypeptidase G2 (CPG2) have been produced using the heterobifunctional reagents 2-mercapto-[S-acetyl]acetic acid, N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (SATA) and m-maleimidobenzoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (SMPB). The effect of various levels of modifying reagent on enzyme activity and antigen binding activity were determined, and it was shown that whilst CPG2 is relatively sensitive to modification, insertion of three maleimide groups per CPG2 resulted in the loss of 30% of enzyme activity; A5B7 F(ab')2 was insensitive to modification, little or no activity being lost. The coupling efficiency of the reaction was shown to be fairly constant over a wide range of substitution levels. There was thus no advantage to be gained in using high substitution levels, which may result in loss of enzyme activity. The formation of undesired high molecular weight aggregates could be controlled by adjustment of the protein concentration during the final coupling step.

The bioactivation of 5-(aziridin-1-yl)-2,4-dinitrobenzamide (CB1954)--I. Purification and properties of a nitroreductase enzyme from Escherichia coli--a potential enzyme for antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT).

A nitroreductase enzyme has been isolated from Escherichia coli B. This enzyme is an FMN-containing flavoprotein with a molecular mass of 24 kDa and requires either NADH or NADPH as a cofactor. Partial protein sequence analysis showed extensive homology with the "classical nitroreductase" of Salmonella typhimurium and a nitroreductase induced in Enterobacter cloacae. In common with the Salmonella enzyme, the E. coli B enzyme is capable of reducing nitrofurazone. The E. coli nitroreductase is also capable of reducing the anti-tumour agent CB1954 [5-(aziridin-1-yl)-2,4-dinitrobenzamide], a property shared with the mammalian enzyme DT diaphorase [NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (quinone)] as isolated from Walker cells. The reduction of CB1954 by the E. coli enzyme results in the generation of cytotoxic species. Both enzymes also share the properties of being able to reduce quinones and are both inhibited by dicoumarol. The nitroreductase is a more active enzyme against CB1954 (kcat = 360 min-1) than Walker DT diaphorase (kcat = 4 min-1) and also has a lower Km for NADH (6 vs 75 microM).

The bioactivation of 5-(aziridin-1-yl)-2,4-dinitrobenzamide (CB1954)--II. A comparison of an Escherichia coli nitroreductase and Walker DT diaphorase.

A nitroreductase enzyme that has been isolated from Escherichia coli B is capable of bioactivating CB1954 [5-(aziridin-1-yl)-2,4-dinitrobenzamide] to a cytotoxic agent, a property shared with the mammalian enzyme Walker DT diaphorase [NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (quinone), EC 1.6.99.2] as isolated from Walker cells. In contrast to Walker DT diaphorase, which can only reduce the 4-nitro group of CB1954, the E. coli nitroreductase can reduce either (but not both) nitro groups of CB1954 to the corresponding hydroxylamino species. The two hydroxylamino species are formed in equal proportions and at the same rates. CB1954 is reduced much more rapidly by the E. coli nitroreductase than by Walker DT diaphorase. If the reduction of CB1954 was carried out in the presence of V79 cells (which are insensitive to CB1954) a large cytotoxic effect was evident. This cytotoxicity was only observed under conditions in which the E. coli nitroreductase or Walker DT diaphorase reduced the drug. It is proposed that E. coli B nitroreductase would be a suitable enzyme for antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT) in combination with CB1954.

Covalent linkage of carboxypeptidase G2 to soluble dextrans--I. Properties of conjugates and effects on plasma persistence in mice.

The covalent attachment of the therapeutic enzyme carboxypeptidase G2 to soluble dextrans of varying molecular weight resulted in a 5-15-fold increase in plasma persistence in normal and tumour-bearing mice. The molecular weight of the dextran used markedly affected the number of dextran molecules present in the conjugate, resulting in a molecular weight distribution between 6 and 12 X 10(5) daltons. The isoelectric point of the conjugates varied between 4.1 and 4.8 compared to native enzyme 7.8. Conjugates were resistant to proteolysis by trypsin and chymotrypsin, but showed little difference in their affinity for substrate.

Covalent linkage of carboxypeptidase G2 to soluble dextrans--II. In vivo distribution and fate of conjugates.

The in vivo fate of the therapeutic enzyme, carboxypeptidase G2 (CPG2) in native form and covalently-linked to soluble dextrans was studied in the mouse using radiolabelled compounds. Clearance, from the blood, of all compounds tested was found to be as intact, active material, whilst excreted radiolabel was associated in all cases with low molecular weight substances. The clearance and excretion rates of native CPG2 were found to balance, but this was not so for dextran-CPG2 conjugate or CNBr-activated dextran. Tissue distribution studies demonstrated that there was little or no tissue uptake of native CPG2, whereas dextran-CPG2 conjugate, and CNBr-activated dextran were retained in the liver. Within the liver, the CPG2 component of dextran-CPG2 conjugate was degraded more rapidly than the dextran moiety. Blockade of reticulo-endothelial system (RES) led to increased half-lives of dextran CPG2 conjugate and CNBr-activated dextran, demonstrating the involvement of the RES in the clearance of these compounds. Impairment of RES activity did not affect the clearance rate of native CPG2. These results are discussed in relation to the potential use of dextran-CPG2 conjugates in cancer chemotherapy.

Carboxypeptidase G2 and trimetrexate cause growth delay of human colonic cancer cells in vitro.

MAWI colonic cancer cells respond to sequential treatment in vitro with carboxypeptidase G2 and trimetrexate by a delay in cell growth as measured by cell numbers, but an increase in incorporation of 75-Se-selenomethionine per cell. The cells are not methionine auxotrophs.

Bioactivation of dinitrobenzamide mustards by an E. coli B nitroreductase.

A nitroreductase isolated and purified from Escherichia coli B has been demonstrated to have potential applications in ADEPT (antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy) by its ability in vitro to reduce dinitrobenzamides (e.g. 5-aziridinyl 2,4-dinitrobenzamide, CB 1954 and its bischloroethylamino analogue, SN 23862) to form cytotoxic derivatives. In contrast to CB 1954, in which either nitro group is reducible to the corresponding hydroxylamine, SN 23862 is reduced by the nitroreductase to form only the 2-hydroxylamine. This hydroxylamine can react with S-acetylthiocholine to form a species capable of producing interstrand crosslinks in naked DNA. In terms of ADEPT, SN 23862 has a potential advantage over CB 1954 in that it is not reduced by mammalian DT diaphorases. Therefore, a series of compounds related to SN 23862 has been synthesized, and evaluated as potential prodrugs both by determination of kinetic parameters and by ratio of IC50 against UV4 cells when incubated in the presence of prodrug, with and without the E. coli enzyme and cofactor (NADH). Results from the two studies were generally in good agreement in that compounds showing no increase in cytotoxicity in presence of enzyme and cofactor were not substrates for the enzyme. None of the analogues were activated by DT diaphorase isolated from Walker 256 carcinoma cells. For those compounds which were substrates for the E. coli nitroreductase, there was a positive correlation between kcat and IC50 ratio. Two compounds showed advantageous properties: SN 25261 (with a dihydroxypropylcarboxamide ring substituent) which has a more than 10-fold greater aqueous solubility than SN 23862 whilst retaining similar kinetic characteristics and cytotoxic potency; and SN 25084, where a change in the position of the carboxamide group relative to the mustard resulted in an increased cytotoxicity ratio and kcat compared with SN 23862 (IC50 ratios 214 and 135; kcat values of 75 and 26.4 sec-1, respectively). An analogue (SN 25507) incorporating both these structural changes had an enhanced kcat of 576 sec-1. This study elucidates some of the structural requirements of the enzyme and aids identification of further directions in the search for suitable prodrugs for an ADEPT nitroreductase system.

Virtual cofactors for an Escherichia coli nitroreductase enzyme: relevance to reductively activated prodrugs in antibody directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT).

A nitroreductase enzyme has been isolated from Escherichia coli that has the unusual property of being equally capable of using either NADH or NADPH as a cofactor for the reduction of its substrates which include menadione as well as 5-(aziridin-1-yl)-2,4-dinitrobenzamide (CB 1954). This property is shared with the mammalian enzyme, DT diaphorase. The nitroreductase can, like DT diaphorase, also use simple reduced pyridinium compounds as virtual cofactors. The intact NAD(P)H molecule is not required and the simplest quaternary (and therefore reducible) derivative of nicotinamide, 1-methylnicotinamide (reduced), is as effective as NAD(P)H in its ability to act as an electron donor for the nitroreductase. The structure-activity relationship is not identical to that of DT diaphorase and nicotinic acid riboside (reduced) is selective, being active only for the nitroreductase. Irrespective of the virtual cofactor used, the nitroreductase formed the same reduction products of CB 1954 (the 2- and 4-hydroxylamino derivatives in equal proportions). Nicotinic acid riboside (reduced), unlike NADH, was stable to metabolism by serum enzymes and had a plasma half-life of seven minutes in the mouse after an i.v. bolus administration. NADH had an unmeasurably short half-life. Nicotinic acid riboside (reduced) could also be produced in vivo by administration of nicotinic acid 5'-O-benzoyl riboside (reduced). These results demonstrate that the requirement for a cofactor need not be a limitation in the use of reductive enzymes in antibody directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT). It is proposed that the E. coli nitroreductase would be a suitable enzyme for ADEPT in combination with CB 1954 and a synthetic, enzyme-selective, virtual cofactor such as nicotinic acid riboside (reduced).

Antibody directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT): a three phase system.

Monoclonal anti-CEA antibody, A5B7, and its fragments conjugated to CPG2 localize to a peak concentration in the LS174T xenografts within 24 h after injection, but enzyme activity persists in plasma such that prodrug injection has to be delayed for 5-6 days in order to avoid toxicity. Injection of prodrug at this time did not result in growth delay of this tumour. A three-phase system has been developed in which residual plasma enzyme was inactivated and cleared by a galactosylated anti-CPG2 antibody, SB43gal, allowing prodrug administration within 24 h after the conjugate. Using this three-phase system, a marked growth delay of this tumour was achieved after a single course of treatment consisting of conjugate injection followed by SB43gal, 19 h later and three doses of the prodrug.

Antibody directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT): clinical report.

Following an extensive series of studies in nude mice with human xenografts a pilot scale clinical trial of antibody directed enzyme prodrug therapy has been initiated. The principle is to activate a relatively inert prodrug to an active cytotoxin by a tumour located enzyme. In the first stage of the study a prodrug para-N-(mono-2-chloroethyl monomesyl)-aminobenzoyl glutamic acid was administered to six patients with advanced colorectal cancer in a dose escalating protocol. Nausea and vomiting occurred as the only discernible toxic effect at the higher dose levels. Three of these patients and two other patients with advanced disease have proceeded to the second stage of the study in which an antibody-enzyme conjugate was given IV, followed after 36-48 h by a galactosylated anti-enzyme antibody. When plasma enzyme levels had become undetectable the patients received multiple doses of the prodrug. At the lower doses toxicity was minimal as were clinical responses. Two patients received higher doses which resulted in myelosuppression and temporary regression of advanced disease. No complications resulted from administration of the antibody-enzyme complex or enzyme inactivating antibody. The myelosuppression is attributable to the relatively long half-life of the active drug formed from the prodrug used in the present study.

Making bacterial extracts suitable for chromatography.

Despite the exotic appearance and odor of bacterial extracts, it should be remembered that they are predominantly water with only a few percent w/v solids. The twin objectives of preparation prior to chromatography are, therefore, clarification and concentration. It is not the purpose of this chapter to describe cell disruption techniques, but it is worth noting that the method used, whether physical, mechanical, or chemical, can affect the properties of the extract and subsequent clarification, for instance, in relation to viscosity on membrane filtration. The concentration stage can incorporate a primary purification step, for example, in the form of a protein precipitation/resuspension or a batch binding of protein, normally to an ionexchange matrix. The more recent development of fast-flow chromatographic matrices does, however, allow larger process volumes to be applied directly to columns, for example, 200-L bed vol columns can operate at loading flow rates of up to 1000 L/h. The general techniques used for clarification and concentration are summarized in Table 1, and practical examples are described as they relate to pilot and large-scale processing rather than laboratory techniques. Table 1 General Techniques Used for Clarification and Concentration Physical Chemical Clarification Centrifugation Two phase Filtration (P)H Polymers Concentration Filtration Precipitation Batch binding.