1
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Hampton JT, Liu WR. Diversification of Phage-Displayed Peptide Libraries with Noncanonical Amino Acid Mutagenesis and Chemical Modification. Chem Rev 2024; 124:6051-6077. [PMID: 38686960 PMCID: PMC11082904 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Sitting on the interface between biologics and small molecules, peptides represent an emerging class of therapeutics. Numerous techniques have been developed in the past 30 years to take advantage of biological methods to generate and screen peptide libraries for the identification of therapeutic compounds, with phage display being one of the most accessible techniques. Although traditional phage display can generate billions of peptides simultaneously, it is limited to expression of canonical amino acids. Recently, several groups have successfully undergone efforts to apply genetic code expansion to introduce noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) with novel reactivities and chemistries into phage-displayed peptide libraries. In addition to biological methods, several different chemical approaches have also been used to install noncanonical motifs into phage libraries. This review focuses on these recent advances that have taken advantage of both biological and chemical means for diversification of phage libraries with ncAAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Trae Hampton
- Texas
A&M Drug Discovery Center and Department of Chemistry, College
of Arts and Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Wenshe Ray Liu
- Texas
A&M Drug Discovery Center and Department of Chemistry, College
of Arts and Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Institute
of Biosciences and Technology and Department of Translational Medical
Sciences, College of Medicine, Texas A&M
University, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department
of Cell Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
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2
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Chen FJ, Pinnette N, Gao J. Strategies for the Construction of Multicyclic Phage Display Libraries. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202400072. [PMID: 38466139 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202400072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Peptide therapeutics have gained great interest due to their multiple advantages over small molecule and antibody-based drugs. Peptide drugs are easier to synthesize, have the potential for oral bioavailability, and are large enough to target protein-protein interactions that are undruggable by small molecules. However, two major limitations have made it difficult to develop novel peptide therapeutics not derived from natural products, including the metabolic instability of peptides and the difficulty of reaching antibody-like potencies and specificities. Compared to linear and disulfide-monocyclized peptides, multicyclic peptides can provide increased conformational rigidity, enhanced metabolic stability, and higher potency in inhibiting protein-protein interactions. The identification of novel multicyclic peptide binders can be difficult, however, recent advancements in the construction of multicyclic phage libraries have greatly advanced the process of identifying novel multicyclic peptide binders for therapeutically relevant protein targets. This review will describe the current approaches used to create multicyclic peptide libraries, highlighting the novel chemistries developed and the proof-of-concept work done on validating these libraries against different protein targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fa-Jie Chen
- College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350108, China
| | - Nicole Pinnette
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, Merkert Chemistry Center 2609 Beacon Street, Chestnut Hill, MA-02467, USA
| | - Jianmin Gao
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, Merkert Chemistry Center 2609 Beacon Street, Chestnut Hill, MA-02467, USA
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3
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Villequey C, Zurmühl SS, Cramer CN, Bhusan B, Andersen B, Ren Q, Liu H, Qu X, Yang Y, Pan J, Chen Q, Münzel M. An efficient mRNA display protocol yields potent bicyclic peptide inhibitors for FGFR3c: outperforming linear and monocyclic formats in affinity and stability. Chem Sci 2024; 15:6122-6129. [PMID: 38665530 PMCID: PMC11040643 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc04763f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Macrocyclization has positioned itself as a powerful method for engineering potent peptide drug candidates. Introducing one or multiple cyclizations is a common strategy to improve properties such as affinity, bioavailability and proteolytic stability. Consequently, methodologies to create large libraries of polycyclic peptides by phage or mRNA display have emerged, allowing the rapid identification of binders to virtually any target. Yet, within those libraries, the performance of linear vs. mono- or bicyclic peptides has rarely been studied. Indeed, a key parameter to perform such a comparison is to use a display protocol and cyclization chemistry that enables the formation of all 3 formats in equal quality and diversity. Here, we developed a simple, efficient and fast mRNA display protocol which meets these criteria and can be used to generate highly diverse libraries of thioether cyclized polycyclic peptides. As a proof of concept, we selected peptides against fibroblast growth factor receptor 3c (FGFR3c) and compared the different formats regarding affinity, specificity, and human plasma stability. The peptides with the best KD's and stability were identified among bicyclic peptide hits, further strengthening the body of evidence pointing at the superiority of this class of molecules and providing functional and selective inhibitors of FGFR3c.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Villequey
- Global Research Technologies, Novo Nordisk A/S Novo Nordisk Park 2760 Måløv Denmark
| | - Silvana S Zurmühl
- Global Research Technologies, Novo Nordisk A/S Novo Nordisk Park 2760 Måløv Denmark
| | - Christian N Cramer
- Global Research Technologies, Novo Nordisk A/S Novo Nordisk Park 2760 Måløv Denmark
| | - Bhaskar Bhusan
- Department of Chemistry, Oxford University, Chemistry Research Laboratory 12 Mansfield Road Oxford UK
| | - Birgitte Andersen
- Global Drug Discovery, Novo Nordisk A/S Novo Nordisk Park 2760 Måløv Denmark
| | - Qianshen Ren
- Novo Nordisk Research Center China, Novo Nordisk A/S Shengmingyuan West Ring Rd, Changping District Beijing China
| | - Haimo Liu
- Novo Nordisk Research Center China, Novo Nordisk A/S Shengmingyuan West Ring Rd, Changping District Beijing China
| | - Xinping Qu
- Novo Nordisk Research Center China, Novo Nordisk A/S Shengmingyuan West Ring Rd, Changping District Beijing China
| | - Yang Yang
- Novo Nordisk Research Center China, Novo Nordisk A/S Shengmingyuan West Ring Rd, Changping District Beijing China
| | - Jia Pan
- Novo Nordisk Research Center China, Novo Nordisk A/S Shengmingyuan West Ring Rd, Changping District Beijing China
| | - Qiujia Chen
- Novo Nordisk Research Center China, Novo Nordisk A/S Shengmingyuan West Ring Rd, Changping District Beijing China
| | - Martin Münzel
- Global Research Technologies, Novo Nordisk A/S Novo Nordisk Park 2760 Måløv Denmark
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4
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Bocci M, Zana A, Principi L, Lucaroni L, Prati L, Gilardoni E, Neri D, Cazzamalli S, Galbiati A. In vivo activation of FAP-cleavable small molecule-drug conjugates for the targeted delivery of camptothecins and tubulin poisons to the tumor microenvironment. J Control Release 2024; 367:779-790. [PMID: 38346501 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Small molecule-drug conjugates (SMDCs) are increasingly considered as a therapeutic alternative to antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for cancer therapy. OncoFAP is an ultra-high affinity ligand of Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP), a stromal tumor-associated antigen overexpressed in a wide variety of solid human malignancies. We have recently reported the development of non-internalizing OncoFAP-based SMDCs, which are activated by FAP thanks to selective proteolytic cleavage of the -GlyPro- linker with consequent release of monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) in the tumor microenvironment. In this article, we describe the generation and the in vivo characterization of FAP-cleavable OncoFAP-drug conjugates based on potent topoisomerase I inhibitors (DXd, SN-38, and exatecan) and an anti-tubulin payload (MMAE), which are already exploited in clinical-stage and approved ADCs. The Glycine-Proline FAP-cleavable technology was directly benchmarked against linkers found in Adcetris™, Enhertu™, and Trodelvy™ structures by means of in vivo therapeutic experiments in mice bearing tumors with cellular or stromal FAP expression. OncoFAP-GlyPro-Exatecan and OncoFAP-GlyPro-MMAE emerged as the most efficacious anti-cancer therapeutics against FAP-positive cellular models. OncoFAP-GlyPro-MMAE exhibited a potent antitumor activity also against stromal models, and was therefore selected for clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matilde Bocci
- Philochem AG, R&D Department, CH-8112 Otelfingen, Switzerland.
| | - Aureliano Zana
- Philochem AG, R&D Department, CH-8112 Otelfingen, Switzerland
| | | | - Laura Lucaroni
- Philochem AG, R&D Department, CH-8112 Otelfingen, Switzerland
| | - Luca Prati
- Philochem AG, R&D Department, CH-8112 Otelfingen, Switzerland
| | | | - Dario Neri
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Zurich CH-8093, Switzerland; Philogen S.p.A., Siena 53100, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Galbiati
- Philochem AG, R&D Department, CH-8112 Otelfingen, Switzerland.
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5
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Zhang J, Hu F, Aras O, Chai Y, An F. Small Molecule-Drug Conjugates: Opportunities for the Development of Targeted Anticancer Drugs. ChemMedChem 2024:e202300720. [PMID: 38396351 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202300720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Conventional chemotherapy is insufficient for precise cancer treatment due to its lack of selectivity and inevitable side effects. Targeted drugs have emerged as a promising solution for precise cancer treatment. A common strategy is to conjugate therapeutic agents with ligands that can specifically bind to tumor cells, providing targeted therapy. Similar to the more successful antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), small molecule drug conjugates (SMDCs) are another promising class of targeted drugs, consisting of three parts: targeting ligand, cleavable linker and payload. Compared to ADCs, SMDCs have the advantages of smaller size, better permeability, simpler preparation process and non-immunogenicity, making them a promising alternative to ADCs. This review describes the characteristics of the targeting ligand, linker and payload of SMDCs and the criteria for selecting a suitable one. We also discuss recently reported SMDCs and list some successful SMDCs that have entered clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Zhang
- School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, No.76 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
| | - Fanchun Hu
- School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, No.76 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
| | - Omer Aras
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Yichao Chai
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an, Jiaotong University, No.157 Xiwu Road, Xincheng District, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710004, China
| | - Feifei An
- School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, No.76 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
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6
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Narjes F, Edfeldt F, Petersen J, Öster L, Hamblet C, Bird J, Bold P, Rae R, Bäck E, Stomilovic S, Zlatoidsky P, Svensson T, Hidestål L, Kunalingam L, Shamovsky I, De Maria L, Gordon E, Lewis RJ, Watcham S, van Rietschoten K, Mudd GE, Harrison H, Chen L, Skynner MJ. Discovery and Characterization of a Bicyclic Peptide (Bicycle) Binder to Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin. J Med Chem 2024; 67:2220-2235. [PMID: 38284169 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c02163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is an epithelial-derived pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in the development of asthma and other atopic diseases. We used Bicycle Therapeutics' proprietary phage display platform to identify bicyclic peptides (Bicycles) with high affinity for TSLP, a target that is difficult to drug with conventional small molecules due to the extended protein-protein interactions it forms with both receptors. The hit series was shown to bind to TSLP in a hotspot, that is also used by IL-7Rα. Guided by the first X-ray crystal structure of a small peptide binding to TSLP and the identification of key metabolites, we were able to improve the proteolytic stability of this series in lung S9 fractions without sacrificing binding affinity. This resulted in the potent Bicycle 46 with nanomolar affinity to TSLP (KD = 13 nM), low plasma clearance of 6.4 mL/min/kg, and an effective half-life of 46 min after intravenous dosing to rats.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Sophie Watcham
- BicycleTx Limited, Portway Building, Granta Park, Cambridge CB21 6GS, U.K
| | | | - Gemma E Mudd
- BicycleTx Limited, Portway Building, Granta Park, Cambridge CB21 6GS, U.K
| | - Helen Harrison
- BicycleTx Limited, Portway Building, Granta Park, Cambridge CB21 6GS, U.K
| | - Liuhong Chen
- BicycleTx Limited, Portway Building, Granta Park, Cambridge CB21 6GS, U.K
| | - Michael J Skynner
- BicycleTx Limited, Portway Building, Granta Park, Cambridge CB21 6GS, U.K
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7
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Abstract
Cyclic peptides are fascinating molecules abundantly found in nature and exploited as molecular format for drug development as well as other applications, ranging from research tools to food additives. Advances in peptide technologies made over many years through improved methods for synthesis and drug development have resulted in a steady stream of new drugs, with an average of around one cyclic peptide drug approved per year. Powerful technologies for screening random peptide libraries, and de novo generating ligands, have enabled the development of cyclic peptide drugs independent of naturally derived molecules and now offer virtually unlimited development opportunities. In this review, we feature therapeutically relevant cyclic peptides derived from nature and discuss the unique properties of cyclic peptides, the enormous technological advances in peptide ligand development in recent years, and current challenges and opportunities for developing cyclic peptides that address unmet medical needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinjian Ji
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, School of Basic Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alexander L Nielsen
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, School of Basic Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Christian Heinis
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, School of Basic Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
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8
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Domb C, Garcia JA, Barata PC, Mendiratta P, Rao S, Brown JR. Systematic review of recent advancements in antibody-drug and bicycle toxin conjugates for the treatment of urothelial cancer. Ther Adv Urol 2024; 16:17562872241249073. [PMID: 38779496 PMCID: PMC11110528 DOI: 10.1177/17562872241249073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Antibody-drug conjugates and bicycle toxin conjugates represent a tremendous advance in drug delivery technology and have shown great promise in the treatment of urothelial cancer. Previously approved systemic therapies, including chemotherapy and immunotherapy, are often impractical due to comorbidities, and outcomes for patients with advanced disease remain poor, even when receiving systemic therapy. In this setting, antibody-drug and bicycle toxin conjugates have emerged as novel treatments, dramatically altering the therapeutic landscape. These drugs harness unique designs consisting of antibody or bicycle peptide, linker, and cytotoxic payload with more targeted delivery than conventional chemotherapy, thus eliminating malignant cells while reducing systemic toxicities. Potential targets investigated in urothelial cancer include Nectin-4, TROP2, HER2, and EphA2. Initial clinical trials demonstrated efficacy in treatment of refractory advanced urothelial cancer, as well as improvement in quality of life. These initial studies led to FDA approval of two antibody-drug conjugates, enfortumab vedotin and sacituzumab govitecan. Moreover, antibody-drug and bicycle toxin conjugates are being studied in ongoing clinical trials in frontline treatment of advanced disease as well as for localized cancer. These studies highlight the potential for additional future therapies with novel targets, novel antibodies, cytotoxic and immunomodulatory payloads, and unique structural designs enhancing efficacy and safety. There is increasing evidence that combinations with other cancer therapies, especially immunotherapy, improve treatment outcomes. The combination of enfortumab vedotin and pembrolizumab was recently approved for first-line treatment of advanced urothelial carcinoma. Despite the great promise of these novel drugs, robust predictive biomarkers are needed to determine the patients who would maximally benefit. This review surveys the rationale and current state of the evidence for these new drugs and describes future directions actively being explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaim Domb
- University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Jorge A. Garcia
- University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Pedro C. Barata
- University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Prateek Mendiratta
- University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Santosh Rao
- University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Jason R. Brown
- University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, 11100 Euclid Ave., Lakeside 1200, Mailstop LKS 5079, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
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9
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Nadal R, Valderrama BP, Bellmunt J. Progress in systemic therapy for advanced-stage urothelial carcinoma. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2024; 21:8-27. [PMID: 37945764 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-023-00826-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Despite recent advances, advanced-stage urothelial carcinoma (aUC) remains incurable, with 5-year survival rates of approximately 10%. Platinum-based chemotherapy has a major role as first-line therapy for most patients with aUC. The approval of the anti-PD-L1 antibody avelumab as maintenance therapy for patients without initial disease progression on platinum-based chemotherapy is an important development that has improved the survival outcomes of patients with this disease. Otherwise, the use of first-line immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting PD-1 or PD-L1 has been restricted to patients who are ineligible for platinum-containing chemotherapy regimens. Other important developments include the FDA-accelerated approval of first-line enfortumab vedotin plus pembrolizumab for patients ineligible to receive cisplatin and the availability of FGFR inhibitors, enfortumab vedotin and sacituzumab govitecan for subsequent lines of therapy. Several research questions remain unaddressed including the lack of adequate biomarkers, how to assign priority to the different treatment options for individual patients and which agents can be effective as monotherapies. The future is promising with the emergence of modalities such as antibody-drug conjugate-like drugs, next-generation ICIs, bispecific antibodies and cellular therapies. In this Review, we summarize the evolution of systemic therapy for patients with aUC and provide insights into the unmet needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Nadal
- National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Begoña P Valderrama
- Hospital Virgen del Rocio, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío, Seville, Spain
| | - Joaquim Bellmunt
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Brigham and Women's Hospital Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Hospital del Mar Research Inst Lab (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain.
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10
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Wang H, Sun D, Chen J, Li H, Chen L. Nectin-4 has emerged as a compelling target for breast cancer. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 960:176129. [PMID: 38059449 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.176129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
The incidence of breast cancer in women has increased year by year, becoming one of the most common malignant tumors in females worldwide. Most patients can be treated with surgery and endocrine drugs, but there are still some patients who lack effective treatment, such as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Nectin-4, a protein encoded by poliovirus receptor-associated protein 4, is a Ca2+-independent immunoglobulin-like protein. It is mainly involved in the adhesion between cells. In recent years, studies have found that Nectin-4 is overexpressed in breast cancer and several other malignancies. Otherwise, several monoclonal antibodies and inhibitors targeting Nectin-4 have shown prosperous outcomes, so Nectin-4 has great potential to be a therapeutic target for breast cancer. The present review systematically describes the significance of Nectin-4 in each aspect of breast cancer, as well as the molecular mechanisms of these aspects mediated by Nectin-4. We further highlight ongoing or proposed therapeutic strategies for breast cancer specific to Nectin-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wang
- Wuya College of Innovation, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Dejuan Sun
- Wuya College of Innovation, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Jinxia Chen
- Wuya College of Innovation, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Hua Li
- Wuya College of Innovation, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, China; Institute of Structural Pharmacology & TCM Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350122, China.
| | - Lixia Chen
- Wuya College of Innovation, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, China.
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11
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Jiang D, Lan X, Cai W. PET Imaging of Nectin-4: A Promising Tool for Personalized/Precision Oncology. Clin Cancer Res 2023; 29:3259-3261. [PMID: 37417960 PMCID: PMC10529329 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-23-1243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
In a recent study, the authors developed a nectin-4-targeting bicyclic peptide-based radiotracer, 68Ga-N188, for PET imaging of advanced urothelial cancer. Preclinical investigation and first-in-human study in 14 patients demonstrated excellent specificity and sensitivity of 68Ga-N188 in detecting metastases. These promising results support 68Ga-N188 as a companion diagnostic for future personalized cancer therapy. See related article by Duan et al., p. 3395.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawei Jiang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Xiaoli Lan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Weibo Cai
- Departments of Radiology and Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
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12
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Lerchen HG, Stelte-Ludwig B, Heroult M, Zubov D, Gericke KM, Wong H, Frigault MM, Johnson AJ, Izumi R, Hamdy A. Discovery of VIP236, an αvβ3-Targeted Small-Molecule-Drug Conjugate with Neutrophil Elastase-Mediated Activation of 7-Ethyl Camptothecin Payload for Treatment of Solid Tumors. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4381. [PMID: 37686656 PMCID: PMC10486604 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15174381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The emerging field of small-molecule-drug conjugates (SMDCs) using small-molecule biomarker-targeted compounds for tumor homing may provide new perspectives for targeted delivery. Here, for the first time, we disclose the structure and the synthesis of VIP236, an SMDC designed for the treatment of metastatic solid tumors by targeting αvβ3 integrins and extracellular cleavage of the 7-ethyl camptothecin payload by neutrophil elastase in the tumor microenvironment. Imaging studies in the Lewis lung mouse model using an elastase cleavable quenched substrate showed pronounced elastase activity in the tumor. Pharmacokinetics studies of VIP236 in tumor-bearing mice demonstrated high stability of the SMDC in plasma and high tumor accumulation of the cleaved payload. Studies in bile-duct-cannulated rats showed that biliary excretion of the unmodified conjugate is the primary route of elimination. Treatment- and time-dependent phosphorylation of H2AX, a marker of DNA damage downstream of topoisomerase 1 inhibition, verified the on-target activity of the payload cleaved from VIP236 in vivo. Treatment with VIP236 resulted in long-lasting tumor regression in subcutaneous patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models from patients with non-small-cell lung, colon, and renal cancer as well as in two orthotopic metastatic triple-negative breast cancer PDX models. In these models, a significant reduction of brain and lung metastases also was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Dmitry Zubov
- Bayer AG, 42096 Wuppertal, Germany; (D.Z.); (K.M.G.)
| | | | - Harvey Wong
- Vincerx Pharma, Inc., Palo Alto, CA 94306, USA; (H.W.); (M.M.F.); (A.J.J.); (R.I.); (A.H.)
| | - Melanie M. Frigault
- Vincerx Pharma, Inc., Palo Alto, CA 94306, USA; (H.W.); (M.M.F.); (A.J.J.); (R.I.); (A.H.)
| | - Amy J. Johnson
- Vincerx Pharma, Inc., Palo Alto, CA 94306, USA; (H.W.); (M.M.F.); (A.J.J.); (R.I.); (A.H.)
| | - Raquel Izumi
- Vincerx Pharma, Inc., Palo Alto, CA 94306, USA; (H.W.); (M.M.F.); (A.J.J.); (R.I.); (A.H.)
| | - Ahmed Hamdy
- Vincerx Pharma, Inc., Palo Alto, CA 94306, USA; (H.W.); (M.M.F.); (A.J.J.); (R.I.); (A.H.)
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13
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Duan X, Xia L, Zhang Z, Ren Y, Pomper MG, Rowe SP, Li X, Li N, Zhang N, Zhu H, Yang Z, Sheng X, Yang X. First-in-Human Study of the Radioligand 68Ga-N188 Targeting Nectin-4 for PET/CT Imaging of Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res 2023; 29:3395-3407. [PMID: 37093191 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-23-0609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Nectin-4 is an emerging biomarker for cancer diagnosis and therapy. Recently, enfortumab vedotin (EV) was approved by the FDA as the first nectin-4 targeting antibody-drug conjugate for treating advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC). A PET imaging method to noninvasively quantify nectin-4 expression level would potentially help to select patients most likely to respond to EV and predict the response. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN In this study, we designed a bicyclic peptide-based nectin-4 targeting radiotracer 68Ga-N188. Initially, we performed preclinical evaluations of 68Ga-N188 in UC cell lines and xenograft mouse models. Next, we performed the translational study in healthy volunteers and a pilot cohort of patients with advanced UC on uEXPLORER total-body PET/CT. RESULTS In the preclinical study, 68Ga-N188 showed high affinity to nectin-4, specific uptake in a nectin-4(+) xenograft mouse model, and suitable pharmacokinetic and safety profiles. In the translational study, 2 healthy volunteers and 14 patients with advanced UC were enrolled. The pharmacokinetic profile was determined for 68Ga-N188, and the nectin-4 relative expression level in different organs was quantitatively imaged. CONCLUSIONS A clear correlation between PET SUV value and nectin-4 expression was observed, supporting the application of 68Ga-N188 PET as a companion diagnostic tool for optimizing treatments that target nectin-4. See related commentary by Jiang et al., p. 3259.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojiang Duan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Xia
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals, National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), Beijing, China
| | - Zhuochen Zhang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yanan Ren
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Martin G Pomper
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Steven P Rowe
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Xuesong Li
- Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Nan Li
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals, National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), Beijing, China
| | - Ning Zhang
- Translational Cancer Research Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Hua Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals, National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), Beijing, China
| | - Zhi Yang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals, National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), Beijing, China
| | - Xinan Sheng
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Genitourinary Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Xing Yang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals, National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), Beijing, China
- Institute of Medical Technology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
- International Cancer Institute, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
- Yunnan Baiyao Group, Kunming, China
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14
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Rulten SL, Grose RP, Gatz SA, Jones JL, Cameron AJM. The Future of Precision Oncology. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12613. [PMID: 37628794 PMCID: PMC10454858 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer development and evolution have evolved rapidly over recent years, and the variation from one patient to another is now widely recognized. Consequently, one-size-fits-all approaches to the treatment of cancer have been superseded by precision medicines that target specific disease characteristics, promising maximum clinical efficacy, minimal safety concerns, and reduced economic burden. While precision oncology has been very successful in the treatment of some tumors with specific characteristics, a large number of patients do not yet have access to precision medicines for their disease. The success of next-generation precision oncology depends on the discovery of new actionable disease characteristics, rapid, accurate, and comprehensive diagnosis of complex phenotypes within each patient, novel clinical trial designs with improved response rates, and worldwide access to novel targeted anticancer therapies for all patients. This review outlines some of the current technological trends, and highlights some of the complex multidisciplinary efforts that are underway to ensure that many more patients with cancer will be able to benefit from precision oncology in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Richard P. Grose
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK; (R.P.G.); (J.L.J.)
| | - Susanne A. Gatz
- Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit (CRCTU), Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK;
| | - J. Louise Jones
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK; (R.P.G.); (J.L.J.)
| | - Angus J. M. Cameron
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK; (R.P.G.); (J.L.J.)
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15
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Klekowski J, Zielińska D, Hofman A, Zajdel N, Gajdzis P, Chabowski M. Clinical Significance of Nectins in HCC and Other Solid Malignant Tumors: Implications for Prognosis and New Treatment Opportunities-A Systematic Review. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3983. [PMID: 37568798 PMCID: PMC10416819 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15153983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The nectin family comprises four proteins, nectin-1 to -4, which act as cell adhesion molecules. Nectins have various regulatory functions in the immune system and can be upregulated or decreased in different tumors. The literature research was conducted manually by the authors using the PubMed database by searching articles published before 2023 with the combination of several nectin-related keywords. A total of 43 studies were included in the main section of the review. Nectins-1-3 have different expressions in tumors. Both the loss of expression and overexpression could be negative prognostic factors. Nectin-4 is the best characterized and the most consistently overexpressed in various tumors, which generally correlates with a worse prognosis. New treatments based on targeting nectin-4 are currently being developed. Enfortumab vedotin is a potent antibody-drug conjugate approved for use in therapy against urothelial carcinoma. Few reports focus on hepatocellular carcinoma, which leaves room for further studies comparing the utility of nectins with commonly used markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Klekowski
- Department of Nursing and Obstetrics, Division of Anesthesiological and Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Health Science, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland;
- Department of Surgery, 4th Military Teaching Hospital, 50-981 Wroclaw, Poland;
| | - Dorota Zielińska
- Department of Surgery, 4th Military Teaching Hospital, 50-981 Wroclaw, Poland;
| | - Adriana Hofman
- Student Research Club No 180, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland; (A.H.); (N.Z.)
| | - Natalia Zajdel
- Student Research Club No 180, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland; (A.H.); (N.Z.)
| | - Paweł Gajdzis
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland;
- Department of Pathomorphology, 4th Military Teaching Hospital, 50-981 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Mariusz Chabowski
- Department of Nursing and Obstetrics, Division of Anesthesiological and Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Health Science, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland;
- Department of Surgery, 4th Military Teaching Hospital, 50-981 Wroclaw, Poland;
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16
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Costa L, Sousa E, Fernandes C. Cyclic Peptides in Pipeline: What Future for These Great Molecules? Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:996. [PMID: 37513908 PMCID: PMC10386233 DOI: 10.3390/ph16070996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclic peptides are molecules that are already used as drugs in therapies approved for various pharmacological activities, for example, as antibiotics, antifungals, anticancer, and immunosuppressants. Interest in these molecules has been growing due to the improved pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the cyclic structure over linear peptides and by the evolution of chemical synthesis, computational, and in vitro methods. To date, 53 cyclic peptides have been approved by different regulatory authorities, and many others are in clinical trials for a wide diversity of conditions. In this review, the potential of cyclic peptides is presented, and general aspects of their synthesis and development are discussed. Furthermore, an overview of already approved cyclic peptides is also given, and the cyclic peptides in clinical trials are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lia Costa
- Laboratório de Química Orgânica e Farmacêutica, Departamento de Ciências Químicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal;
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4050-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Emília Sousa
- Laboratório de Química Orgânica e Farmacêutica, Departamento de Ciências Químicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal;
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4050-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Carla Fernandes
- Laboratório de Química Orgânica e Farmacêutica, Departamento de Ciências Químicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal;
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4050-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
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17
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Gaynor KU, Vaysburd M, Harman MAJ, Albecka A, Jeffrey P, Beswick P, Papa G, Chen L, Mallery D, McGuinness B, Van Rietschoten K, Stanway S, Brear P, Lulla A, Ciazynska K, Chang VT, Sharp J, Neary M, Box H, Herriott J, Kijak E, Tatham L, Bentley EG, Sharma P, Kirby A, Han X, Stewart JP, Owen A, Briggs JAG, Hyvönen M, Skynner MJ, James LC. Multivalent bicyclic peptides are an effective antiviral modality that can potently inhibit SARS-CoV-2. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3583. [PMID: 37328472 PMCID: PMC10275983 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39158-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 has stimulated the rapid development of new antibody and small molecule therapeutics to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here we describe a third antiviral modality that combines the drug-like advantages of both. Bicycles are entropically constrained peptides stabilized by a central chemical scaffold into a bi-cyclic structure. Rapid screening of diverse bacteriophage libraries against SARS-CoV-2 Spike yielded unique Bicycle binders across the entire protein. Exploiting Bicycles' inherent chemical combinability, we converted early micromolar hits into nanomolar viral inhibitors through simple multimerization. We also show how combining Bicycles against different epitopes into a single biparatopic agent allows Spike from diverse variants of concern (VoC) to be targeted (Alpha, Beta, Delta and Omicron). Finally, we demonstrate in both male hACE2-transgenic mice and Syrian golden hamsters that both multimerized and biparatopic Bicycles reduce viraemia and prevent host inflammation. These results introduce Bicycles as a potential antiviral modality to tackle new and rapidly evolving viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine U Gaynor
- Bicycle Therapeutics, Portway Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6GS, United Kingdom
| | - Marina Vaysburd
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, United Kingdom
| | - Maximilian A J Harman
- Bicycle Therapeutics, Portway Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6GS, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Albecka
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, United Kingdom
| | - Phillip Jeffrey
- Bicycle Therapeutics, Portway Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6GS, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Beswick
- Bicycle Therapeutics, Portway Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6GS, United Kingdom
| | - Guido Papa
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, United Kingdom
| | - Liuhong Chen
- Bicycle Therapeutics, Portway Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6GS, United Kingdom
| | - Donna Mallery
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, United Kingdom
| | - Brian McGuinness
- Bicycle Therapeutics, Portway Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6GS, United Kingdom
| | | | - Steven Stanway
- Bicycle Therapeutics, Portway Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6GS, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Brear
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, United Kingdom
| | - Aleksei Lulla
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, United Kingdom
| | - Katarzyna Ciazynska
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, United Kingdom
| | - Veronica T Chang
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, United Kingdom
| | - Jo Sharp
- University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
| | - Megan Neary
- University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
| | - Helen Box
- University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
| | - Jo Herriott
- University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
| | - Edyta Kijak
- University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
| | - Lee Tatham
- University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
| | - Eleanor G Bentley
- University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
| | - Parul Sharma
- University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
| | - Adam Kirby
- University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
| | - Ximeng Han
- University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
| | - James P Stewart
- University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Owen
- University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
| | - John A G Briggs
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, United Kingdom
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, 82152, Germany
| | - Marko Hyvönen
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, United Kingdom
| | - Michael J Skynner
- Bicycle Therapeutics, Portway Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6GS, United Kingdom.
| | - Leo C James
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, United Kingdom.
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18
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Todaro B, Ottalagana E, Luin S, Santi M. Targeting Peptides: The New Generation of Targeted Drug Delivery Systems. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1648. [PMID: 37376097 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15061648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Peptides can act as targeting molecules, analogously to oligonucleotide aptamers and antibodies. They are particularly efficient in terms of production and stability in physiological environments; in recent years, they have been increasingly studied as targeting agents for several diseases, from tumors to central nervous system disorders, also thanks to the ability of some of them to cross the blood-brain barrier. In this review, we will describe the techniques employed for their experimental and in silico design, as well as their possible applications. We will also discuss advancements in their formulation and chemical modifications that make them even more stable and effective. Finally, we will discuss how their use could effectively help to overcome various physiological problems and improve existing treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biagio Todaro
- NEST Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Elisa Ottalagana
- NEST Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127 Pisa, Italy
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, Via Ferruccio Giovannini 13, San Giuliano Terme, 56017 Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefano Luin
- NEST Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127 Pisa, Italy
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Melissa Santi
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127 Pisa, Italy
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19
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Shen Y, Wang J, Li Y, Yang CT, Zhou X. Modified Bacteriophage for Tumor Detection and Targeted Therapy. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:nano13040665. [PMID: 36839030 PMCID: PMC9963578 DOI: 10.3390/nano13040665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Malignant tumor is one of the leading causes of death in human beings. In recent years, bacteriophages (phages), a natural bacterial virus, have been genetically engineered for use as a probe for the detection of antigens that are highly expressed in tumor cells and as an anti-tumor reagent. Furthermore, phages can also be chemically modified and assembled with a variety of nanoparticles to form a new organic/inorganic composite, thus extending the application of phages in biological detection and tumor therapeutic. This review summarizes the studies on genetically engineered and chemically modified phages in the diagnosis and targeting therapy of tumors in recent years. We discuss the advantages and limitations of modified phages in practical applications and propose suitable application scenarios based on these modified phages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanzhao Shen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, The Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Jingyu Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Yuting Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Chih-Tsung Yang
- Future Industries Institute, Mawson Lakes Campus, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5095, Australia
- Correspondence: (X.Z.); (C.-T.Y.)
| | - Xin Zhou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, The Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Correspondence: (X.Z.); (C.-T.Y.)
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Nectins and Nectin-like Molecules in Colorectal Cancer: Role in Diagnostics, Prognostic Values, and Emerging Treatment Options: A Literature Review. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12123076. [PMID: 36553083 PMCID: PMC9777592 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12123076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2020, colorectal cancer was the third most common type of cancer worldwide with a clearly visible increase in the number of cases each year. With relatively high mortality rates and an uncertain prognosis, colorectal cancer is a serious health problem. There is an urgent need to investigate its specific mechanism of carcinogenesis and progression in order to develop new strategies of action against this cancer. Nectins and Nectin-like molecules are cell adhesion molecules that take part in a plethora of essential processes in healthy tissues as well as mediating substantial actions for tumor initiation and evolution. Our understanding of their role and a viable application of this in anti-cancer therapy has rapidly improved in recent years. This review summarizes the current data on the role nectins and Nectin-like molecules play in colorectal cancer.
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Wu M, Huang W, Yang N, Liu Y. Learn from antibody–drug conjugates: consideration in the future construction of peptide-drug conjugates for cancer therapy. Exp Hematol Oncol 2022; 11:93. [DOI: 10.1186/s40164-022-00347-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractCancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide due to high heterogeneity. Although chemotherapy remains the mainstay of cancer therapy, non-selective toxicity and drug resistance of mono-chemotherapy incur broad criticisms. Subsequently, various combination strategies have been developed to improve clinical efficacy, also known as cocktail therapy. However, conventional “cocktail administration” is just passable, due to the potential toxicities to normal tissues and unsatisfactory synergistic effects, especially for the combined drugs with different pharmacokinetic properties. The drug conjugates through coupling the conventional chemotherapeutics to a carrier (such as antibody and peptide) provide an alternative strategy to improve therapeutic efficacy and simultaneously reduce the unspecific toxicities, by virtue of the advantages of highly specific targeting ability and potent killing effect. Although 14 antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) have been approved worldwide and more are being investigated in clinical trials so far, several limitations have been disclosed during clinical application. Compared with ADCs, peptide-drug conjugates (PDCs) possess several advantages, including easy industrial synthesis, low cost, high tissue penetration and fast clearance. So far, only a handful of PDCs have been approved, highlighting tremendous development potential. Herein, we discuss the progress and pitfalls in the development of ADCs and underline what can learn from ADCs for the better construction of PDCs in the future.
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