1
|
Deskeuvre M, Lan J, Messens J, Riant O, Feron O, Frédérick R. A novel approach to pH-Responsive targeted cancer Therapy: Inhibition of FaDu cancer cell proliferation with a pH low insertion Peptide-Conjugated DGAT1 inhibitor. Int J Pharm 2024; 657:124132. [PMID: 38641019 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2024.124132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Targeting enzymes involved in lipid metabolism is increasingly recognized as a promising anticancer strategy. Efficient inhibition of diacylglycerol O-transferase 1 (DGAT1) can block fatty acid (FA) storage. This, in turn, triggers an increase in free polyunsaturated FA concentration, leading to peroxidation and ferroptosis. In this study, we report the development of a pH-sensitive peptide (pHLIP)-drug conjugate designed to selectively deliver DGAT1 inhibitors to cancer cells nested within the acidic microenvironment of tumors. We utilized two previously established pHLIP sequences for coupling with drugs. The study of DGAT1 conjugates in large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) of different compositions did not reveal enhanced pH-dependent insertion compared to POPC LUVs. However, using in vitro 3D tumor spheroids, significant antiproliferative effects were observed upon exposure to pHLIP-T863 (DGAT1 inhibitor) conjugates, surpassing the inhibitory activity of T863 alone. In conclusion, our study provides the first evidence that pHLIP-based conjugates with DGAT1 inhibitors have the potential to specifically target the acidic compartment of tumors. Moreover, it sheds light on the limitations of LUV models in capturing the pH-dependency of such conjugates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marine Deskeuvre
- Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), Medicinal Chemistry Research Group (CMFA), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 73 Avenue Emmanuel Mounier, B-1200 Brussel, Belgium; Pole of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (FATH), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 57 Avenue Hippocrate B1.57.04, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Junjie Lan
- Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences, MOST Division, Place Louis Pasteur, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Louvain-la-Neuve B-1348, Belgium
| | - Joris Messens
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, Vlaams Instituut Voor Biotechnologie (VIB), 1050 Brussels, Belgium; Brussels Center for Redox Biology, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Olivier Riant
- Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences, MOST Division, Place Louis Pasteur, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Louvain-la-Neuve B-1348, Belgium
| | - Olivier Feron
- Pole of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (FATH), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 57 Avenue Hippocrate B1.57.04, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium; Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and BIOtechnology (WELBIO) Department, WEL Research Institute, B-1300 Wavre, Belgium
| | - Raphaël Frédérick
- Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), Medicinal Chemistry Research Group (CMFA), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 73 Avenue Emmanuel Mounier, B-1200 Brussel, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
DuPont M, Klumpp C, Iraca M, Allababidi D, Visca H, Engelman DM, Andreev OA, Moshnikova A, Reshetnyak YK. pHLIP targeted intracellular delivery of calicheamicin. Int J Pharm 2024; 654:123954. [PMID: 38428548 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2024.123954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Calicheamicin is a potent, cell-cycle independent enediyne antibiotic that binds and cleaves DNA. Toxicity has led to its use in a targeted form, as an antibody-drug conjugate approved for the treatment of liquid tumors. We used a reduced calicheamicin to conjugate it to a single cysteine residue at the membrane-inserting end of a pH Low Insertion Peptide (pHLIP) that targets imaging and therapeutic agents to tumors. The cytoplasmic reduction of the disulfide releases the calicheamicin, and activation, DNA binding, and strand scission ensue. We studied the interaction of pHLIP-calicheamicin with liposomal and cellular membranes and demonstrated that the agent exhibits cytotoxic activity both in highly proliferative cancer cells and in non-proliferative immune cells, such as polarized M2 macrophages. In vivo, the agent was effective in inhibiting tumor growth in mice with no signs of toxicity. Biodistribution studies confirmed tumor targeting with no accumulation of the agent in organs and tissues. The agent was found within the tumor mass and tumor-stroma interface. Treatment of tumors led to the depletion of CD206+ M2- tumor-associated macrophages within the tumor core. pHLIP-calicheamicin could be pursued as an effective therapeutic for the treatment of solid tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael DuPont
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Craig Klumpp
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Marissa Iraca
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Dana Allababidi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Hannah Visca
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Donald M Engelman
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Oleg A Andreev
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Anna Moshnikova
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Dhuri K, Duran T, Chaudhuri B, Slack FJ, Vikram A, Glazer PM, Bahal R. Head-to-head comparison of in vitro and in vivo efficacy of pHLIP-conjugated anti-seed gamma peptide nucleic acids. Cell Rep Phys Sci 2023; 4:101584. [PMID: 38144419 PMCID: PMC10745205 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrp.2023.101584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Gamma peptide nucleic acids (γPNAs) have recently garnered attention in diverse therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Serine and diethylene-glycol-containing γPNAs have been tested for numerous RNA-targeting purposes. Here, we comprehensively evaluated the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of pH-low insertion peptide (pHLIP)-conjugated serine and diethylene-based γPNAs. pHLIP targets only the acidic tumor microenvironment and not the normal cells. We synthesized and parallelly tested pHLIP-serine γPNAs and pHLIP-diethylene glycol γPNAs that target the seed region of microRNA-155, a microRNA that is upregulated in various cancers. We performed an all-atom molecular dynamics simulation-based computational study to elucidate the interaction of pHLIP-γPNA constructs with the lipid bilayer. We also determined the biodistribution and efficacy of the pHLIP constructs in the U2932-derived xenograft model. Overall, we established that the pHLIP-serine γPNAs show superior results in vivo compared with the pHLIP-diethylene glycol-based γPNA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karishma Dhuri
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Tibo Duran
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Bodhisattwa Chaudhuri
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Frank J. Slack
- HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine, Department of Pathology, BIDMC Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Ajit Vikram
- Department of Internal Medicine, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Peter M. Glazer
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Raman Bahal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
- Lead contact
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wachira FW, Githirwa DC, McPartlon T, Nazarenko V, Gonzales JJC, Gazura MM, Leen C, Clary HR, Alston C, Klees LM, Yao L, An M. D-to-E and T19V Variants of the pH-Low Insertion Peptide and Their Doxorubicin Conjugates Interact with Membrane at Higher pH Ranges Than WT. Biochemistry 2023; 62:2997-3011. [PMID: 37793002 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.3c00218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
To improve targeted cargo delivery to cancer cells, pH-Low Insertion Peptide (pHLIP) variants were developed to interact with the membrane at pH values higher than those of the WT. The Asp-to-Glu variants aim to increase side chain pKa without disturbing the sequence of protonations that underpin membrane insertion. The Thr19 variants represent efforts to perturb the critical Pro20 residue. To study the effect of cargo on pHLIP insertion, doxorubicin (Dox), a fluorescent antineoplastic drug, was conjugated to selected variants near the inserting C-terminus. Variants and conjugates were characterized on a POPC membrane using Trp and Dox fluorescence methods to define the entire pH range of insertion (pHinitial-pHfinal). Compared to WT with a pHi-pHf range of 6.7-5.6, D25E-D31E-D33E, D14E-D25E-D31E-D33E, and T19V-D25E variants demonstrated higher pHi-pHf ranges of 7.3-6.1, 7.3-6.3, and 8.2-5.4, respectively. The addition of Dox expanded the pHi-pHf range, mainly by shifting pHi to higher pH values (e.g., WT pHLIP-Dox has a pHi-pHf range of 7.7-5.2). Despite the low Hill coefficient observed for the conjugates, D14E-D25E-D31E-D33E pHLIP-Dox completed insertion by a pHf of 5.7. However, the Dox cargo remained in the hydrophobic membrane interior after pHLIP insertion, which may impede drug release. Finally, a logistic function can describe pHLIP insertion as a peripheral-to-TM (start-to-finish) two-state transition; wherever possible, we discuss data deviating from such sigmoidal fitting in support of the idea that pH-specific intermediate states distinct from the initial peripheral state and the final TM state exist at intervening pH values.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Faith W Wachira
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Dancan C Githirwa
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Thomas McPartlon
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Vladyslav Nazarenko
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Jerel J C Gonzales
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Makenzie M Gazura
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Caitlin Leen
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Hannah R Clary
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Claire Alston
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Lukas M Klees
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Lan Yao
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
- Department of Physics, SUNY, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Ming An
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Hong L, Braden DC, Zhao Y, Skoko JJ, Chang F, Woodcock SR, Uvalle C, Casey A, Wood K, Salvatore SR, Asan A, Harkness T, Fagunloye A, Razzaghi M, Straub A, Spies M, Brown DD, Lee AV, Schopfer F, Freeman BA, Neumann CA. Small molecule nitroalkenes inhibit RAD51-mediated homologous recombination and amplify triple-negative breast cancer cell killing by DNA-directed therapies. Redox Biol 2023; 66:102856. [PMID: 37633047 PMCID: PMC10472314 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Nitro fatty acids (NO2-FAs) are endogenously generated lipid signaling mediators from metabolic and inflammatory reactions between conjugated diene fatty acids and nitric oxide or nitrite-derived reactive species. NO2-FAs undergo reversible Michael addition with hyperreactive protein cysteine thiolates to induce posttranslational protein modifications that can impact protein function. Herein, we report a novel mechanism of action of natural and non-natural nitroalkenes structurally similar to (E) 10-nitro-octadec-9-enoic acid (CP-6), recently de-risked by preclinical Investigational New Drug-enabling studies and Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials and found to induce DNA damage in a TNBC xenograft by inhibiting homologous-recombination (HR)-mediated repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSB). CP-6 specifically targets Cys319, essential in RAD51-controlled HR-mediated DNA DSB repair in cells. A nitroalkene library screen identified two structurally different nitroalkenes, a non-natural fatty acid [(E) 8-nitro-nonadec-7-enoic acid (CP-8)] and a dicarboxylate ester [dimethyl (E)nitro-oct-4-enedioate (CP-23)] superior to CP-6 in TNBC cells killing, synergism with three different inhibitors of the poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) and γ-IR. CP-8 and CP-23 effectively inhibited γ-IR-induced RAD51 foci formation and HR in a GFP-reported assay but did not affect benign human epithelial cells or cell cycle phases. In vivo, CP-8 and CP-23's efficacies diverged as only CP-8 showed promising anticancer activities alone and combined with the PARP inhibitor talazoparib in an HR-proficient TNBC mouse model. As preliminary preclinical toxicology analysis also suggests CP-8 as safe, our data endorse CP-8 as a novel anticancer molecule for treating cancers sensitive to homologous recombination-mediated DNA repair inhibitors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Hong
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Women's Cancer Research Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Magee-Women's Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Dennis C Braden
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Women's Cancer Research Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Magee-Women's Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Yaoning Zhao
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Women's Cancer Research Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Magee-Women's Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - John J Skoko
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Women's Cancer Research Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Magee-Women's Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Fei Chang
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Steven R Woodcock
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Crystall Uvalle
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Allison Casey
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Women's Cancer Research Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Magee-Women's Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Katherine Wood
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Sonia R Salvatore
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Alparslan Asan
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Women's Cancer Research Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Magee-Women's Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Trey Harkness
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Women's Cancer Research Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Magee-Women's Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Adeola Fagunloye
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Women's Cancer Research Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Magee-Women's Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Mortezaali Razzaghi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Adam Straub
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Maria Spies
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Daniel D Brown
- Institute for Precision Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Adrian V Lee
- Institute for Precision Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Francisco Schopfer
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Bruce A Freeman
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Carola A Neumann
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Women's Cancer Research Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Magee-Women's Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Rudd SG. Targeting pan-essential pathways in cancer with cytotoxic chemotherapy: challenges and opportunities. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2023; 92:241-251. [PMID: 37452860 PMCID: PMC10435635 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-023-04562-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Cytotoxic chemotherapy remains a key modality in cancer treatment. These therapies, successfully used for decades, continue to transform the lives of cancer patients daily. With the high attrition rate of current oncology drug development, combined with the knowledge that most new therapies do not displace standard-of-care treatments and that many healthcare systems cannot afford these new therapies; cytotoxic chemotherapies will remain an important component of cancer therapy for many years to come. The clinical value of these therapies is often under-appreciated within the pre-clinical cancer research community, where this diverse class of agents are often grouped together as non-specific cellular poisons killing tumor cells based solely upon proliferation rate; however, this is inaccurate. This review article seeks to reaffirm the importance of focusing research efforts upon improving our basic understanding of how these drugs work, discussing their ability to target pan-essential pathways in cancer cells, the relationship of this to the chemotherapeutic window, and highlighting basic science approaches that can be employed towards refining their use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sean G Rudd
- Science For Life Laboratory, Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Hong L, Braden DC, Zhao Y, Skoko JJ, Chang F, Woodcock SR, Uvalle C, Casey A, Wood K, Salvatore SR, Asan A, Harkness T, Fagunloye A, Razzaghi M, Straub A, Spies M, Brown DD, Lee AV, Schopfer F, Freeman BA, Neumann CA. Small molecule nitroalkenes inhibit RAD51-mediated homologous recombination and amplify triple-negative breast cancer cell killing by DNA-directed therapies. bioRxiv 2023:2023.08.11.552990. [PMID: 37645906 PMCID: PMC10462009 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.11.552990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Nitro fatty acids (NO 2 -FAs) are endogenously generated lipid signaling mediators from metabolic and inflammatory reactions between conjugated diene fatty acids and nitric oxide or nitrite-derived reactive species. NO 2 -FAs undergo reversible Michael addition with hyperreactive protein cysteine thiolates to induce posttranslational protein modifications that can impact protein function. Herein, we report a novel mechanism of action of natural and non-natural nitroalkenes structurally similar to ( E ) 10-nitro-octadec-9-enoic acid (CP-6), recently de-risked by preclinical Investigational New Drug-enabling studies and Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials and found to induce DNA damage in a TNBC xenograft by inhibiting homologous-recombination (HR)-mediated repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSB). CP-6 specifically targets Cys319, essential in RAD51-controlled HR-mediated DNA DSB repair in cells. A nitroalkene library screen identified two structurally different nitroalkenes, a non-natural fatty acid [( E ) 8-nitro- nonadec-7-enoic acid (CP-8)] and a dicarboxylate ester [dimethyl ( E )nitro-oct-4-enedioate (CP- 23)] superior to CP-6 in TNBC cells killing, synergism with three different inhibitors of the poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) and γ-IR. CP-8 and CP-23 effectively inhibited γ-IR-induced RAD51 foci formation and HR in a GFP-reported assay but did not affect benign human epithelial cells or cell cycle phases. In vivo, CP-8 and CP-23's efficacies diverged as only CP-8 showed promising anticancer activities alone and combined with the PARP inhibitor talazoparib in an HR-proficient TNBC mouse model. As preliminary preclinical toxicology analysis also suggests CP-8 as safe, our data endorse CP-8 as a novel anticancer molecule for treating cancers sensitive to homologous recombination-mediated DNA repair inhibitors.
Collapse
|
8
|
DuPont M, Visca H, Moshnikova A, Engelman DM, Reshetnyak YK, Andreev OA. Tumor treatment by pHLIP-targeted antigen delivery. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 10:1082290. [PMID: 36686229 PMCID: PMC9853002 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1082290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeted antigen delivery allows activation of the immune system to kill cancer cells. Here we report the targeted delivery of various epitopes, including a peptide, a small molecule, and a sugar, to tumors by pH Low Insertion Peptides (pHLIPs), which respond to surface acidity and insert to span the membranes of metabolically activated cancer and immune cells within tumors. Epitopes linked to the extracellular ends of pH Low Insertion Peptide peptides were positioned at the surfaces of tumor cells and were recognized by corresponding anti-epitope antibodies. Special attention was devoted to the targeted delivery of the nine residue HA peptide epitope from the Flu virus hemagglutinin. The HA sequence is not present in the human genome, and immunity is readily developed during viral infection or immunization with KLH-HA supplemented with adjuvants. We tested and refined a series of double-headed HA-pHLIP agents, where two HA epitopes were linked to a single pH Low Insertion Peptide peptide via two Peg12 or Peg24 polymers, which enable HA epitopes to engage both antibody binding sites. HA-epitopes positioned at the surfaces of tumor cells remain exposed to the extracellular space for 24-48 h and are then internalized. Different vaccination schemes and various adjuvants, including analogs of FDA approved adjuvants, were tested in mice and resulted in a high titer of anti-HA antibodies. Anti-HA antibody binds HA-pHLIP in blood and travels as a complex leading to significant tumor targeting with no accumulation in organs and to hepatic clearance. HA-pHLIP agents induced regression of 4T1 triple negative breast tumor and B16F10 MHC-I negative melanoma tumors in immunized mice. The therapeutic efficacy potentially is limited by the drop of the level of anti-HA antibodies in the blood to background level after three injections of HA-pHLIP. We hypothesize that additional boosts would be required to keep a high titer of anti-HA antibodies to enhance efficacy. pH Low Insertion Peptide-targeted antigen therapy may provide an opportunity to treat tumors unresponsive to T cell based therapies, having a small number of neo-antigens, or deficient in MHC-I presentation at the surfaces of cancer cells either alone or in combination with other approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael DuPont
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Hannah Visca
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Anna Moshnikova
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Donald M. Engelman
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Yana K. Reshetnyak
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Oleg A. Andreev
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Gayle S, Paradis T, Jones K, Vasquez J, Paralkar VM. Antigen-independent tumor targeting by CBX-12 (alphalex ™-exatecan) induces long-term antitumor immunity. Immunotherapy 2022; 14:1467-1480. [PMID: 36597724 DOI: 10.2217/imt-2022-0121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Aims: To determine whether antigen-independent targeting of the TOP1 inhibitor exatecan to tumor with a pH-sensitive peptide (CBX-12) produces superior synergy with immunotherapy compared with unconjugated exatecan. Materials & methods: In vitro and ex vivo functional assays were performed via FACS and ELISA assays. In vivo efficacy was evaluated in the syngeneic CT26 model. Results: CBX-12 combined with anti-PD-1 or anti-CTLA4 results in delayed tumor growth and complete response, with cured animals displaying long-term antitumor immunity. CBX-12 stimulates expression of MHC 1 and PD-L1 and is an inducer of immunogenic cell death, producing long-term immune recognition of tumor cells and resultant antitumor immunity. Conclusion: The authors' data provide the rationale for exploring immunotherapy combinations with CBX-12 in clinical trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kelli Jones
- Cybrexa Therapeutics, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Juan Vasquez
- Section of Hematology & Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Moshnikova A, DuPont M, Visca H, Engelman DM, Andreev OA, Reshetnyak YK. Eradication of tumors and development of anti-cancer immunity using STINGa targeted by pHLIP. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1023959. [PMID: 36330464 PMCID: PMC9622777 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1023959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite significant progress in the development of novel STING agonists (STINGa), applications appear to be challenged by the low efficiency and poor selectivity of these agents. A pH Low Insertion Peptide (pHLIP) extends the lifetime of a STINGa in the blood and targets it to acidic cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), myeloid derived suppressor cells (mMDSCs) and dendritic cells (DCs). CAFs constitute 25% of all live cells within CT26 tumors, and M2-type TAMs and mMDSCs are the most abundant among the immune cells. The resulting activation of cytokines within the tumor microenvironment (TME) triggers the eradication of small (100 mm3) and large (400-700 mm3) CT26 tumors in mice after a single dose of pHLIP-STINGa. The tumor stroma was destroyed (the number of CAFs was reduced by 98%), intratumoral hemorrhage developed, and the level of acidity within the TME was reduced. Further, no tumors developed in 20 out of 25 tumor-free mice re-challenged by an additional injection of cancer cells. The therapeutic effect on CT26 tumors was insignificant in nude mice, lacking T-cells. Thus, targeted delivery of STINGa to tumor stroma and TAMs induces activation of signaling, potentially resulting in the recruitment and infiltration of T-cells, which gain access to the tumor core. The cytotoxic activity of T-cells is not impaired by an acidic environment and immune memory is developed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Moshnikova
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Michael DuPont
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Hannah Visca
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Donald M. Engelman
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Oleg A. Andreev
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Yana K. Reshetnyak
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
- *Correspondence: Yana K. Reshetnyak,
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Moshnikova A, Golijanin B, Amin A, Doyle J, Kott O, Gershman B, DuPont M, Li Y, Lu X, Engelman DM, Andreev OA, Reshetnyak YK, Golijanin D. Targeting Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma with pHLIP-ICG and Inhibition of Urothelial Cancer Cell Proliferation by pHLIP-amanitin. Front Urol 2022; 2:868919. [PMID: 36439552 PMCID: PMC9691284 DOI: 10.3389/fruro.2022.868919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Acidity is a useful biomarker for the targeting of metabolically active-cells in tumors. pH Low Insertion Peptides (pHLIPs) sense the pH at the surfaces of tumor cells and can facilitate intracellular delivery of cell-permeable and cell-impermeable cargo molecules. In this study we have shown the targeting of malignant lesions in human bladders by fluorescent pHLIP agents, intracellular delivery of amanitin toxin by pHLIP for the inhibition of urothelial cancer cell proliferation, and enhanced potency of pHLIP-amanitin for cancer cells with 17p loss, a mutation frequently present in urothelial cancers. Twenty-eight ex-vivo bladder specimens, from patients undergoing robotic assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy for bladder cancer, were treated via intravesical incubation for 15-60 minutes with pHLIP conjugated to indocyanine green (ICG) or IR-800 near infrared fluorescent (NIRF) dyes at concentrations of 4-8 μM. White light cystoscopy identified 47/58 (81%) and NIRF pHLIP cystoscopy identified 57/58 (98.3%) of malignant lesions of different subtypes and stages selected for histopathological processing. pHLIP NIRF imaging improved diagnosis by 17.3% (p < 0.05). All carcinoma-in-situ cases missed by white light cystoscopy were targeted by pHLIP agents and were diagnosed by NIRF imaging. We also investigated the interactions of pHLIP-amanitin with urothelial cancer cells of different grades. pHLIP-amanitin produced concentration- and pH-dependent inhibition of the proliferation of urothelial cancer cells treated for 2 hrs at concentrations up to 4 μM. A 3-4x enhanced cytotoxicity of pHLIP-amanitin was observed for cells with a 17p loss after 2 hrs of treatment at pH6. Potentially, pHLIP technology may improve the management of urothelial cancers, including imaging of malignant lesions using pHLIP-ICG for diagnosis and surgery, and the use of pHLIP-amanitin for treatment of superficial bladder cancers via intravesical instillation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Moshnikova
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Borivoj Golijanin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Brown University, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Ali Amin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Joshua Doyle
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
- Current address: Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ohad Kott
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Brown University, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Boris Gershman
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Brown University, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
- Current address: Division of Urologic Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael DuPont
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Yujing Li
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Xiongbin Lu
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Melvin & Bren Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Donald M. Engelman
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Oleg A. Andreev
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | | | - Dragan Golijanin
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Brown University, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Deskeuvre M, Lan J, Dierge E, Messens J, Riant O, Corbet C, Feron O, Frédérick R. Targeting cancer cells in acidosis with conjugates between the carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 inhibitor etomoxir and pH (low) Insertion Peptides. Int J Pharm 2022; 624:122041. [PMID: 35868479 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.122041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Targeting enzymes involved in tumor metabolism is a promising way to tackle cancer progression. The inhibition of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1) by etomoxir (Eto) efficiently slows down the growth of various cancers. Unfortunately, the clinical use of this drug was abandoned because of hepatotoxic effects. We report the development of pH-sensitive peptide (pHLIP)-drug conjugate to deliver Eto selectively to cancer cells exposed to acidic microenvironmental conditions. A newly designed sequence for the pHLIP peptide, named pHLIPd, was compared with a previously published reference pHLIP peptide, named pHLIPr. We showed that the conjugate between pHLIPd and Eto has a better pH-dependent insertion and structuration than the pHLIPr-based conjugate inside POPC vesicles. We observed antiproliferative effects when applied on acid-adapted cancer cells, reaching a larger inhibitory activity than Eto alone. In conclusion, this study brings the first evidence that pHLIP-based conjugates with a CPT1 inhibitor has the potential to specifically target the tumor acidic compartment and exert anticancer effects while sparing healthy tissues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marine Deskeuvre
- Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), Medicinal Chemistry Research Group (CMFA), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 73 Avenue Emmanuel Mounier, B-1200 Brussel, Belgium; Pole of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (FATH), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 57 Avenue Hippocrate B1.57.04, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Junjie Lan
- Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences, MOST Division, Place Louis Pasteur, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Louvain-la-Neuve B-1348, Belgium
| | - Emeline Dierge
- Pole of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (FATH), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 57 Avenue Hippocrate B1.57.04, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Joris Messens
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB), 1050 Brussels, Belgium; Brussels Center for Redox Biology, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Olivier Riant
- Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences, MOST Division, Place Louis Pasteur, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Louvain-la-Neuve B-1348, Belgium
| | - Cyril Corbet
- Pole of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (FATH), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 57 Avenue Hippocrate B1.57.04, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Olivier Feron
- Pole of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (FATH), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 57 Avenue Hippocrate B1.57.04, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Raphaël Frédérick
- Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), Medicinal Chemistry Research Group (CMFA), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 73 Avenue Emmanuel Mounier, B-1200 Brussel, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Jo U, Murai Y, Agama KK, Sun Y, Saha LK, Yang X, Arakawa Y, Gayle S, Jones K, Paralkar V, Sundaram RK, Doorn JV, Vasquez JC, Bindra RS, Choi WS, Pommier Y. TOP1-DNA Trapping by Exatecan and Combination Therapy with ATR Inhibitor. Mol Cancer Ther 2022; 21:1090-1102. [PMID: 35439320 PMCID: PMC9256811 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-21-1000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Exatecan and deruxtecan are antineoplastic camptothecin derivatives in development as tumor-targeted-delivery warheads in various formulations including peptides, liposomes, polyethylene glycol nanoparticles, and antibody-drug conjugates. Here, we report the molecular pharmacology of exatecan compared with the clinically approved topoisomerase I (TOP1) inhibitors and preclinical models for validating biomarkers and the combination of exatecan with ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related kinase (ATR) inhibitors. Modeling exatecan binding at the interface of a TOP1 cleavage complex suggests two novel molecular interactions with the flanking DNA base and the TOP1 residue N352, in addition to the three known interactions of camptothecins with the TOP1 residues R364, D533, and N722. Accordingly, exatecan showed much stronger TOP1 trapping, higher DNA damage, and apoptotic cell death than the classical TOP1 inhibitors used clinically. We demonstrate the value of SLFN11 expression and homologous recombination (HR) deficiency (HRD) as predictive biomarkers of response to exatecan. We also show that exatecan kills cancer cells synergistically with the clinical ATR inhibitor ceralasertib (AZD6738). To establish the translational potential of this combination, we tested CBX-12, a clinically developed pH-sensitive peptide-exatecan conjugate that selectively targets cancer cells and is currently in clinical trials. The combination of CBX-12 with ceralasertib significantly suppressed tumor growth in mouse xenografts. Collectively, our results demonstrate the potency of exatecan as a TOP1 inhibitor and its clinical potential in combination with ATR inhibitors, using SLFN11 and HRD as predictive biomarkers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ukhyun Jo
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Yasuhisa Murai
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hematology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Keli K. Agama
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Yilun Sun
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Liton Kumar Saha
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Xi Yang
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Yasuhiro Arakawa
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | | | - Kelli Jones
- Cybrexa Therapeutics, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | | | - Ranjini K. Sundaram
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Jinny Van Doorn
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Juan C. Vasquez
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Ranjit S. Bindra
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Woo Suk Choi
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Yves Pommier
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Abstract
Drug conjugates, including antibody-drug conjugates, are a step toward realizing Paul Ehrlich's idea from over 100 years ago of a "magic bullet" for cancer treatment. Through balancing selective targeting molecules with highly potent payloads, drug conjugates can target specific tumor microenvironments and kill tumor cells. A drug conjugate consists of three parts: a targeting agent, a linker, and a payload. In some conjugates, monoclonal antibodies act as the targeting agent, but new strategies for targeting include antibody derivatives, peptides, and even small molecules. Linkers are responsible for connecting the payload to the targeting agent. Payloads impact vital cellular processes to kill tumor cells. At present, there are 12 antibody-drug conjugates on the market for different types of cancers. Research on drug conjugates is increasing year by year to solve problems encountered in conjugate design, such as tumor heterogeneity, poor circulation, low drug loading, low tumor uptake, and heterogenous expression of target antigens. This review highlights some important preclinical research on drug conjugates in recent years. We focus on three significant areas: improvement of antibody-drug conjugates, identification of new conjugate targets, and development of new types of drug conjugates, including nanotechnology. We close by highlighting the critical barriers to clinical translation and the open questions going forward. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The development of anticancer drug conjugates is now focused in three broad areas: improvements to existing antibody drug conjugates, identification of new targets, and development of new conjugate forms. This article focuses on the exciting preclinical studies in these three areas and advances in the technology that improves preclinical development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yiming Jin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut
| | | | - Raman Bahal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut
| | - Andrew J Wiemer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Lee PS, MacDonald KG, Massi E, Chew PV, Bee C, Perkins P, Chau B, Thudium K, Lohre J, Nandi P, Deyanova EG, Barman I, Gudmundsson O, Dollinger G, Sproul T, Engelhardt JJ, Strop P, Rajpal A. Improved therapeutic index of an acidic pH-selective antibody. MAbs 2022; 14:2024642. [PMID: 35192429 PMCID: PMC8865267 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2021.2024642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Although therapeutically efficacious, ipilimumab can exhibit dose-limiting toxicity that prevents maximal efficacious clinical outcomes and can lead to discontinuation of treatment. We hypothesized that an acidic pH-selective ipilimumab (pH Ipi), which preferentially and reversibly targets the acidic tumor microenvironment over the neutral periphery, may have a more favorable therapeutic index. While ipilimumab has pH-independent CTLA-4 affinity, pH Ipi variants have been engineered to have up to 50-fold enhanced affinity to CTLA-4 at pH 6.0 compared to pH 7.4. In hCTLA-4 knock-in mice, these variants have maintained anti-tumor activity and reduced peripheral activation, a surrogate marker for toxicity. pH-sensitive therapeutic antibodies may be a differentiating paradigm and a novel modality for enhanced tumor targeting and improved safety profiles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter S Lee
- Discovery Biotherapeutics, Bristol Myers Squibb, Redwood City, CA, USA
| | | | - Evan Massi
- Immuno-Oncology Research, Bristol Myers Squibb, Redwood City, CA, USA
| | - Pamela V Chew
- Oncology Biology, Gilead Sciences, Foster City, CA, USA
| | - Christine Bee
- Discovery Biology, Frontier Medicines, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Padma Perkins
- Immuno-Oncology Research, Bristol Myers Squibb, Redwood City, CA, USA
| | - Bryant Chau
- Kyverna, Synthetic Biology, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Kent Thudium
- Immuno-Oncology Research, Bristol Myers Squibb, Redwood City, CA, USA
| | - Jack Lohre
- In Vivo Pharmacology, Bristol Myers Squibb, Redwood City, CA, USA
| | - Pradyot Nandi
- Pharmaceutical Candidate Optimization, Bristol Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville, NJ, USA
| | - Ekaterina G Deyanova
- Pharmaceutical Candidate Optimization, Bristol Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville, NJ, USA
| | - Ishita Barman
- Therapeutic Discovery, 3T Biosciences, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Olafur Gudmundsson
- Pharmaceutical Candidate Optimization, Bristol Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville, NJ, USA
| | - Gavin Dollinger
- Discovery Biotherapeutics, Bristol Myers Squibb, Redwood City, CA, USA
| | - Tim Sproul
- In Vivo Pharmacology, UNITY Biotechnology, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Pavel Strop
- Biologics Discovery, Tallac Therapeutics, Burlingame, CA, USA
| | - Arvind Rajpal
- Large Molecule Drug Discovery, Genentech Research and Early Development, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Ershov PV, Mezentsev YV, Ivanov AS. Interfacial Peptides as Affinity Modulating Agents of Protein-Protein Interactions. Biomolecules 2022; 12:106. [PMID: 35053254 PMCID: PMC8773757 DOI: 10.3390/biom12010106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification of disease-related protein-protein interactions (PPIs) creates objective conditions for their pharmacological modulation. The contact area (interfaces) of the vast majority of PPIs has some features, such as geometrical and biochemical complementarities, "hot spots", as well as an extremely low mutation rate that give us key knowledge to influence these PPIs. Exogenous regulation of PPIs is aimed at both inhibiting the assembly and/or destabilization of protein complexes. Often, the design of such modulators is associated with some specific problems in targeted delivery, cell penetration and proteolytic stability, as well as selective binding to cellular targets. Recent progress in interfacial peptide design has been achieved in solving all these difficulties and has provided a good efficiency in preclinical models (in vitro and in vivo). The most promising peptide-containing therapeutic formulations are under investigation in clinical trials. In this review, we update the current state-of-the-art in the field of interfacial peptides as potent modulators of a number of disease-related PPIs. Over the past years, the scientific interest has been focused on following clinically significant heterodimeric PPIs MDM2/p53, PD-1/PD-L1, HIF/HIF, NRF2/KEAP1, RbAp48/MTA1, HSP90/CDC37, BIRC5/CRM1, BIRC5/XIAP, YAP/TAZ-TEAD, TWEAK/FN14, Bcl-2/Bax, YY1/AKT, CD40/CD40L and MINT2/APP.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pavel V. Ershov
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, 119121 Moscow, Russia; (Y.V.M.); (A.S.I.)
| | | | | |
Collapse
|