Anti-LYPD1/CD3 T-Cell-Dependent Bispecific Antibody for the Treatment of Ovarian Cancer

T cell-dependent bispecific antibodies alter organ-specific endothelial cell-T cell interaction

Preclinical and clinical studies demonstrate that T cell-dependent bispecific antibodies (TDBs) induce systemic changes in addition to tumor killing, leading to adverse events. Here, we report an in-depth characterization of acute responses to TDBs in tumor-bearing mice. Contrary to modest changes in tumors, rapid and substantial lymphocyte accumulation and endothelial cell (EC) activation occur around large blood vessels in normal organs including the liver. We hypothesize that organ-specific ECs may account for the differential responses in normal tissues and tumors, and we identify a list of genes selectively upregulated by TDB in large liver vessels. Using one of the genes as an example, we demonstrate that CD9 facilitates ICAM-1 to support T cell-EC interaction in response to soluble factors released from a TDB-mediated cytotoxic reaction. Our results suggest that multiple factors may cooperatively promote T cell infiltration into normal organs as a secondary response to TDB-mediated tumor killing. These data shed light on how different vascular beds respond to cancer immunotherapy and may help improve their safety and efficacy.

Recent Advances in Glioma Cancer Treatment: Conventional and Epigenetic Realms

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most typical and aggressive form of primary brain tumor in adults, with a poor prognosis. Successful glioma treatment is hampered by ineffective medication distribution across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the emergence of drug resistance. Although a few FDA-approved multimodal treatments are available for glioblastoma, most patients still have poor prognoses. Targeting epigenetic variables, immunotherapy, gene therapy, and different vaccine- and peptide-based treatments are some innovative approaches to improve anti-glioma treatment efficacy. Following the identification of lymphatics in the central nervous system, immunotherapy offers a potential method with the potency to permeate the blood-brain barrier. This review will discuss the rationale, tactics, benefits, and drawbacks of current glioma therapy options in clinical and preclinical investigations.

Comprehensive Analysis of RNA-Seq in Endometriosis Reveals Competing Endogenous RNA Network Composed of circRNA, lncRNA and mRNA

Although long non coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) play important roles in the pathogenesis of diseases, endometriosis related lncRNAs and circRNAs are still rarely reported. This study focused on the potential molecular mechanism of endometriosis related competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) composed of lncRNAs and circRNAs. We performed high-throughout sequencing of six normal endometria, six eutopic endometria and six ectopic endometria for the first time to describe and analyze the expression profile of lncRNA, circRNA and mRNA. Our results showed that 140 lncRNAs, 107 circRNAs and 1,206 mRNAs were differentially expressed in the ectopic group, compared with the normal and eutopic groups. We established an lncRNA/circRNA-mRNA co-expression network using pearson correlation test. Meanwhile, the results of Gene set enrichment analysis analysis showed that the 569 up-regulated differentially expressed mRNA (DEmRNA) were mainly related to the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, regulation of immune system process and immune effector process. Subsequently, we established a DElncRNA-miRNA and DEcircRNA-miRNA network using the starbase database, identified the common miRNAs and constructed DElncRNA/DEcircRNA-miRNA pairs. miRDB, Targetscan, miRwalk and circRNA/lncRNA-mRNA pairs jointly determined the miRNA-mRNA portion of the circRNA/lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA co-expression network. RT-qPCR results of 15 control samples and 25 ectopic samples confirmed that circGLIS2, circFN1, LINC02381, IGFL2-AS1, CD84, LYPD1 and FAM163A were significantly overexpressed in ectopic tissues. In conclusion, this is the first study to illustrate ceRNA composed of differentially expressed circRNA, lncRNA and mRNA in endometriosis. We also found that lncRNA and circRNA exerted a pivotal function on the pathogenesis of endometriosis, which can provide new insights for further exploring the pathogenesis of endometriosis and identifying new targets.

T Cell Bispecific Antibodies: An Antibody-Based Delivery System for Inducing Antitumor Immunity

As a breakthrough immunotherapy, T cell bispecific antibodies (T-BsAbs) are a promising antibody therapy for various kinds of cancer. In general, T-BsAbs have dual-binding specificity to a tumor-associated antigen and a CD3 subunit forming a complex with the TCR. This enables T-BsAbs to crosslink tumor cells and T cells, inducing T cell activation and subsequent tumor cell death. Unlike immune checkpoint inhibitors, which release the brake of the immune system, T-BsAbs serve as an accelerator of T cells by stimulating their immune response via CD3 engagement. Therefore, they can actively redirect host immunity toward tumors, including T cell recruitment from the periphery to the tumor site and immunological synapse formation between tumor cells and T cells. Although the low immunogenicity of solid tumors increases the challenge of cancer immunotherapy, T-BsAbs capable of immune redirection can greatly benefit patients with such tumors. To investigate the detailed relationship between T-BsAbs delivery and their T cell redirection activity, it is necessary to determine how T-BsAbs deliver antitumor immunity to the tumor site and bring about tumor cell death. This review article discusses T-BsAb properties, specifically their pharmacokinetics, redirection of anticancer immunity, and local mechanism of action within tumor tissues, and discuss further challenges to expediting T-BsAb development.

PAX8 lineage-driven T cell engaging antibody for the treatment of high-grade serous ovarian cancer

High-grade serous ovarian cancers (HGSOC) represent the most common subtype of ovarian malignancies. Due to the frequency of late-stage diagnosis and high rates of recurrence following standard of care treatments, novel therapies are needed to promote durable responses. We investigated the anti-tumor activity of CD3 T cell engaging bispecific antibodies (TCBs) directed against the PAX8 lineage-driven HGSOC tumor antigen LYPD1 and demonstrated that anti-LYPD1 TCBs induce T cell activation and promote in vivo tumor growth inhibition in LYPD1-expressing HGSOC. To selectively target LYPD1-expressing tumor cells with high expression while sparing cells with low expression, we coupled bivalent low-affinity anti-LYPD1 antigen-binding fragments (Fabs) with the anti-CD3 scFv. In contrast to the monovalent anti-LYPD1 high-affinity TCB (VHP354), the bivalent low-affinity anti-LYPD1 TCB (QZC131) demonstrated antigen density-dependent selectivity and showed tolerability in cynomolgus monkeys at the maximum dose tested of 3 mg/kg. Collectively, these data demonstrate that bivalent TCBs directed against LYPD1 have compelling efficacy and safety profiles to support its use as a treatment for high-grade serous ovarian cancers.

A Transcriptome-Wide Isoform Landscape of Melanocytic Nevi and Primary Melanomas Identifies Gene Isoforms Associated with Malignancy

Genetic splice variants have become of central interest in recent years, as they play an important role in different cancers. Little is known about splice variants in melanoma. Here, we analyzed a genome-wide transcriptomic dataset of benign melanocytic nevi and primary melanomas (n = 80) for the expression of specific splice variants. Using kallisto, a map for differentially expressed splice variants in melanoma vs. benign melanocytic nevi was generated. Among the top genes with differentially expressed splice variants were Ras-related in brain 6B (RAB6B), a member of the RAS family of GTPases, Macrophage Scavenger Receptor 1 (MSR1), Collagen Type XI Alpha 2 Chain (COLL11A2), and LY6/PLAUR Domain Containing 1 (LYPD1). The Gene Ontology terms of differentially expressed splice variants showed no enrichment for functional gene sets of melanoma vs. nevus lesions, but between type 1 (pigmentation type) and type 2 (immune response type) melanocytic lesions. A number of genes such as Checkpoint Kinase 1 (CHEK1) showed an association of mutational patterns and occurrence of splice variants in melanoma. Moreover, mutations in genes of the splicing machinery were common in both benign nevi and melanomas, suggesting a common mechanism starting early in melanoma development. Mutations in some of these genes of the splicing machinery, such as Serine and Arginine Rich Splicing Factor A3 and B3 (SF3A3, SF3B3), were significantly enriched in melanomas as compared to benign nevi. Taken together, a map of splice variants in melanoma is presented that shows a multitude of differentially expressed splice genes between benign nevi and primary melanomas. The underlying mechanisms may involve mutations in genes of the splicing machinery.