Combination cancer therapy by hapten-targeted prodrug-activating enzymes and cytokines

Bioconjug Chem. 2006 May-Jun;17(3):707-14. doi: 10.1021/bc0600160.

Abstract

Combination therapy can help overcome limitations in the treatment of heterogeneous tumors. In the current study, we examined whether multiple therapeutic agents could be targeted to anti-dansyl single-chain antibodies (DNS scFv) that were anchored on the plasma membrane of cancer cells. Functional DNS scFv could be stably expressed on CT-26 colon cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. Dansyl moieties were covalently attached to recombinant beta-glucuronidase (betaG) and interleukin 2 (IL-2) via a flexible poly(ethylene glycol) linker to form DNS-PEG-betaG and DNS-PEG-IL-2 conjugates. The conjugates displayed enzymatic and splenocyte-stimulatory activities, respectively, that were similar to those of the unmodified proteins. The conjugates selectively bound CT-26 cells that expressed anti-DNS scFv (CT-26/DNS cells) but not CT-26 cells that expressed control scFv (CT-26/phOx cells). DNS-PEG-betaG preferentially activated a glucuronide prodrug (BHAMG) of p-hydroxy aniline mustard at CT-26/DNS cells in culture and accumulated in subcutaneous CT-26/DNS tumors after intravenous administration. Systemic administration of DNS-PEG-IL-2 or DNS-PEG-betaG and BHAMG significantly delayed the growth of CT-26/DNS but not control CT-26/phOx tumors. Combination treatment with DNS-PEG-betaG and BHAMG followed by DNS-PEG-IL-2 therapy significantly suppressed the growth of CT-26/DNS tumors as compared to either single-agent regimen. These results show that at least two DNS-modified therapeutic agents can be selectively delivered to DNS scFv receptors in vitro and in vivo, allowing combination therapy of DNS scFv-modified tumors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies / immunology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Glucuronidase / chemistry
  • Glucuronidase / metabolism
  • Glucuronidase / pharmacology*
  • Haptens / immunology*
  • Interleukin-2 / chemistry
  • Interleukin-2 / pharmacology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry
  • Prodrugs / metabolism*
  • Prodrugs / pharmacology
  • Prodrugs / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Haptens
  • Interleukin-2
  • Prodrugs
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Glucuronidase