TENB2, also known as tomoregulin or transmembrane protein with epidermal growth factor-like and 2 follistatin-like domains, is a transmembrane proteoglycan overexpressed in human prostate tumors. This protein is a promising target for antimitotic monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE)-based antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) therapy. Nonlinear pharmacokinetics in normal mice suggested that antigen expression in normal tissues may contribute to targeted mediated disposition. We evaluated a predosing strategy with unconjugated antibody to block ADC uptake in target-expressing tissues in a mouse model while striving to preserve tumor uptake and efficacy.
Methods: Unconjugated, unlabeled antibody was preadministered to mice bearing the TENB2-expressing human prostate explant model, LuCaP 77, followed by a single administration of (111)In-labeled anti-TENB2-MMAE for biodistribution and SPECT/CT studies. A tumor-growth-inhibition study was conducted to determine the pharmacodynamic consequences of predosing.
Results: Preadministration of anti-TENB2 at 1 mg/kg significantly increased blood exposure of the radiolabeled ADC and reduced intestinal, hepatic, and splenic uptake while not affecting tumor accretion. Similar tumor-to-heart ratios were measured by SPECT/CT at 24 h with and without the predose. Consistent with this, the preadministration of 0.75 mg/kg did not interfere with efficacy in a tumor-growth study dosed at 0.75 mg or 2.5 mg of ADC per kilogram.
Conclusion: Overall, the potential to mask peripheral, nontumor antigen uptake while preserving tumor uptake and efficacy could ameliorate toxicity and may significantly affect future dosing strategies for ADCs.