Large-scale synthesis and structural analysis of a synthetic glycopeptide dendrimer as an anti-cancer vaccine candidate

Org Biomol Chem. 2016 Dec 20;15(1):114-123. doi: 10.1039/c6ob01931e.

Abstract

Herein, we report a new process that enables the gram-scale production of a fully synthetic anti-cancer vaccine for human use. This therapeutic vaccine candidate, named MAG-Tn3, is a high-molecular-weight tetrameric glycopeptide encompassing carbohydrate tumor-associated Tn antigen clusters and peptidic CD4+ T-cell epitopes. The synthetic process involves (i) the stepwise solid-phase assembly of protected amino acids, including the high value-added Tn building blocks with only 1.5 equivalents, (ii) a single isolated intermediate, and (iii) the simultaneous deprotection of 36 hindered protective groups. The resulting MAG-Tn3 was unambiguously characterized using a combination of techniques, including a structural analysis by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The four peptidic chains are flexible in solution, with a more constrained but extended conformation at the Tn3 antigen motif. Finally, we demonstrate that, when injected into HLA-DR1-expressing transgenic mice, this vaccine induces Tn-specific antibodies that mediate the killing of human Tn-positive tumor cells. These studies led to a clinical batch of the MAG-Tn3, currently investigated in breast cancer patients (phase I clinical trial). The current study demonstrates the feasibility of the multigram-scale synthesis of a highly pure complex glycopeptide, and it opens new avenues for the use of synthetic glycopeptides as drugs in humans.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / chemistry
  • Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Cancer Vaccines / chemical synthesis
  • Cancer Vaccines / chemistry*
  • Cancer Vaccines / therapeutic use
  • Dendrimers / chemical synthesis
  • Dendrimers / chemistry*
  • Dendrimers / therapeutic use
  • Glycopeptides / chemical synthesis
  • Glycopeptides / chemistry*
  • Glycopeptides / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / chemistry*
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate
  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Dendrimers
  • Glycopeptides
  • Tn antigen
  • Vaccines, Synthetic