A bispecific EpCAM/CD133-targeted toxin is effective against carcinoma

Target Oncol. 2014 Sep;9(3):239-49. doi: 10.1007/s11523-013-0290-9. Epub 2013 Jul 31.

Abstract

The discovery of chemoresistant cancer stem cells (CSCs) in carcinomas has created the need for therapies that specifically target these subpopulations of cells. Here, we characterized a bispecific targeted toxin that is composed of two antibody fragments and a catalytic protein toxin allowing it to bind two CSC markers on the same cell killing this resistant subpopulation. CD133 is a well-known CSC marker and has been successfully targeted and caused regression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in vivo. To enable it to bind a broader range of CSCs, an anti-epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) scFv was added to create dEpCAMCD133KDEL, a deimmunized bispecific targeted toxin on a single amino acid chain. This bispecific potently inhibited protein translation and proliferation in vitro in three different types of carcinoma. Furthermore, in a CSC spheroid model dEpCAMCD133KDEL eliminated Mary-X spheroids, an inflammatory breast carcinoma. Finally, this bispecific also caused tumor regression in an in vivo model of HNSCC. This represents the first bispecific CSC-targeted toxin and warrants further development as a possible therapy for carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AC133 Antigen
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bispecific / immunology
  • Antibodies, Bispecific / pharmacology*
  • Antigens, CD / immunology*
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology*
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / immunology
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / therapy*
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / immunology*
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule
  • Glycoproteins / immunology*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / immunology
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Immunotoxins / immunology
  • Immunotoxins / pharmacology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / immunology
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology
  • Peptides / immunology*
  • Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
  • Transfection

Substances

  • AC133 Antigen
  • Antibodies, Bispecific
  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • EPCAM protein, human
  • Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule
  • Glycoproteins
  • Immunotoxins
  • PROM1 protein, human
  • Peptides
  • Prom1 protein, mouse