Preclinical development of a humanized neutralizing antibody targeting HGF

Exp Mol Med. 2017 Mar 24;49(3):e309. doi: 10.1038/emm.2017.21.

Abstract

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its receptor, cMET, play critical roles in cell proliferation, angiogenesis and invasion in a wide variety of cancers. We therefore examined the anti-tumor activity of the humanized monoclonal anti-HGF antibody, YYB-101, in nude mice bearing human glioblastoma xenografts as a single agent or in combination with temozolomide. HGF neutralization, The extracellular signal-related kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation, and HGF-induced scattering were assessed in HGF-expressing cell lines treated with YYB-101. To support clinical development, we also evaluated the preclinical pharmacokinetics and toxicokinetics in cynomolgus monkeys, and human and cynomolgus monkey tissue was stained with YYB-101 to test tissue cross-reactivity. We found that YYB-101 inhibited cMET activation in vitro and suppressed tumor growth in the orthotopic mouse model of human glioblastoma. Combination treatment with YYB-101 and temozolomide decreased tumor growth and increased overall survival compared with the effects of either agent alone. Five cancer-related genes (TMEM119, FST, RSPO3, ROS1 and NBL1) were overexpressed in YYB-101-treated mice that showed tumor regrowth. In the tissue cross-reactivity assay, critical cross-reactivity was not observed. The terminal elimination half-life was 21.7 days. Taken together, the in vitro and in vivo data demonstrated the anti-tumor efficacy of YYB-101, which appeared to be mediated by blocking the HGF/cMET interaction. The preclinical pharmacokinetics, toxicokinetics and tissue cross-reactivity data support the clinical development of YYB-101 for advanced cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / adverse effects
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / immunology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / adverse effects
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / therapeutic use*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / therapeutic use
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Dogs
  • Female
  • Glioblastoma / drug therapy*
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Hepatocyte Growth Factor / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Hepatocyte Growth Factor / immunology
  • Humans
  • Macaca fascicularis
  • Madin Darby Canine Kidney Cells
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological
  • Hepatocyte Growth Factor
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met