Humanized anti-Sialyl-Tn antibodies for the treatment of ovarian carcinoma

PLoS One. 2018 Jul 27;13(7):e0201314. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201314. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

The expression of Sialyl-Tn (STn) in tumors is associated with metastatic disease, poor prognosis, and reduced overall survival. STn is expressed on ovarian cancer biomarkers including CA-125 (MUC16) and MUC1, and elevated serum levels of STn in ovarian cancer patients correlate with lower five-year survival rates. In the current study, we humanized novel anti-STn antibodies and demonstrated the retention of nanomolar (nM) target affinity while maintaining STn antigen selectivity. STn antibodies conjugated to Monomethyl Auristatin E (MMAE-ADCs) demonstrated in vitro cytotoxicity specific to STn-expressing ovarian cancer cell lines and tumor growth inhibition in vivo with both ovarian cancer cell line- and patient-derived xenograft models. We further validated the clinical potential of these STn-ADCs through tissue cross-reactivity and cynomolgus monkey toxicity studies. No membrane staining for STn was present in any organs of human or cynomolgus monkey origin, and the toxicity profile was favorable and only revealed MMAE-class associated events with none being attributed to the targeting of STn. The up-regulation of STn in ovarian carcinoma in combination with high affinity and STn-specific selectivity of the mAbs presented herein warrant further investigation for anti-STn antibody-drug conjugates in the clinical setting.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / immunology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / pharmacology*
  • Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity / drug effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / immunology
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / pharmacology*
  • CA-125 Antigen / immunology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Membrane Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Membrane Proteins / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mucin-1*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / immunology
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological
  • CA-125 Antigen
  • MUC1 protein, human
  • MUC16 protein, human
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Mucin-1