New anti-IL-7Rα monoclonal antibodies show efficacy against T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in pre-clinical models

Leukemia. 2020 Jan;34(1):35-49. doi: 10.1038/s41375-019-0531-8. Epub 2019 Aug 22.

Abstract

Pediatric T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cells frequently contain mutations in the interleukin-7 (IL-7) receptor pathway or respond to IL-7 itself. To target the IL-7 receptor on T-ALL cells, murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were developed against the human IL-7Rα chain and chimerized with human IgG1 constant regions. Crystal structures demonstrate that the two MAbs bound different IL-7Rα epitopes. The MAbs mediated antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) against patient-derived xenograft (PDX) T-ALL cells, which was improved by combining two MAbs. In vivo, the MAbs showed therapeutic efficacy via ADCC-dependent and independent mechanisms in minimal residual and established disease. PDX T-ALL cells that relapsed following a course of chemotherapy displayed elevated IL-7Rα, and MAb treatment is effective against relapsing disease, suggesting the use of anti-IL7Rα MAbs in relapsed T-ALL patients or patients that do not respond to chemotherapy.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology*
  • Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity / drug effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* / immunology
  • Receptors, Interleukin-7 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological
  • Receptors, Interleukin-7
  • interleukin-7 receptor, alpha chain