Anti-EGFR Fibronectin Bispecific Chemically Self-Assembling Nanorings (CSANs) Induce Potent T Cell-Mediated Antitumor Responses and Downregulation of EGFR Signaling and PD-1/PD-L1 Expression

J Med Chem. 2020 Sep 24;63(18):10235-10245. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00489. Epub 2020 Sep 14.

Abstract

Overexpression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) on various cancers makes it an important target for cancer immunotherapy. We recently demonstrated that single-chain variable fragment-based bispecific chemically self-assembled nanorings (CSANs) can successfully modify T cell surfaces and function as prosthetic antigen receptors (PARs) allowing selective targeting of tumor antigens while incorporating a dissociation mechanism of the rings. Here, we report the generation of anti-EGFR fibronectin (FN3)-based PARs with high yield, rapid protein production, predicted low immunogenicity, and increased protein stability. We demonstrated the cytotoxicity of FN3-PARs successfully while evaluating FN3 affinities, CSAN valencies, and antigen expression levels. Using an orthotopic breast cancer model, we showed that FN3-PARs can suppress tumor growth with no adverse effects and FN3-PARs reduced immunosuppressive programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression by downregulating EGFR signaling. These results demonstrate the potential of FN3-PARs to direct selective T cell-targeted tumor killing and to enhance antitumor T cell efficacy by modulating the tumor microenvironment.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bispecific / immunology
  • Antibodies, Bispecific / therapeutic use*
  • B7-H1 Antigen / antagonists & inhibitors
  • CD3 Complex / immunology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Down-Regulation
  • ErbB Receptors / immunology
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Female
  • Fibronectins / immunology
  • Fibronectins / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors / immunology
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Mice, SCID
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Single-Chain Antibodies / immunology
  • Single-Chain Antibodies / therapeutic use*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bispecific
  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • CD274 protein, human
  • CD3 Complex
  • Fibronectins
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
  • PDCD1 protein, human
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
  • Single-Chain Antibodies
  • ErbB Receptors