Tetraspanin CD151 as a target for antibody-based cancer immunotherapy

CD151 is a plasma membrane protein belonging to the tetraspanin superfamily which is expressed on normal cells such as endothelial cells and platelets and frequently overexpressed on cancer cells. It is known to be functionally linked to cancer metastasis. In humans, increased expression of CD151 is indicative of a poor prognosis in different cancer types. Whereas its mechanism of action remains obscure, CD151 was shown to regulate cell motility and adhesion through association with laminin-binding integrins such as α3β1 or α6β4. Several anti-CD151 mAbs (monoclonal antibodies) have been shown to display anti-metastatic activity in vivo. Inhibition of metastasis was not attributed to any effect of these mAbs on tumour cell growth, but was essentially attributed to inhibition of cell motility. We have generated anti-CD151 mAbs which can inhibit the tumoral growth in different xenograft cancer models. As expected, these mAbs were also able to inhibit metastasis in orthotopic cancer models. These data suggest that CD151 could function at multiple cancer stages, including not only metastasis cascade steps, but also earlier steps of primary tumour growth, thus reinforcing the interest of this innovative target in oncology. mAbs targeting CD151 may be of significant interest for cancer biotherapy.     

A bispecific antibody targeting CD47 and CD20 selectively binds and eliminates dual antigen expressing lymphoma cells

Agents that block the anti-phagocytic signal CD47 can synergize with pro-phagocytic anti-tumor antigen antibodies to potently eliminate tumors. While CD47 is overexpressed on cancer cells, its expression in many normal tissues may create an ‘antigen sink’ that could minimize the therapeutic efficacy of CD47 blocking agents. Here, we report development of bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) that co-target CD47 and CD20, a therapeutic target for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), that have reduced affinity for CD47 relative to the parental antibody, but retain strong binding to CD20. These characteristics facilitate selective binding of BsAbs to tumor cells, leading to phagocytosis. Treatment of human NHL-engrafted mice with BsAbs reduced lymphoma burden and extended survival while recapitulating the synergistic efficacy of anti-CD47 and anti-CD20 combination therapy. These findings serve as proof of principle for BsAb targeting of CD47 with tumor-associated antigens as a viable strategy to induce selective phagocytosis of tumor cells and recapitulate the synergy of combination antibody therapy. This approach may be broadly applied to cancer to add a CD47 blocking component to existing antibody therapies.     

CD137 stimulation and p38 MAPK inhibition improve reactivity in an in vitro model of glioblastoma immunotherapy

Dendritic cell vaccination has become an interesting option for cancer immunotherapy. Tumor-lysate-pulsed dendritic cells (DC) can prime naïve T cells and induce the regression of established tumors including gliomas as shown in various animal models. Despite hopeful results even in clinical studies, the outcome for many patients is still unsatisfying. In the present study, we tested the combination of tumor-lysate-pulsed dendritic cells (TPDC) with a monoclonal antibody against CD137, a monoclonal antibody against CD25 (daclizumab) and a specific p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) inhibitor (SB203580) for improving immunostimulation in an in vitro model of immunotherapy for human gliomas. We observed a higher secretion of interferon gamma by TPDC-primed peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) that were incubated with an antibody against CD137 or the p38 MAPK inhibitor. In addition, we observed higher specific lysis of tumor cells after incubation of PBMC with the p38 MAPK inhibitor or the anti-CD137 antibody. In contrast, incubation of TPDC-primed PBMC with the anti-CD25 antibody did enhance neither interferon gamma secretion nor cellular cytotoxicity. Cell depletion experiments demonstrated that the immune reaction induced by TPDC is strongly dependent on CD4-positive and CD8-positive cells. Incubation of DC during maturation and antigen loading with the anti-CD137 antibody did not enhance cytotoxicity and interferon gamma secretion in comparison with application of the anti-CD137 antibody during priming. In conclusion, our data suggest that p38 MAPK inhibition and anti-CD137 antibodies can enhance the immune response against glioblastoma cells.     

CD147对白血病细胞U937生长和肿瘤形成的影响

目的：研究CD147对白血病细胞U937生长和肿瘤形成的影响。方法：分别采用脂多糖（LPS）或CD147单克隆抗体处理U937细胞;用RT-PCR和流式细胞术分别在mRNA和蛋白水平检测各组中CD147的表达情况;用流式细胞术检测在LtX3和CD147单克隆抗体作用下U937细胞周期的变化;用MTT法对各组细胞的生长状况进行分析;将细胞经皮下接种于裸鼠体内,对各组间肿瘤生长速度、肿瘤体积及裸鼠存活时间进行统计分析。结果：LPS在体外能够诱导自血病细胞U937表面CD147的表达,同时细胞增殖旺盛,但细胞凋亡数增加;使用CD147抗体阻断CD147后,能够将细胞周期阻断在G0／G1期,细胞活力下降,并诱导细胞凋亡;CD147抗体体外预处理能够抑制U937细胞在裸鼠体内的生长,使小鼠存活时间延长。结论：LPS可诱导U937细胞表面CD147分子表达增加,从而促进U937细胞的生长和肿瘤形成。     

Stromal interaction molecule 1 promotes tumor growth in Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a disease with poor prognosis which urgently is in need of effective prognostic marker. To discover novel prognostic protein marker for ESCC, we applied a high-throughput monoclonal antibody microarray to compare tumor and adjacent non-tumor tissues from ESCC patients. Antibody #ESmAb270 was consistent higher expressed in tumors and it was identified via mass spectrometry to be stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1). STIM1 H scores in tumor tissues were significantly up-regulated in esophageal tumor tissues compared to non-tumor tissues in 105 ESCC patients. We also observed that high STIM1 expression was correlated with advanced tumor grade and poor prognosis of ESCC. In addition, attenuation of STIM1 by siRNA or chemical inhibitors significantly inhibited cell viability and migration of ESCC cells. Evidence from high-throughput monoclonal antibody microarray, IHC microarray with associated survival data and functional analysis show that STIM1 is an unfavorable prognostic biomarker in ESCC.     

Preclinical evaluation of light-activatable,bispecific anti-human CD3 antibody conjugates as anti-ovarian cancer therapeutics

The administration of anti-CD3 antibodies, either unmodified or in bispecific formats, has been shown to kill tumors. However, their activity needs to be carefully controlled. We have approached this problem by inhibiting their anti-CD3 activity until it is required. Folated anti-human CD3 antibody bispecific conjugates were therefore synthesised in which the folate portion of the conjugates remained free to bind to folate receptor (FR) expressing cancer cells, whilst their anti-CD3 activity was reversibly inhibited. On irradiation with UV-A light, the T-cell binding activity of the anti-CD3 antibody can be restored only when and where it is required, i.e., adjacent to a tumor. Conjugate bound to FR expressed on normal tissues in other parts of the body remains inactive. This report describes the preclinical in vivo testing of these conjugates in transgenic mice whose T-cells express human CD3 molecules. When the ‘cloaked’ conjugates were reactivated in the region of the primary tumor, both primary tumor growth and liver metastasis were markedly reduced. That the deliberate targeting of T-cell activity locally to the primary tumor also resulted in reduced distant metastatic growth was a key finding. Light-activatable bispecific antibody conjugates similar to those described here offer a means to control T-cell targeting with a much higher degree of specificity to tumors because they minimize potentially dangerous and unwanted side effects in non-illuminated areas. The addition of light-specific targeting to the inherent tumor specific targeting of therapeutic antibody conjugates could result in the development of safer treatments for patients.     

抗CD20嵌合抗体片段Fab′突变体的表达和活性研究

利用PCR方法从抗CD20单链抗体（ScFv）表达载体上扩增抗CD20抗体轻链可变区基因（V^L）、重链可变区基因（V^H）,同时在抗体的可变区引入突变,然后将V^H、V^L基因重组到Fab′表达载体pYZF1中,构建抗CD20嵌合抗体Fab′片段表达载体,并在大肠杆菌16c9中进行高效可溶性分泌表达。经大量的筛选,获得一个产量和活性均有所提高的突变克隆。其突变位点在轻链可变区的CDR1区,即G77→A（Ser→Asn）。突变的抗体的表达量为每克干菌3.8 mg,而未突变抗体的表达量为每克干菌1.3 mg。突变体的亲和力常数K_a为2.2×10⁹ L/mol,约为突变前的2倍。竞争性免疫荧光抑制实验表明,突变的Fab′片段能竞争性抑制鼠源性抗CD20抗体HI₄₇和CD20表达细胞Raji细胞的结合,使HI₄₇的结合阳性率由98%下降至37.55%,体外细胞生长抑制试验亦证明突变的Fab′片段的抑制活性明显高于未突变的抗体。     

Pre-Clinical Development of a Humanized Anti-CD47 Antibody with Anti-Cancer Therapeutic Potential

CD47 is a widely expressed cell surface protein that functions as a regulator of phagocytosis mediated by cells of the innate immune system, such as macrophages and dendritic cells. CD47 serves as the ligand for a receptor on these innate immune cells, SIRP-alpha, which in turn delivers an inhibitory signal for phagocytosis. We previously found increased expression of CD47 on primary human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) stem cells, and demonstrated that blocking monoclonal antibodies directed against CD47 enabled the phagocytosis and elimination of AML, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), and many solid tumors in xenograft models. Here, we report the development of a humanized anti-CD47 antibody with potent efficacy and favorable toxicokinetic properties as a candidate therapeutic. A novel monoclonal anti-human CD47 antibody, 5F9, was generated, and antibody humanization was carried out by grafting its complementarity determining regions (CDRs) onto a human IgG4 format. The resulting humanized 5F9 antibody (Hu5F9-G4) bound monomeric human CD47 with an 8 nM affinity. Hu5F9-G4 induced potent macrophage-mediated phagocytosis of primary human AML cells in vitro and completely eradicated human AML in vivo, leading to long-term disease-free survival of patient-derived xenografts. Moreover, Hu5F9-G4 synergized with rituximab to eliminate NHL engraftment and cure xenografted mice. Finally, toxicokinetic studies in non-human primates showed that Hu5F9-G4 could be safely administered intravenously at doses able to achieve potentially therapeutic serum levels. Thus, Hu5F9-G4 is actively being developed for and has been entered into clinical trials in patients with AML and solid tumors (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02216409).     

CD14蛋白表达、纯化及单克隆抗体制备

摘要 目的：制备CD14重组蛋白及抗CD14单克隆抗体。方法：从人外周血淋巴细胞中克隆CD14编码基因,将其连接至质粒pRSETC,构建表达质粒pRSETC/CD14,转染大肠杆菌表达菌株BL21(DE3),筛选阳性克隆、用IPTG诱导表达,SDS-PAGE检测CD14蛋白表达水平,应用镍柱进行亲和纯化,SDS-PAGE及Western blot进行纯化产物鉴定。纯化后的CD14蛋白免疫BALB/c小鼠,利用杂交瘤技术筛选分泌单克隆抗体细胞株,制备单克隆抗体,利用Western blot鉴定抗体活性。结果：获得CD14编码基因,并成功进行了原核表达,SDS-PAGE显示CD14以包涵体形式表达,纯化产物的纯度超过95%。利用杂交瘤技术筛选出稳定分泌抗CD14抗体的细胞株,并制备了高纯度的单克隆抗体,抗体具有CD14蛋白结合活性。结论：成功表达纯化了CD14蛋白,并制备了抗CD14单克隆抗体,为后续开发CD14检测技术提供抗体。     

Influence of interferon-α on the expression of the cancer stem cell markers in pancreatic carcinoma cells

The cytokine interferon-α (IFNα) belongs to the group of type I interferons already used in cancer therapy. This drug possesses radio- and chemo-sensitizing, and shows anti-angiogenic properties. Cancer stem cells (CSC) are a unique population of tumor cells that initiate secondary tumors, and are responsible for metastasis formation. Patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) have an especially poor prognosis, with 5-year survival rates of only ~1% and median survival of 4–6 months. PDAC is characterized by the presence of CSC. In this work we demonstrate for the first time that IFNα up-regulates the expression of the CSC markers CD24, CD44 and CD133 in in vitro and in vivo models of PDAC. We showed the IFNα effects on the migration and invasion of PDAC cells, which is associated with the level of the CSC marker expression. In vivo, this drug inhibits tumor growth but promotes metastasis formation in the early stage of tumor growth. We propose that IFNα may enhance the enrichment of CSC in PDAC tumors. Additionally we also suggest that in combination therapy of solid tumors with IFNα, this drug should be given to patients prior to chemotherapy to achieve the CSC activation.     

Preclinical evaluation of light-activatable,bispecific anti-human CD3 antibody conjugates as anti-ovarian cancer therapeutics

The administration of anti-CD3 antibodies, either unmodified or in bispecific formats, has been shown to kill tumors. However, their activity needs to be carefully controlled. We have approached this problem by inhibiting their anti-CD3 activity until it is required. Folated anti-human CD3 antibody bispecific conjugates were therefore synthesised in which the folate portion of the conjugates remained free to bind to folate receptor (FR) expressing cancer cells, whilst their anti-CD3 activity was reversibly inhibited. On irradiation with UV-A light, the T-cell binding activity of the anti-CD3 antibody can be restored only when and where it is required, i.e., adjacent to a tumor. Conjugate bound to FR expressed on normal tissues in other parts of the body remains inactive. This report describes the preclinical in vivo testing of these conjugates in transgenic mice whose T-cells express human CD3 molecules. When the ‘cloaked’ conjugates were reactivated in the region of the primary tumor, both primary tumor growth and liver metastasis were markedly reduced. That the deliberate targeting of T-cell activity locally to the primary tumor also resulted in reduced distant metastatic growth was a key finding. Light-activatable bispecific antibody conjugates similar to those described here offer a means to control T-cell targeting with a much higher degree of specificity to tumors because they minimize potentially dangerous and unwanted side effects in non-illuminated areas. The addition of light-specific targeting to the inherent tumor specific targeting of therapeutic antibody conjugates could result in the development of safer treatments for patients.Key words: T-cells, bispecific antibody, caging, photo-activation, UV-light, folate receptor, tumor targeting     

An anti-CD11d integrin antibody reduces cyclooxygenase-2 expression and protein and DNA oxidation after spinal cord injury in rats

Our studies have shown that treatment with a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against the CD11d subunit of the leukocyte integrin CD11d/CD18 after spinal cord injury (SCI) decreases intraspinal inflammation, myeloperoxidase activity, lipid peroxidation and protein nitration, improving neurological function in rats. Using severe clip compression SCI in the rat, immunohistochemistry and western blotting were employed to assess the effects of an anti-CD11d mAb treatment on spinal cord cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression, formation of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG, a marker of RNA and DNA oxidation) and protein carbonylation (a marker of protein oxidation). We also assessed treatment effects on the expression of apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease (redox effector factor-1, APE/Ref-1), a multifunctional enzyme involved in the base excision repair of apurinic/apyrimidinic sites in DNA. The expression of COX-2 and formation of 8-OHdG and protein carbonyl groups were increased after SCI while APE/Ref-1 expression was decreased. Anti-CD11d mAb treatment clearly attenuated COX-2 expression and 8-OHdG and protein carbonyl formation and rescued APE/Ref-1 expression after SCI. This study suggests that anti-CD11d mAb treatment significantly reduces intraspinal free radical formation after SCI, thereby reducing protein and DNA oxidative damage. These effects likely underlie tissue preservation and improved neurological function resulting from the mAb treatment.     

CD47 Regulates Collagen I-Induced Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression and Intestinal Epithelial Cell Migration

Increased epithelial cell expression of the cyclooxgenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme is a characteristic event of both inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer. We here report the novel findings that collagen I-induced de novo synthesis of COX-2 in intestinal epithelial cells is inhibited by pertussis toxin (PTX) and by an inhibitory peptide selective for the heterotrimeric Gα_i3-protein. These findings could be explained by a regulatory involvement of the G-protein-dependent integrin-associated protein CD47. In support of this notion, we observed a collagen I-induced association between CD47 and α2 integrins. This association was reduced by a blocking anti-CD47 antibody but not by PTX or a control anti-β2 antibody. Furthermore, a blocking antibody against CD47, dominant negative CD47 or specific siRNA knock down of CD47, significantly reduced collagen I-induced COX-2 expression. COX-2 has previously been shown to regulate intestinal epithelial cell adhesion and migration. Morphological analysis of intestinal cells adhering to collagen I revealed a co-localisation of CD47 and α2 integrins to non-apoptotic membrane blebs enriched in Rho A and F-actin. The blocking CD47 antibody, PTX and a selective COX-2 inhibitor, dramatically inhibited the formation of these blebs. In accordance, migration of these cells on a collagen I-coated surface or through a collagen I gel were significantly reduced by the CD47 blocking antibody, siRNA knock down of CD47 and the COX-2 inhibitor NS-398. In conclusion, we present novel data that identifies the G-protein-dependent CD47 protein as a key regulator of collagen I-induced COX-2 expression and a promoter of intestinal epithelial cell migration.     

The Bs20x22 anti-CD20-CD22 bispecific antibody has more lymphomacidal activity than do the parent antibodies alone

Previous studies have shown that bispecific antibodies that target both CD20 and CD22 have in vivo lymphomacidal properties. We developed a CD20-CD22 bispecific antibody (Bs20x22) from anti-CD20 and the anti-CD22 monoclonal antibodies (mAb), rituximab and HB22.7, respectively. Bs20x22 was constructed using standard methods and was shown to specifically bind CD20 and CD22. In vitro cytotoxicity assays showed that Bs20x22 was three times more effective than either parent mAb alone and twice as effective as a combination of both parent mAb used at equimolar concentrations. Bs20x22 was also nearly four times more effective at inducing apoptosis than either mAb alone. Examination of the MAPK and SAPK signaling cascades revealed that Bs20x22 induced significantly more p38 phosphorylation than either mAb alone. In an in vivo human NHL xenograft model, treatment with Bs20x22 resulted in significantly greater tumor shrinkage and improved overall survival when compared to either mAb alone or treatment with a combination of HB22.7 and rituximab. The effect of the initial tumor volume was assessed by comparing the efficacy of Bs20x22 administered before xenografts grew versus treatment of established tumors; significantly, greater efficacy was found when treatment was initiated before tumors could become established.     

SRPX2 Enhances the Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition and Temozolomide Resistance in Glioblastoma Cells

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and most aggressive central nervous system tumor in adults. Due to GBM cell invasiveness and resistance to chemotherapy, current medical interventions are not satisfactory, and the prognosis for GBM is poor. It is necessary to investigate the underlying mechanism of GBM metastasis and drug resistance so that more effective treatments can be developed for GBM patients. sushi repeat-containing protein, X-linked 2 (SRPX2) is a prognostic biomarker in many different cancer cell lines and is associated with poor prognosis in cancer patients. SRPX2 overexpression promotes interactions between tumor and endothelial cells, leading to tumor progression and metastasis. We hypothesize that SRPX2 also contributes to GBM chemotherapy resistance and metastasis. Our results revealed that GBM tumor samples from 42 patients expressed higher levels of SRPX2 than the control normal brain tissue samples. High-SRPX2 expression levels are correlated with poor prognosis in those patients, as well as resistance to temozolomide in cultured GBM cells. Up-regulating SRPX2 expression in cultured GBM cell lines facilitated invasiveness and migration of GBM cells, while down-regulating SRPX2 through RNA interference was inhibitory. These results suggest that SRPX2 plays an important role in GBM metastasis. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is one of the processes that facilitate GBM metastasis and resistance to chemotherapy. EMT marker expression was decreased in SRPX2 down-regulated GBM cells, and MAPK signaling pathway marker expression was also decreased when SRPX2 is knocked down in GBM-cultured cells. Blocking the MAPK signaling pathway inhibited GBM metastasis but did not inhibit cell invasion and migration in SRPX2 down-regulated cells. Our results indicate that SRPX2 facilitates GBM metastasis by enhancing the EMT process via the MAPK signaling pathway.     

Anti-idiotype responses abrogate anti-CD4–induced tolerance to a tumor-specific antigen and promote systemic tumor immunity

Purpose: Immunologic-based cancer treatment modalities represent an active area of investigation. Included in these strategies are passive administration of monoclonal antibodies which recognize tumor-associated antigens and active vaccination with identified tumor antigens. However, several problems associated with these types of treatment strategies have been identified. Methods: In this report, we address certain issues by employing a murine model for experimental pulmonary metastasis and a tumor antigen vaccination strategy that induces complete tumor immunity in this system. Utilizing this model, we attempt to address issues related to unresponsiveness to tumor antigen immunization induced by passive administration of a rat monoclonal anti-CD4 and the induction of anti-idiotype responses to a passively administered monoclonal antibody and the effects on the induction of tumor immunity. Results: The results presented indicate that passive administration of rat monoclonal anti-CD4 exhibits immunosuppressive effects that inhibit the production of antibodies to the tumor antigen immunization and abolishes tumor immunity. Repeated administration of the rat monoclonal anti-CD4 results in an anti-idiotype response that can abrogate unresponsiveness to tumor antigen immunization and promote systemic tumor immunity. Conclusions: The data examine a number of potential problems associated with immunologic-based treatments for cancer. These problems include the potential for tolerance to the tumor antigen and establishing an immunocompromised state where immunization with a tumor antigen failed to generate tumor immunity. Approaches to eliminate tolerant T cells by targeting anti-CD4 via anti-idiotype responses that could be generated in vivo without CD4⁺ T cells allowed for recovery of nontolerant T cells, and an antibody response to the tumor antigen that results in tumor immunity.Abbreviations CTL Cytotoxic T lymphocyte - FITC Fluorescein isothiocyanate - OD Optical density - PBS Phosphate-buffered saline - SV40 Simian virus 40     

Targeting LSD1 suppresses stem cell-like properties and sensitizes head and neck squamous cell carcinoma to PD-1 blockade

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a highly aggressive tumor with poor clinical outcomes due to recurrence, metastasis, and treatment resistance. Cancer stem cells (CSCs), a small population among tumor cells, are proposed to be responsible for tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, drug resistance, and recurrence. Here we show that high LSD1 expression was a predictor of poor prognosis for HNSCC patients. We found that high expression of LSD1 is essential for the maintenance of the CSC properties by regulating Bmi-1 expression. Moreover, tumor LSD1 ablation suppresses CSC-like characteristics in vitro and inhibits tumorigenicity in vivo in immune-deficient xenografts. However, this deletion induces the upregulation of PDL1 levels, which compromises antitumor immunity and reduces antitumor efficacy in an immune-competent mouse model. Functionally, the combination of LSD1 inhibitor and anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody can overcome tumor immune evasion and greatly inhibit tumor growth, which was associated with reduced Ki-67 level and augmented CD8⁺ T cell infiltration in immunocompetent tumor-bearing mouse models. In summary, these findings provide a novel and promising combined strategy for the treatment of HNSCC using a combination of LSD1 inhibition and PD-1 blockade.Subject terms: Oral cancer, Stem-cell research     

Multifunctionalized iron oxide nanoparticles for selective targeting of pancreatic cancer cells

Nanomedicine nowadays offers novel solutions in cancer therapy by introducing multimodal treatments in one single formulation. In addition, nanoparticles act as nanocarriers changing the solubility, biodistribution and efficiency of the therapeutic molecules, thus generating more efficient treatments and reducing their side effects. To apply these novel therapeutic approaches, efforts are focused on the multi-functionalization of the nanoparticles and will open up new avenues to advanced combinational therapies. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a cancer with unmet medical needs. Abundant expression of the anti-phagocytosis signal CD47 has also been observed on pancreatic cancer cells, in particular a subset of cancer stem cells (CSCs) responsible for resistance to standard therapy and metastatic potential. CD47 receptor is found on pancreatic cancer and highly expressed on CSCs, but not on normal pancreas. Inhibiting CD47 using monoclonal antibodies has been shown as an effective strategy to treat PDAC in vivo. However, CD47 inhibition effectively slowed tumor growth only in combination with Gemcitabine or Abraxane. In this work, we present the generation of multifunctionalized iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) that include the anti-CD47 antibody and the chemotherapeutic drug Gemcitabine in a single formulation. We demonstrate the in vitro efficacy of the formulation against CD47-positive pancreatic cancer cells. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Recent Advances in Bionanomaterials" Guest Editor: Dr. Marie-Louise Saboungi and Dr. Samuel D. Bader.     

A novel bispecific antibody fusion protein co-targeting EGFR and CD47 with enhanced therapeutic index

Objective

To promote targeting specificity of anti-CD47 agents, we have constructed a novel bispecific antibody fusion protein against EGFR and CD47, which may minimize the “off-target” effects caused by CD47 expression on red blood cells.

Results

The novel bispecific antibody fusion protein, denoted as Bi-SP could simultaneously bind to EGFR and CD47 and exhibited potent phagocytosis-stimulation effects in vitro. Bi-SP treatment with a low dose more effectively inhibited tumor growth than either EGFR-targeting antibody, Pan or the SIRPα variant-Fc (SIRPαV-Fc) in the A431 xenograft tumor model. In addition, the treatment with Bi-SP produced less red blood cell (RBC) losses than the SIRPαV-Fc treatment, suggesting its potential use for minimizing RBC toxicity in therapy.

Conclusions

Bi-SP with improved therapeutic index has the potential to treat CD47+ and EGFR+ cancers in clinics.