A new class of bispecific antibodies to redirect T cells for cancer immunotherapy |
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Authors: | Diane L Rossi Edmund A Rossi Thomas M Cardillo David M Goldenberg Chien-Hsing Chang |
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Institution: | 1.Immunomedics, Inc; Morris Plains, NJ USA;2.IBC Pharmaceuticals, Inc; Morris Plains, NJ USA;3.Garden State Cancer Center; Center for Molecular Medicine and Immunology; Morris Plains, NJ USA |
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Abstract: | Various constructs of bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) to redirect effector T cells for the targeted killing of tumor cells have shown considerable promise in both preclinical and clinical studies. The single-chain variable fragment (scFv)-based formats, including bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) and dual-affinity re-targeting (DART), which provide monovalent binding to both CD3 on T cells and to the target antigen on tumor cells, can exhibit rapid blood clearance and neurological toxicity due to their small size (~55 kDa). Herein, we describe the generation, by the modular DOCK-AND-LOCKTM (DNLTM) method, of novel T-cell redirecting bispecific antibodies, each comprising a monovalent anti-CD3 scFv covalently conjugated to a stabilized dimer of different anti-tumor Fabs. The potential advantages of this design include bivalent binding to tumor cells, a larger size (~130 kDa) to preclude renal clearance and penetration of the blood-brain barrier, and potent T-cell mediated cytotoxicity. These prototypes were purified to near homogeneity, and representative constructs were shown to provoke the formation of immunological synapses between T cells and their target tumor cells in vitro, resulting in T-cell activation and proliferation, as well as potent T-cell mediated anti-tumor activity. In addition, in vivo studies in NOD/SCID mice bearing Raji Burkitt lymphoma or Capan-1 pancreatic carcinoma indicated statistically significant inhibition of tumor growth compared with untreated controls. |
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Keywords: | bispecific antibody T-cell redirected therapy DOCK-AND-LOCK Burkitt lymphoma pancreatic cancer |
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