Modifying an immunogenic epitope on a therapeutic protein: a step towards an improved system for antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT).
Carboxypeptidase G2 (CP) is a bacterial enzyme, which is targeted to tumours by an antitumour antibody for local prodrug activation in antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT). Repeated cycles of ADEPT are desirable but are hampered by human antibody response to CP (HACA). To address this, we aimed to identify and modify clinically important immunogenic sites on MFECP, a recombinant fusion protein of CP with MFE-23, a single chain Fv (scFv) antibody. A discontinuous conformational epitope at the C-terminus of the CP previously identified by the CM79 scFv antibody (CM79-identified epitope) was chosen for study. Modification of MFECP was achieved by mutations of the CM79-identified epitope or by addition of a hexahistidine tag (His-tag) to the C-terminus of MFECP, which forms part of the epitope. Murine immunisation experiments with modified MFECP showed no significant antibody response to the CM79-identified epitope compared to A5CP, an unmodified version of CP chemically conjugated to an F(ab)(2) antibody. Success of modification was also demonstrated in humans because patients treated with His-tagged MFECP had a significantly reduced antibody response to the CM79-identified epitope, compared to patients given A5CP. Moreover, the polyclonal antibody response to CP was delayed in both mice and patients given modified MFECP. This increases the prospect of repeated treatment with ADEPT for effective cancer treatment.
Mayer
A
A
Department of Oncology, Royal Free and University College Medical School, University College London, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, UK. a.mayer@ucl.ac.uk
Sharma
S K
SK
Tolner
B
B
Minton
N P
NP
Purdy
D
D
Amlot
P
P
Tharakan
G
G
Begent
R H J
RH
Chester
K A
KA
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000917:Antibody Formation; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes; D006801:Humans; D018796:Immunoconjugates; D007128:Immunoglobulin Fragments / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D011355:Prodrugs; D015202:Protein Engineering; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000276:immunology; D011623:gamma-Glutamyl Hydrolase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000939:Epitopes; D018796:Immunoconjugates; D007128:Immunoglobulin Fragments; C451184:MFE-23 protein, human; D011355:Prodrugs; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D011623:gamma-Glutamyl Hydrolase