Human anti-CD40 antagonist antibody triggers significant antitumor activity against human multiple myeloma.
Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) directed against lineage-specific B-cell antigens have provided clinical benefit for patients with hematologic malignancies, but to date no antibody-mediated immunotherapy is available for multiple myeloma. In the present study, we assessed the efficacy of a fully human anti-CD40 mAb CHIR-12.12 against human multiple myeloma cells. CHIR-12.12, generated in XenoMouse mice, binds to CD138-expressing multiple myeloma lines and freshly purified CD138-expressing cells from >80% multiple myeloma patients, as assessed by flow cytometry. Importantly, CHIR-12.12 abrogates CD40L-induced growth and survival of CD40-expressing patient multiple myeloma cells in the presence or absence of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC), without altering constitutive multiple myeloma cell proliferation. Immunoblotting analysis specifically showed that PI3-K/AKT, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation induced by CD40L (5 mug/mL) was inhibited by CHIR-12.12 (5 mug/mL). Because CD40 activation induces multiple myeloma cell adhesion to both fibronectin and BMSCs, we next determined whether CHIR-12.12 inhibits this process. CHIR-12.12 decreased CD40L-induced multiple myeloma cell adhesion to fibronectin and BMSCs, whereas control human IgG1 did not. Adhesion of multiple myeloma cells to BMSCs induces interleukin-6 (IL-6) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion, and treatment of multiple myeloma cells with CD40L further enhanced adhesion-induced cytokine secretion; conversely, CHIR-12.12 blocks CD40L-enhanced IL-6 and VEGF secretion in cocultures of multiple myeloma cells with BMSCs. Finally, CHIR-12.12 triggered lysis of multiple myeloma cells via antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) but did not induce ADCC against CD40-negative multiple myeloma cells, confirming specificity against CD40-expressing multiple myeloma cells. These results provide the preclinical rationale for clinical trials of CHIR-12.12 to improve patient outcome in multiple myeloma.
Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Yu-Tzu
YT
Tai
Xianfeng
X
Li
Xia
X
Tong
Daniel
D
Santos
Takemi
T
Otsuki
Laurence
L
Catley
Olivier
O
Tournilhac
Klaus
K
Podar
Teru
T
Hideshima
Robert
R
Schlossman
Paul
P
Richardson
Nikhil C
NC
Munshi
Mohammad
M
Luqman
Kenneth C
KC
Anderson
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000920:Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000276:immunology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007116:Immunization, Passive / Q000379:methods*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D053668:Syndecan-1; D053667:Syndecans; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C000606204:NFKBIA protein, human; C000606205:Nfkbia protein, mouse; D011509:Proteoglycans; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; C508241:SDC1 protein, human; D053668:Syndecan-1; D053667:Syndecans; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D023201:CD40 Ligand; C494918:AKT1 protein, human; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt