Lymphocyte activation antigen CD70 expressed by renal cell carcinoma is a potential therapeutic target for anti-CD70 antibody-drug conjugates.
Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is an aggressive disease refractory to most existing therapeutic modalities. Identifying new markers for disease progression and drug targets for RCC will benefit this unmet medical need. We report a subset of clear cell and papillary cell RCC aberrantly expressing the lymphocyte activation marker CD70, a member of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily. Importantly, CD70 expression was found to be maintained at the metastatic sites of RCC. Anti-CD70 antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) consisting of auristatin phenylalanine phenylenediamine (AFP) or monomethyl auristatin phenylalanine (MMAF), two novel derivatives of the anti-tubulin agent auristatin, mediated potent antigen-dependent cytotoxicity in CD70-expressing RCC cells. Cytotoxic activity of these anti-CD70 ADCs was associated with their internalization and subcellular trafficking through the endosomal-lysosomal pathway, disruption of cellular microtubule network, and G2-M phase cell cycle arrest. The efficiency of drug delivery using anti-CD70 as vehicle was illustrated by the much enhanced cytotoxicity of antibody-conjugated MMAF compared with free MMAF. Hence, ADCs targeted to CD70 can selectively recognize RCC, internalize, and reach the appropriate subcellular compartment(s) for drug release and tumor cell killing. In vitro cytotoxicity of these ADCs was confirmed in xenograft models using RCC cell lines. Our findings provide evidence that CD70 is an attractive target for antibody-based therapeutics against metastatic RCC and suggest that anti-CD70 ADCs can provide a new treatment approach for advanced RCC patients who currently have no chemotherapeutic options.
Seattle Genetics, Inc., Bothell, Washington 98021, USA. claw@seagen.com
Che-Leung
CL
Law
Kristine A
KA
Gordon
Brian E
BE
Toki
Andrew K
AK
Yamane
Michelle A
MA
Hering
Charles G
CG
Cerveny
Joseph M
JM
Petroziello
Maureen C
MC
Ryan
Leia
L
Smith
Ronald
R
Simon
Guido
G
Sauter
Ezogelin
E
Oflazoglu
Svetlana O
SO
Doronina
Damon L
DL
Meyer
Joseph A
JA
Francisco
Paul
P
Carter
Peter D
PD
Senter
John A
JA
Copland
Christopher G
CG
Wood
Alan F
AF
Wahl
D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D053282:CD27 Ligand; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D018796:Immunoconjugates / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008870:Microtubules / Q000187:drug effects; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D053282:CD27 Ligand; C505771:CD70 protein, human; C505772:Cd70 protein, mouse; D018796:Immunoconjugates; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009842:Oligopeptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors; D010649:Phenylalanine; C105791:soblidotin; C495575:monomethyl auristatin E