Targeting activity of a TCR/IL-2 fusion protein against established tumors.
We have previously reported that a single-chain T cell receptor/IL-2 fusion protein (scTCR-IL2) exhibits potent targeted antitumor activity in nude mice bearing human tumor xenografts that display cognate peptide/HLA complexes. In this study, we further explore the mechanism of action of this molecule. We compared the biological activities of c264scTCR-IL2, a scTCR-IL2 protein recognizing the aa264-272 peptide of human p53, with that of MART-1scTCR-IL2, which recognizes the MART-1 melanoma antigen (aa27-35). In vitro studies showed that c264scTCR-IL2 and MART-1scTCR-IL2 were equivalent in their ability to bind cell-surface IL-2 receptors and stimulate NK cell responses. In mice, MART-1scTCR-IL2 was found to have a twofold longer serum half-life than c264scTCR-IL2. However, despite its shorter serum half-life, c264scTCR-IL2 showed significantly better antitumor activity than MART-1scTCR-IL2 against p53(+)/HLA-A2(+) tumor xenografts. The more potent antitumor activity of c264scTCR-IL2 correlated with an enhanced capacity to promote NK cell infiltration into tumors. Similar differences in antigen-dependent tumor infiltration were observed with activated splenocytes pre-treated in vitro with c264scTCR-IL2 or MART-1scTCR-IL2 and then transferred into p53(+)/HLA-A2(+) tumor bearing recipients. The data support a model where c264scTCR-IL2 activates immune cells to express IL-2 receptors. Following stable interactions with cell-surface IL-2 receptors, c264scTCR-IL2 fusion molecule enhances the trafficking of immune cells to tumors displaying target peptide/HLA complexes where the immune cells mediate antitumor effects. Thus, this type of fusion molecule could be used directly as a targeted immunotherapeutic or in adoptive cell transfer approaches to activate and improve the anti-cancer activities of immune cells by providing them with pre-selected antigen recognition capability.
Wen
Jinghai
J
Altor Bioscience Corporation, 2810 N Commerce Parkway, Miramar, FL, 33025, USA.
Zhu
Xiaoyun
X
Liu
Bai
B
You
Lijing
L
Kong
Lin
L
Lee
Hyung-Il
HI
Han
Kai-Ping
KP
Wong
Jeffrey L
JL
Rhode
Peter R
PR
Wong
Hing C
HC
D000818:Animals; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D058965:MART-1 Antigen; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000276:immunology; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D007376:Interleukin-2; D058965:MART-1 Antigen; C548667:MLANA protein, human; C548668:Mlana protein, mouse; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53