Endoglin for targeted cancer treatment.
Endoglin is a homodimeric cell membrane glycoprotein receptor for transforming growth factor β and bone morphogenetic proteins. Endoglin is essential for angiogenesis, being densely expressed on proliferating endothelial cells and upregulated during hypoxia. Its expression is implicated in development of resistance to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibition. TRC105 is an antibody that binds endoglin and prevents endothelial cell activation. Targeting endoglin and the VEGF pathway concurrently improves treatment in vitro and appears to reverse resistance to bevacizumab in some refractory cancer patients. Randomized trials are under way to assess the clinical benefit of adding TRC105 therapy to bevacizumab therapy. Further trials are under way to assess the activity of TRC105 with small-molecule inhibitors of the VEGF pathway in renal cell carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and soft tissue sarcoma. Stratification of soft tissue sarcomas based on endoglin expression levels is proposed to identify patients most likely to benefit from TRC105 treatment. The development of a TRC105 antibody-drug conjugate is also described.
Hematology-Oncology, UCLA Medical Center Santa Monica, 2020 Santa Monica Blvd, Ste 600, Santa Monica, CA, 90404, USA, lrosen@mednet.ucla.edu.
Lee S
LS
Rosen
Michael S
MS
Gordon
Francisco
F
Robert
Daniela E
DE
Matei
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D000071063:Endoglin; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C064206:ENG protein, human; D000071063:Endoglin; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D000068258:Bevacizumab; C579557:carotuximab