U.S. patent application number 13/773957 was filed with the patent office on 2013-07-18 for bispecific binding agents for modulating biological activity.
This patent application is currently assigned to Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc.. Invention is credited to Ulrik B. Nielsen, Birgit M. Schoeberl.
Application Number | 20130183311 13/773957 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35463361 |
Filed Date | 2013-07-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130183311 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nielsen; Ulrik B. ; et
al. |
July 18, 2013 |
BISPECIFIC BINDING AGENTS FOR MODULATING BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY
Abstract
Methods for improving the biological and pharmaceutical
properties of bispecific binding agents are described herein where
the bispecific binding agents are able to target cells by a high
affinity binding domain to a first cell surface marker that does
not induce a significant biological effect and a low affinity
binding domain that binds specifically to a second cell surface
marker, causing a significant and desired biological effect.
Compositions of such bispecific binding agents, uses for them, and
kits containing them are also provided.
Inventors: |
Nielsen; Ulrik B.; (Quincy,
MA) ; Schoeberl; Birgit M.; (Cambridge, MA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; |
Cambridge |
MA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Merrimack Pharmaceuticals,
Inc.
Cambridge
MA
|
Family ID: |
35463361 |
Appl. No.: |
13/773957 |
Filed: |
February 22, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13352736 |
Jan 18, 2012 |
8440192 |
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13773957 |
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11579350 |
Sep 29, 2008 |
8124085 |
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PCT/US2005/015639 |
May 5, 2005 |
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13352736 |
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60568656 |
May 5, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
424/136.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61P 43/00 20180101;
C07K 2317/92 20130101; C07K 16/30 20130101; A61P 35/00 20180101;
C07K 2317/32 20130101; A61K 39/39558 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
424/136.1 |
International
Class: |
A61K 39/395 20060101
A61K039/395 |
Claims
1. A method of use of a bispecific binding agent in the manufacture
of a medicament, the method comprising formulating in a
pharmaceutically acceptable carrier a bispecific binding agent
having a first and a second binding domain, which agent is capable
of modulating biological activity of target cancer cells that have
a first and a second cell surface marker on their exterior
surfaces, wherein (i) the first and second cell surface markers do
not share a common natural ligand; (ii) the first cell surface
marker is selected from selected from the group consisting of
carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), ErbB2, EGFR, Lewis.sup.Y, MUC-1,
EpCAM, CAl25, prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA), and TAG72;
(iii) the second cell surface marker is a member of the Tumor
Necrosis Factor (TNF) receptor superfamily; and, (iv) the first a
binding domain is a high affinity antibody or ligand with a
dissociation constant (Kd) for the first cell surface marker of
10.sup.-7 M or less, and the second binding domain is a low
affinity antibody or ligand that binds to the TNF receptor
superfamily member with a Kd for the TNF receptor superfamily
member that is at least 10 times greater than the Kd of the first
binding domain for the first cell surface marker; wherein the
binding of the first binding domain to the first cell surface
marker does not modulate biological activity of the first cell
surface marker, but the binding of the second binding domain to the
TNF receptor superfamily member modulates biological activity of
the TNF receptor superfamily member; and, wherein the modulation of
biological activity evokes an observable difference in cell
proliferation, cell viability, apoptosis, activation of downstream
kinases, transcriptional activation, adhesion to surfaces, or
ability to grow colonies in soft agar.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first binding domain is a
single chain Fv or a disulfide stabilized Fv and is directly
connected to the second binding domain.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first binding domain is a
single chain Fv or a disulfide stabilized Fv and is connected to
the second binding domain via a linker.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first binding domain is an
antibody that is an IgM, IgG, IgD, IgA or IgE, or an antibody
fragment that retains antigen recognition and binding capability
that is an Fab, Fab', F(ab').sub.2, or Fv fragment, and is
connected to the second binding domain directly or by a linker.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the binding domains are comprised
of a covalently linked hetero-tetramer.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the ligand is a natural
ligand.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the ligand is a fragment of a
natural ligand.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the modulation of the biological
activity of the TNF receptor superfamily member induces apoptosis
of the target cell.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the first cell surface marker is
carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA).
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the first cell surface marker is
EpCAM.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the second cell surface marker is
a TNF receptor superfamily member selected from p55TNF receptor,
p75TNF receptor, TNF receptor-related protein, FAS antigen, CD40,
CD27, CD30, 4-1BB, OX40, low affinity p75 and NGF-receptor.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein the Kd of the first binding
domain for the first cell surface marker is between 10.sup.-8M and
10.sup.-12 M.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein the Kd of the second binding
domain to the second cell surface marker is at least 20 times
greater than the Kd of the first binding domain to the first cell
surface marker.
14. The method of claim 1 wherein the Kd of the second binding
domain for the second cell surface marker is at least 50 times
greater than the Kd of the first binding domain for the first cell
surface marker.
15. The method of claim 1 wherein the Kd for the second cell
surface marker that is at least 100 times greater than the Kd of
the first binding domain for the first cell surface marker.
16. The method of claim 1 wherein the patient is a human patient
and the target cell is a cell of culture of human cells.
17. The method of claim 1 wherein the bispecific binding agent is
formulated for injection.
18. The method of claim 1 wherein the target cells are cancer
cells.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the cancer cells are breast,
bladder, lung, endometrium, salivary gland, kidney, colon or
stomach carcinoma cells.
20. The method of claim 18 wherein the cancer cells are ovarian or
pancreatic cancer cells.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Divisional of U.S. application Ser.
No. 13/352,736, filed Jan. 18, 2012, which is a Divisional of U.S.
application Ser. No. 11/579,350, filed Sep. 29, 2008, which is a
U.S. National Phase of PCT/US2005/015639, filed May 5, 2005, and
claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/568,656,
filed May 5, 2004, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by
reference.
STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
[0002] NOT APPLICABLE
REFERENCE TO A "SEQUENCE LISTING," A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM
LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK
[0003] NOT APPLICABLE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Many diseases and disorders are caused by inappropriate or
excessive activation of signal transduction pathways caused by
activation of cell surface receptors, e.g., by the binding of
receptor-specific ligands. Receptors involved in the initiation or
progression of diseases and disorders, such as cancer and
autoimmune disorders, have emerged as prime targets for the
development of therapeutics that reduce or prevent receptor
activation. Examples of target receptors include, e.g., the
epidermal growth factor receptor ("EGFR"), the insulin-like growth
factor 1 receptor ("IGF1-R"), and the platelet-derived growth
factor receptor ("PDGFR"), which tend to be overexpressed or
aberrantly activated in many disease states, such as in the most
common solid tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer and
cancers of the breast, prostate, and colon, and in many autoimmune
disease, such as myasthenia gravis, systemic lupus erythematosus,
and rheumatoid arthritis. Activation of the receptor results in
autophosphorylation, which drives signal transduction pathways that
lead to disease progression.
[0005] Seminal studies with receptor inhibitors have clearly
demonstrated that by preventing the activation of a receptor
associated with a disease state the development of that disease
state can be altered. Generally, though, the receptor or receptors
responsible for the disease state are expressed on many different
cells and tissues in addition to the diseased cells or tissues.
Although receptor inhibitors, e.g., Herceptin.RTM., which targets
ErbB2 ("HER-2"), are becoming available for clinical use, new
challenges include identifying a therapeutic agent that will
effectively target the diseased cells or tissue without targeting
non-affected cells and tissues.
[0006] One approach to targeting agents specifically to diseased
cells has been the use of bispecific binding agents, sometimes
referred to herein as "bsBAs". Bispecific binding agents comprise
two binding domains, each of which specifically recognizes and
binds to a separate molecule (for convenience, the molecule
specifically bound by each respective binding domain may be
referred to as the "ligand" for that binding domain). Bispecific
binding agents have been attempted for some time, as exemplified by
Schmidt M, et al., "A bivalent single-chain antibody-toxin specific
for ErbB-2 and the EGF receptor," Int J Cancer, 65(4):538-46
(1996), Lu D, et al., "Simultaneous blockade of both the epidermal
growth factor receptor and the insulin-like growth factor receptor
signaling pathways in cancer cells with a fully human recombinant
bispecific antibody," J Biol. Chem. 279(4):2856-65 (2004), and
Francois C, et al., "Antibodies directed at mouse IL-2-R alpha and
beta chains act in synergy to abolish T-cell proliferation in vitro
and delayed type hypersensitivity reaction in vivo," Transpl Int.
9(1):46-50 (1996). Because bsBAs often use antibodies as one or
both of the binding domains, bsBAs are sometimes included in the
class of agents referred to as immunotherapeutics.
[0007] Unfortunately, the universe of molecules that can be used as
targets for bsBAs is limited. Only a relatively small number of
molecules are expressed on diseased cells but not on normal cells,
and which therefore can be used to target agents exclusively to
diseased cells. An additional number of molecules are expressed in
greater numbers on diseased cells than on normal cells. These
molecules can permit some preferential delivery of agents to
diseased cells over normal cells, depending on the degree to which
the molecule is overexpressed in diseased cells compared to normal
cells.
[0008] Even with substantial overexpression of the target molecule
on target cells, however, delivery of targeted therapeutic agents
have often been accompanied by adverse side effects due to binding
of the agent to normal cells expressing the target molecule. For
example, the HER2 (erbB2) receptor that is the target for the
FDA-approved immunotherapeutic agent Herceptin.RTM., is
overexpressed at levels some 10 to 100 times more than the
expression of the HER2 receptor in non-cancer cells. Nonetheless, a
percentage of patients develop cardiac arrhythmia and other adverse
side effects due to binding of Herceptin.RTM. to normal cells.
[0009] Thus, it would be desirable to increase the therapeutic
window of immunotherapeutic agents by developing bsBAs with an
improved ability to bind to target cells without binding to
non-target cells.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention provides new compositions of
bispecific binding agents, as well as kits comprising them and
methods and uses for them.
[0011] In a first group of embodiments, the invention provides
methods for modulating a biological activity of a target cell using
a bispecific binding agent (i) having a first binding domain having
a Kd for a first target molecule on the surface of said cell of
10.sup.-7 M or less and a second binding domain having a Kd for a
second target molecule on the surface of said cell, (ii) which
second target molecule is different than said first target
molecule, (iii) wherein said affinity of said second binding domain
for said second target molecule is at least 10 times greater than
the Kd of said first binding domain to said first target molecule,
and (iv) further wherein when the target molecule of said first
binding domain is ErbB2, the target molecule for said second
binding domain is not ErbB3, comprising contacting the bispecific
binding agent with the target cell under conditions that permit the
first and second binding domains to bind to the first and second
target molecules, respectively, wherein binding of the second
binding domain to the second target molecule modulates the
biological activity of the second target molecule, thereby
modulating a biological activity of the target cell, and further
wherein binding of said first binding domain to the first target
molecule does not modulate a biological activity of the target
cell. In some embodiments, the bispecific binding agent comprises
two antibodies. In some embodiments, the antibodies are diabodies,
two single chain Fvs connected directly or by a linker, disulfide
stabilized Fvs, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the
target cell is a cancer cell. In some embodiments, the first target
molecule is a tumor-associated antigen, cytokine receptor, or
growth factor receptor. In some embodiments, the tumor-associated
antigen is selected from the group consisting of MART-1, gp100, and
MAGE-1. In some embodiments, the first target molecule is selected
from the group consisting of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), ErbB2,
EGFR, LewisY, MUC-1, EpCAM, CA125, prostate specific membrane
antigen (PSMA), and TAG72. In some embodiments, the second target
molecule is selected from the group consisting of ErbB3, ErbB4, any
of FGF receptors 1-4, HGF receptor, IGF1-R, PDGF, receptors alpha
and beta, and C-KIT. In some embodiments, the target cell is a
breast cancer cell and the target molecule is a receptor tyrosine
kinase selected from the group consisting of: epidermal growth
factor receptor (EGFR), ErbB2 (HER2/neu), ErbB3 (HER3) and ErbB4
(HER4). In some embodiments, the Kd of the first binding domain to
the first target molecule is between 10.sup.-8 and 10.sup.-12 M. In
some embodiments, the Kd of the second binding domain to the second
target molecule is at least 20 times greater than the Kd of the
first binding domain to the first target molecule.
[0012] The invention further provides methods for modulating
biological activity of a target molecule on a target cell in an
organism having target and non-target cells, wherein the target
cells have a first target molecule on their exterior and a second
target molecule on their exterior surface, and wherein (i) the
first and second target molecules do not share a common ligand,
(ii) the first target molecule is at least 10 times more abundant
on the surface of the target cells than on non-target cells that
also bear the second target molecule, (iii) the second target
molecule has a biological activity, but the first target molecule
does not, and (iv) when the target molecule of the first binding
domain is ErbB2 (HER2), the target molecule for the second binding
domain is not ErbB3 (HER3), comprising using a bispecific binding
agent having a first binding domain having a dissociation constant
(Kd) for the first target molecule of 10.sup.-7 M or less and a
second binding domain having a Kd for the second target molecule
that is at least 10 times greater than the Kd of the first binding
domain, and contacting the bispecific binding agent with a target
cell under conditions that permit the first and second binding
domains to bind to the first and second target molecules,
respectively, wherein the binding of said second binding domain
modulates the biological activity of said second target molecule on
said target cell. In some embodiments, the bispecific binding agent
comprises two antibodies. In some embodiments, the antibodies are
diabodies, two single chain Fvs connected directly or by a linker,
disulfide stabilized Fvs, or combinations thereof. In some
embodiments, the target cell is a cancer cell. In some embodiments,
the target molecule is a tumor-associated antigen, cytokine
receptor, or growth factor receptor. In some embodiments, the
tumor-associated antigen is selected from the group consisting of
MART-1, gp100, and MAGE-1. In some embodiments, the first target
molecule is selected from the group consisting of carcinoembryonic
antigen (CEA), ErbB2, EGFR, LewisY, MUC-1, EpCAM, CAl25, prostate
specific membrane antigen (PSMA), and TAG72. In some embodiments,
the second target molecule is selected from the group consisting of
ErbB3, ErbB4, any of FGF receptors 1-4, HGF receptor, IGF1-R, PDGF,
receptors alpha and beta, and C-KIT. In some embodiments, the Kd of
the first binding domain for the first target molecule is between
10.sup.-8 M and 10.sup.-12 M. In some embodiments, the Kd of the
second binding domain to the second target molecule is at least 20
times greater than the Kd of the first binding domain to the first
target molecule. In some embodiments, the Kd of the second binding
domain to the second target molecule is at least 50 times greater
than the Kd of the first binding domain to the first target
molecule. In some embodiments, the modulation is a decrease in the
activity of a receptor tyrosine kinase.
[0013] In another group of embodiments, the invention provides
bispecific binding agents (bsBAs) comprising a first binding domain
having a dissociation constant (Kd) of 10.sup.-7 M or less for a
first target molecule on a target cell and a second binding domain
having a Kd for a second target molecule on a target cell which Kd
is at least 10 times greater than the Kd of the first binding
domain for the first target molecule, wherein (i) the first and
second target molecules do not have the same natural ligand, (ii)
the second target molecule, but not the first target molecule, has
a biological activity, and (iii) when the target molecule of the
first binding domain is ErbB2 (HER2), the target molecule for the
second binding domain is not ErbB3 (HER3), and further wherein the
second binding domain, when bound to the second target molecule,
modulates the biological activity of the second target molecule. In
some embodiments, the Kd of the second binding domain is more than
50 times greater than the Kd of the first binding domain. In some
embodiments, the Kd of the second binding domain is 100 or more
times greater than the Kd of the first binding domain. In some
embodiments, the bsBA comprises two antibodies. In some of these
embodiments, the antibodies are diabodies, two single chain Fvs
connected directly or by a linker, disulfide stabilized Fvs, or
combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the first binding domain
binds to a tumor-associated antigen, cytokine receptor, or growth
factor receptor. In some embodiments, the first target molecule is
selected from the group consisting of carcinoembryonic antigen
(CEA), ErbB2, EGFR, LewisY, MUC-1, EpCAM, CAl25, prostate specific
membrane antigen (PSMA), and TAG72. In some embodiments, the second
target molecule is selected from the group consisting of ErbB3,
ErbB4, any of FGF receptors 1-4, HGF receptor, IGF1-R, PDGF,
receptors alpha and beta, and C-KIT. In some embodiments, the Kd of
the first binding domain is between 10.sup.-8 and 10.sup.-12 M. In
some embodiments, the first target molecule is overexpressed by at
least 10 times on target cells as compared to its expression on
normal cells.
[0014] In still another group of embodiments, the invention
provides compositions of (a) a bispecific binding agent (bsBA)
comprising a first binding domain having a dissociation constant
(Kd) for a first target molecule on a target cell of 10.sup.-7 M or
less and a second binding domain having a Kd for a second target
molecule on a target cell that is at least 10 times greater than
the Kd of the first binding domain, wherein the first and second
target molecules do not have the same natural ligand, and wherein
(i) the second target molecule, but not the first target molecule,
has a biological activity, (ii) the second binding domain, when
bound to the second target molecule, modulates the biological
activity of the second target molecule and (iii) when the target
molecule of the first binding domain is ErbB2 (HER2), the target
molecule for the second binding domain is not ErbB3 (HER3), and (b)
a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In some embodiments, the Kd
of the second binding domain is more than 50 times greater than the
Kd of the first binding domain. In some embodiments, the Kd of the
second binding domain is 100 or more times greater than the Kd of
the first binding domain. In some embodiments, the bsBA comprises
two antibodies. In some embodiments, the antibodies are diabodies,
two single chain Fvs connected directly or by a linker, disulfide
stabilized Fvs, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the
first binding domain binds to a tumor-associated antigen, cytokine
receptor, or growth factor receptor. In some embodiments, the first
target molecule is selected from the group consisting of
carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), ErbB2, EGFR, LewisY, MUC-1, EpCAM,
CAl25, prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA), and TAG72. In
some embodiments, the second target molecule is selected from the
group consisting of ErbB3, ErbB4, any of FGF receptors 1-4, HGF
receptor, IGF1-R, PDGF, receptors alpha and beta, and C-KIT. In
some embodiments, the first target molecule is overexpressed by at
least 10 times on target cells than on non-target cells that also
bear the second target molecule. In some embodiments,
[0015] In another group of embodiments, the invention provides uses
of a bispecific binding agent (bsBA) comprising a first binding
domain having a dissociation constant (Kd) for a first target
molecule on a target cell of 10.sup.-7 M or less and a second
binding domain having a Kd for a second target molecule on a target
cell that is at least 10 times greater than the Kd of the first
binding domain, wherein (i) the first and second target molecules
do not have the same natural ligand, (ii) the second target
molecule, but not said first target molecule, has a biological
activity, (iii) the second binding domains when bound to the second
target molecule, modulates the biological activity of the second
target molecules, and (iv) when the target molecule of said first
binding domain is ErbB2, the target molecule for the second binding
domain is not ErbB3, for the manufacture of a medicament. In some
embodiments, the Kd of said second binding domain is more than 50
times greater than the Kd of the first binding domain. In some
embodiments, the Kd of said second binding domain is 100 or more
times greater than the Kd of the first binding domain. In some
embodiments, the bsBA comprises two antibodies. In some
embodiments, the antibodies are diabodies, two single chain Fvs
connected directly or by a linker, disulfide stabilized Fvs, or
combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the target molecules
bound by the first binding domain and by the second binding domain
are independently selected from the group consisting of a
tumor-associated antigen, a cytokine receptor, and a growth factor
receptor, provided that the first binding domain and the second
binding domain do not bind the same tumor-associated antigen,
cytokine receptor, or growth factor receptor. In some embodiments,
the medicament is for inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells.
In some embodiments, the first target molecule is overexpressed by
at least 10 times on target cells than on non-target cells that
also bear the second target molecule.
[0016] Further, the invention provides kits comprising (a) a
container, and (b) a bispecific binding agent (bsBA) comprising a
first binding domain having a dissociation constant (Kd) of
10.sup.-7 M or less for a first target molecule on a target cell
and a second binding domain having a Kd for a second target
molecule on a target cell which Kd is at least 10 times greater
than the Kd of the first binding domain for the first target
molecule, wherein (i) the first and second target molecules do not
have the same natural ligand, (ii) the second target molecule, but
not the first target molecule, has a biological activity, (iii) the
second binding domain, when bound to the second target molecule,
modulates the biological activity of the second target molecule,
and (iv) when the target molecule of the first binding domain is
ErbB2 (HER2), the target molecule for said second binding domain is
not ErbB3 (HER3). In some embodiments, the Kd of the second binding
domain is more than 50 times greater than the Kd of the first
binding domain. In some embodiments, the Kd of the second binding
domain is 100 or more times greater than the Kd of the first
binding domain. In some embodiments, the bsBA comprises two
antibodies. In some embodiments, the antibodies are diabodies, two
single chain Fvs connected directly or by a linker, disulfide
stabilized Fvs, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the
first binding domain binds to a tumor-associated antigen, cytokine
receptor, or growth factor receptor. In some embodiments, the first
target molecule is selected from the group consisting of
carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), ErbB2, EGFR, LewisY, MUC-1, EpCAM,
CAl25, prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA), and TAG72. In
some embodiments, the second target molecule is selected from the
group consisting of ErbB3, ErbB4, any of FGF receptors 1-4, HGF
receptor, IGF1-R, PDGF, receptors alpha and beta, and C-KIT. In
some embodiments, the Kd of the first binding domain is between
10.sup.-8 and 10.sup.-12 M. In some embodiments, the first target
molecule is overexpressed by at least 10 times on target cells as
compared to its expression on normal cells.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Introduction
[0017] One problem with current immunotherapeutic agents is that
their tendency to bind to normal cells as well as to diseased cells
causes adverse side effects. Thus, one goal of the scientific
community has been to develop immunotherapeutic agents with an
improved ability to bind target cells (e.g., disease cells) without
also binding non-target cells (that is, normal cells).
[0018] The present invention provides compositions and methods for
improving the specificity of one class of immunotherapeutic agents
for binding target cells. These methods and compositions provide an
improved ability to modulate biological activity of target cells
without affecting the corresponding activity of non-target cells.
Surprisingly, it has now been discovered that the specificity of
targeting diseased cells by the immunotherapeutic agents known as
bispecific binding agents ("bsBAs") can be increased by controlling
the differences in the binding affinities of the two binding
domains of the bsBAs. The bsBAs of the invention can then be used
for increasing or decreasing the biological activity of a target
molecule on the target cells, and thereby provide an improved
ability to modulate biological activity of target cells with
reduced, if any, effect on the corresponding activity of non-target
cells.
[0019] As the name implies, bsBAs have two binding domains, each
specific for a different target molecule (for convenience, the
molecule specifically bound by the binding domain may be referred
to as the "ligand" for the binding domain). The first binding
domain is generally used to target the bsBA to a cell of choice,
sometimes referred to as a "target cell." Thus, this binding domain
is also referred to herein as the "targeting domain". In the
methods of the present invention, the binding of the targeting
domain to its target molecule does not induce a significant
biological effect in the target cell. The second binding domain
binds to a second target molecule on the target cell. The binding
of the second binding domain to its ligand is intended to modulate
a specific biological effect (that is, to increase or to inhibit
that biological activity). Binding domains with capabilities to
modulate biological activities in different ways are known in the
art.
[0020] Often, the biological activities are inhibited by the
binding of the binding domain to its target molecule. For example,
if the molecule bound by the binding domain is part of a cytokine
receptor, the binding of the binding domain to that receptor can
block access of the cytokine to the receptor, thereby inhibiting
the biological activity that would otherwise be induced by that
binding. Similarly, the binding of the binding domain to the
receptor can prevent the receptor from forming a heterodimer, which
is required for the full activation of some cytokine receptors such
as the interleukin ("IL")-2 receptor. Or, the binding of the
binding domain may change the conformation of the receptor so that
it cannot bind its natural ligand and thereby be activated.
Conversely, the binding domain can be one selected for its ability
to increase the biological activity by binding to the receptor. For
example, the binding of the binding domain to the receptor can
mimic the effect of the natural ligand for the receptor, so that
the binding activates the receptor, or the binding of the binding
domain may induce a conformational change which causes a low
affinity receptor to become a high affinity receptor for its
natural ligand.
[0021] As noted, the first binding domain of the bsBAs of the
invention serves to target the bsBAs to the target cell, while the
second serves primarily to induce an effect on the target cell. For
convenience in distinguishing the two domains, therefore, the first
binding domain is sometimes referred to herein as the "targeting
domain," while the second binding domain is sometimes referred to
herein as the "effector domain." Similarly, for convenience in
distinguishing the molecules bound by the two binding domains, the
target molecule for the effector domain will sometimes be referred
to as the "effector target molecule," while the term "target
molecule" by itself will refer to the target of the targeting
domain.
[0022] Previous bsBAs have typically been constructed using binding
domains with the highest available affinity for each of the
respective target molecules. Persons of skill will appreciate that
it is unlikely that one domain will have exactly the same affinity
for its respective target as does the other, and the two binding
domains therefore usually have a difference in affinity. In
previous bsBAs, however, the difference in affinities has typically
not been great and may or may not be significant in terms of actual
effect on binding.
[0023] In the methods and compositions of the invention, though,
the targeting domain is selected to have at least an order of
magnitude higher binding affinity for its ligand than the affinity
the effector domain has for its ligand. That is, the targeting
domain has at least 10 times or greater affinity for the molecule
to which it recognizes and binds than the effector domain has for
the molecule to which it recognizes and binds. In some embodiments,
the affinity of the targeting domain for its ligand is at least 15
times higher than that of the effector domain, in others it is 20
times or more higher, in other embodiments, it is 25 time or more
higher, and in some embodiments, it has an affinity 30, 40, 50 or
even 100 times or more higher than that the affinity of the
effector domain for its target, with each respective higher
affinity being more preferred. Since there is at least an order of
magnitude difference in binding affinity between the two binding
domains of the bsBAs of the invention, the bsBAs are occasionally
referred to herein as "hi-lo" bsBAs.
[0024] The intentional and substantial differential in binding
affinity between the target binding domain and the effector binding
domain provides surprising and previously unrecognized advantages
over prior bispecific molecules. As noted above, previously known
bispecific agents have had binding moieties with affinities as high
as possible for the target ligands. But, bispecific molecules with
binding moieties that have similar affinities are limited in the
molecules to which they can be targeted and the situations in which
they can be used, compared to the compositions and methods of the
invention. Some of the advantages of the invention can be
considered by referring to a hypothetical example.
[0025] Consider the case of a cancer cell which has two receptors,
receptor A, which is overexpressed on the cancer cell compared to
normal cells, and receptor B, which is expressed on normal cells in
about the same number of copies as are present on the cancer cell.
A bispecific binding agent with binding domains with approximately
equal affinity for both receptors will tend to have roughly equal
effects on both cancer cells and on normal, non-cancer cells. This
is particularly in the case where high concentrations of bsBAs are
achieved, since the bsBAs will tend to saturate both receptors by
monovalent binding.
[0026] By contrast, a bsBA of the invention, having a higher
affinity targeting domain targeted to receptor A and a lower
affinity effector domain targeted to receptor B, and having 10, 20,
30, or even more times more affinity for receptor A than for
receptor B, will preferentially bind to the cancer cells, and by
normal kinetic interactions, will bind in larger numbers to the
cancer cells as compared to normal cells. Instead of promiscuously
binding to cells bearing receptor B, including substantial numbers
of normal cells, therefore, the effector domain will be selectively
delivered to the cancer cells. Thus, the invention permits more
selective targeting of effector domain to target cells.
[0027] Further, the binding of the higher affinity binding domain
to receptor A tethers the lower affinity, effector domain in
proximity to the cell surface, where it is available to interact
with receptor B over time. This permits the effector domain to bind
receptor B even though its relatively low affinity for receptor B
might not normally be sufficient to hold it to the receptor were
the effector domain provided as a "free standing," monovalent (or
"univalent") entity.
[0028] Persons of skill will appreciate that the dissociation
constant ("Kd") of an antibody or other ligand is determined both
by the k.sub.on and by the k.sub.off of the ligand. That is, the Kd
represents the balance between the time the antibody or other
ligand is bound to the target molecule and the time that it is not.
A low affinity binding domain therefore often has a low affinity
precisely because it has a high tendency to dissociate from its
target molecule. During the period a binding domain dissociates
from its target molecule, it can be moved away by Brownian
movement, fluid flow, or other kinetic forces acting on the binding
domain molecule. The tethering of the low affinity domain by the
high affinity domain of the bsBA aids in maintaining the low
affinity binding domain in proximity to the receptor targeted by
the low affinity domain, and thus tends to increase the probability
that at any point in time the low affinity domain will be able to
bind its target molecule. Since the target molecule of the low
affinity domain of the bsBAs of the invention in this hypothetical
is a receptor kinase, this tends to increase the ability of the
bsBA to bind the target receptor kinase and therefore increases
their biological effect on target cells.
[0029] In preferred embodiments, the two binding domains of the
bsBAs of the invention bind target molecules that are not normally
bound by the same ligand. Persons of skill are aware that some
ligands, such as the interleukin IL-2, for example, are bound by
two different receptor chains, and that the two chains--with bound
IL-2--then interact to form the fully biologically active unit.
While bsBAs directed to the two receptor chains can therefore
prevent full activation of such a receptor, both of the binding
domains of such bsBAs are, of course, directed to the same
receptor.
[0030] Finally, the formation of the trimer between the bsBA and
the two target molecules bound by the binding domains has the
additional advantage of binding the target molecules in close
vicinity to one another and preventing their normal diffusion
through the lipid bilayer of the cell membrane. The crosslinking of
different receptors by bsBAs is itself believed to contribute to
cytotoxic or cytostatic effects of the bsBAs on target cells. For
example, signal transduction cascades typically are activated
either by two proteins binding to each other to form a heterodimer
or by a kinase that modifies (usually by phosphoylating) the next
protein in the initiation cascade. Crosslinking of different
receptors can interfere with the ability of the receptors to form
their normal heterodimers or to modify the protein that would
normally be the next step in the initiation cascade.
[0031] In one group of embodiments, the targeting domain of the
bsBA binds to a cell surface receptor that is preferentially
expressed or overexpressed on a target cell that is associated with
a disease or disorder (for example, a breast cancer cell) and the
effector domain binds to a cell surface receptor that is
promiscuously or ubiquitously expressed on target cells and on
non-target cells. Exemplar cell surface receptors that can be
targeted by the bsBA of the invention are described below. In
preferred embodiments, the molecule to be bound by the targeting
domain is expressed on target cells at levels that are higher than
the levels of the molecule to be bound by the effector domain.
Thus, the bsBAs and methods of the invention are particularly
useful for improving the specific delivery of effector molecules to
cells with target molecules that would be promiscuously bound by
conventional antibodies or bispecific, agents or by both. Persons
of skill are aware that cells of different cancers may overexpress
different antigens or may overexpress the same antigen to different
degrees than do cells of a different cancer type. Thus, in
designing the bsBAs of the invention, it is contemplated that the
practitioner will select a targeting domain that targets a cell
surface receptor overexpressed on the particular cells to be
targeted by the particular bsBA.
[0032] In some embodiments, the targeting domain of the bsBA binds
to a first cell surface receptor that is preferentially expressed
or overexpressed on a target cell that is associated with a disease
or disorder (for example, a cancer cell) and the effector domain
binds to a second cell surface receptor that is overexpressed on
disease cells (such as cancer cells) compared to normal cells, but
is expressed at lower levels than is the first cell surface
receptor. In these embodiments, the differential in expression
level between the first and the second cell surface receptors again
improves the specific delivery of effector molecules to cells with
target molecules.
[0033] As noted in the Background, even though HER2 is
overexpressed in breast cancer cells at levels some 10 to 100 times
that of its expression on normal cells, some adverse side effects
are seen in patients from binding of the immunotherapeutic agent,
HERCEPTIN.RTM., to normal cells. Thus, even substantial
overexpression of a target molecule is not necessarily sufficient
to keep high affinity binding agents from binding to normal cells,
with adverse side effects.
[0034] By contrast, the bsBAs of the invention have a targeting
domain that is chosen to have an affinity for its target molecule
that is at least 10 times higher, and often much higher, than that
of the effector domain. Preferably, the dissociation constant of
the targeting domain for its target molecule is in the range of
10.sup.-8 to 10.sup.-12 M. The target molecule is selected either
because it is not present on normal cells, or because it is highly
overexpressed on cancer cells than on normal cells, preferably at
least 20 times and even more preferably 100 times more than it is
expressed on normal cells. As noted, due to the high affinity of
the targeting domain for the target molecule, it will tend to bind
the bsBA preferentially to the target cell. Thus, it is anticipated
that the effector domain can target a target molecule expressed on
normal cells and still achieve selective binding that provides a
therapeutic window larger than that of conventional bsBAs.
[0035] Persons of skill will appreciate that cancer cells, in
particular, tend to upregulate the expression of many normal
proteins, including many with roles in maintaining homeostasis in
normal cells. Thus, even proteins not normally considered to be
cancer or tumor antigens tend to be upregulated on cancer cells.
For instance, insulin receptor, which is not considered a tumor
antigen, is often upregulated 3-5 fold on tumor cells as compared
to normal cells (see, e.g., Milazzo et al., Cancer Res.
52(14):3924-30 (1992)).
[0036] As another example, the ErbB3 receptor is somewhat
overexpressed on some cancer cells compared to its expression on
normal cells. It can, however, be used as the effector target
molecule of a bsBA when the targeting domain is directed to a
target molecule that is even more highly overexpressed. The
Examples present an exemplar bsBA of the invention in which the
targeting domain is directed to EGFR and the effector domain is
targeted to ErbB 3.
[0037] It is desirable that the targeting domain is directed to a
target molecule (such as a cancer antigen) that is overexpressed on
the target cells, while the effector domain is directed to a
molecule (e.g., a receptor kinase) that is expressed at a lower
level than is the target molecule for the targeting domain. While
it is only necessary that the target molecule is expressed at
higher levels than the molecule targeted by the effector domain, in
general, significant differences between the expression of the
target molecule and the expression of the effector molecule are
advantageous, since the effector molecules can be saturated at bsBA
concentrations that are below the Kd of the targeting domain.
[0038] In general, it is preferable that the target molecule for
the targeting domain is overexpressed at levels 10, 20, 50, 100, or
more times higher than expression of that molecule on non-target
cells, with each successively higher level being more preferred. In
general, it is further preferred that the effector molecule be
expressed either at the level it is expressed on non-target cells
or, if it is overexpressed, that it is overexpressed at levels of 2
to 5 times that of non-target cells. In other words, it is
preferable that the targeting molecule be expressed (or
overexpressed) at high levels relative to the molecule bound by the
effector domain.
[0039] Where the target cell is a disease cell, such as a cancer
cell, the expression level of the target molecule is measured
against the expression of the same molecule on normal cells of the
same tissue type as that from which the cancer cell originates.
That is, if the disease cell is a breast cancer cell, the
expression level is measured against a normal breast cell, while
the expression level of molecules of an ovarian cancer cell is
measured against expression levels on normal ovary cells. Usually,
a population of cells is used and an average value of expression
level (e.g., number of molecules expressed per cell) is
determined.
[0040] Further, in some preferred embodiments, the cell surface
antigen recognized and bound by the effector domain is chosen to
have a biological activity that can be modulated by the binding of
the domain. For example, the cell surface antigen targeted by the
effector domain can be a cytokine or growth factor receptor, the
blockage of which by the domain will contribute to restoration of
the target cell to a normal phenotype. It is expected that the
blocking of the receptor will result in downregulating the pathway
activated by the receptors, decreasing the rate of proliferation of
the cell.
[0041] As noted above, antibodies are also known which can act as
agonists of cytokine receptors and the like; that is, they act to
enhance the activity of the target molecule. Thus, depending on the
target molecules and binding agents selected by the practitioner,
the effector domain of a bsBA of the invention may inhibit the
activity of a target molecule, or may enhance it. The ability to
select binding domains that increase or decrease the activity of
the target molecule of the effector domain affords the practitioner
considerable flexibility in designing bsBAs effective for a range
of conditions. To indicate that the activities of the target
molecule can be enhanced or decreased, at the practitioner's
option, by the judicious selection of binding agent, the effect of
the bsBAs on the target molecule is sometimes referred to herein as
"modulating" the activity of the target molecule.
[0042] For example, some cancers result from the mutation of a gene
encoding a receptor that acts as a tyrosine kinase, resulting in
the receptor becoming either constitutively active or
overexpressed, so that the cell proliferates more than it would
with a normal receptor or with one expressed in normal amounts. To
decrease the activity of the receptor, the practitioner may, in
this example, select a binding agent whose binding is known to
change the conformation of the constitutively active receptor to
reduce its activity or, in the case of an overexpressed receptor,
to simply block it from being bound by its natural ligand, thus
preventing the overexpression from resulting in an inappropriate
increase in signaling within the target cell. Conversely, if the
target molecule is one whose activity it is desirable to enhance,
the practitioner may select a binding agent whose binding is known
to act as an agonist of the activity.
[0043] The use of bsBAs with a single high affinity binding domain
is sufficient to provide specific binding to cells of interest.
Studies have shown that binding agents with two high affinity
binding domains directed to a single target molecule have only
about three fold the affinity for the target molecule compared to a
univalent binding agent with the same binding domain. Nielsen, U.
et al., Cancer Res. 60(22):6434-40 (2000). A univalent binding
agent will therefore typically still have a Kd in the nanomolar
range. Since therapeutic agents are typically administered in
amounts to provide up to micromolar concentrations, a thousand
times the Kd of the binding agent, the high concentration of the
binding agent relative to the Kd of the high affinity targeting
domain is expected to permit binding of the agent to target cells
bearing the target molecule. Thus, the high affinity targeting
domain of the bsBAs of the invention is expected to provide
specific binding of the bsBAs under the conditions in which they
will be administered.
[0044] It is expected that the practitioner can select appropriate
combinations of target molecules for the targeting domain and for
the effector domain. While a number of preferred target molecules
and effector target molecules are described below, it may be
helpful to list some preferred target molecules and effector target
molecules. Some preferred target molecules are EGFR and ErbB2. Some
preferred effector target molecules are: ErbB3, ErbB4, any of
fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors 1-4, hepatocyte growth
factor receptor, insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF 1-R),
insulin receptor, Platelet Derived Growth Factor (PDGF) receptors
alpha and beta, and C-KIT. Each of these molecules is known in the
art and is identified by its reference number in the SWISS-PROT
database in a later section.
[0045] Finally, the bsBAs of the invention do not include bsBAs
that bind HER3 with one binding domain and that bind HER2/neu with
a second binding domain.
DEFINITIONS
[0046] Units, prefixes, and symbols are denoted in their Systeme
International de Unites (SI) accepted form. Numeric ranges are
inclusive of the numbers defining the range. Unless otherwise
indicated, nucleic acids are written left to right in 5' to 3'
orientation; amino acid sequences are written left to right in
amino to carboxy orientation. The headings provided herein are not
limitations of the various aspects or embodiments of the invention,
which can be had by reference to the specification as a whole.
Accordingly, the terms defined immediately below are more fully
defined by reference to the specification in its entirety. Terms
not defined herein have their ordinary meaning as understood by a
person of skill in the art.
[0047] "Affinity" of binding agents is typically stated in terms of
their dissociation constant, or "K.sub.d". Typically, useful
binding agents have K.sub.ds stated in nanomolar concentrations.
Persons of skill will recognize that an antibody with a K.sub.d of
10.sup.-8 M has an affinity 10 times as high as one with a K.sub.d
of 10.sup.-7, and 100 times the affinity of an antibody with a
K.sub.d of 10.sup.-6. Thus, a higher affinity agent has a K.sub.d
stated as a lower number (that is, 10.sup.-8 is a smaller number
than is 10.sup.-6.)
[0048] For convenience of reference, as used herein, the term
"antibody" includes whole antibodies, antibody fragments that
retain antigen recognition and binding capability, whether produced
by the modification of whole antibodies or synthesized de novo
using recombinant DNA methodologies, monoclonal antibodies,
polyclonal antibodies, and antibody mimics, unless otherwise
required by context. The antibody may be an IgM, IgG (e.g.
IgG.sub.1, IgG.sub.2, IgG.sub.3 or IgG.sub.4), IgD, IgA or IgE.
[0049] The term "antibody fragments" means molecules that comprise
a portion of an intact antibody, generally the antigen binding or
variable region of the intact antibody. Examples of antibody
fragments include Fab, Fab', F(ab').sub.2, and Fv fragments;
helix-stabilized antibodies (see, e.g., Arndt et al., J Mol Biol
312:221-228 (2001); diabodies (see below); single chain Fvs
("scFvs," see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,888,773); disulfide stabilized
antibodies ("dsFvs", see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,747,654), and
domain antibodies ("dAbs," see, e.g., Holt et al., Trends Biotech
21(11):484-490 (2003), Ghahroudi et al., FEBS Lett. 414:521-526
(1997), Lauwereys et al., EMBO J. 17:3512-3520 (1998), Reiter et
al., J. Mol. Biol. 290:685-698 (1999), Davies and Riechmann,
Biotechnology, 13:475-479 (2001)).
[0050] The term "diabodies" refers to small antibody fragments with
two antigen-binding sites, which fragments comprise a variable
heavy domain (V.sub.H) connected to a variable light domain
(V.sub.L) in the same polypeptide chain (V.sub.H-V.sub.L). By using
a linker that is too short to allow pairing between the two domains
on the same chain, the domains are forced to pair with the
complementary domains of another chain and create two
antigen-binding sites. Diabodies are described more fully in, for
example, EP 404,097; WO 93/11161; and Hollinger et al., Proc. Natl.
Acad. Sci. USA, 90: 6444-6448 (1993).
[0051] Typically, an immunoglobulin has a heavy and light chain.
Each heavy and light chain contains a constant region and a
variable region, (the regions are also known as "domains"). Light
and heavy chain variable regions contain a "framework" region
interrupted by three hypervariable regions, also called
"complementarity-determining regions" or "CDRs". The extent of the
framework region and CDRs have been defined. See, Kabat and Wu,
infra. The sequences of the framework regions of different light or
heavy chains are relatively conserved within a species. The
framework region of an antibody, that is the combined framework
regions of the constituent light and heavy chains, serves to
position and align the CDRs in three dimensional space.
[0052] The CDRs are primarily responsible for binding to an epitope
of an antigen. The CDRs of each chain are typically referred to as
CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3, numbered sequentially starting from the
N-terminus, and are also typically identified by the chain in which
the particular CDR is located. Thus, a V.sub.H CDR3 is located in
the variable domain of the heavy chain of the antibody in which it
is found, whereas a V.sub.L CDR1 is the CDR1 from the variable
domain of the light chain of the antibody in which it is found.
[0053] References to "V.sub.H" or a "V.sub.L" refer to the variable
region of an immunoglobulin heavy chain, including an Fv, scFv,
dAb, dsFv or Fab. References to "V.sub.L" or a "V.sub.L" refer to
the variable region of an immunoglobulin light chain, including of
an Fv, scFv, dsFv, dAb, or Fab.
[0054] The phrase "single chain Fv" or "scFv" refers to an antibody
in which the variable domains of the heavy chain and of the light
chain of a traditional two chain antibody have been joined to form
one chain. Optionally, a linker (usually a peptide) is inserted
between the two chains to allow for proper folding and creation of
an active binding site.
[0055] "Bispecific binding agents", or "bsBA," are binding
molecules that are capable of specific binding to more than one
type of target molecule simultaneously.
[0056] A "binding agent" is any molecule capable of specifically
binding a target molecule and includes antibodies, antibody
fragments, aptamers, peptides (e.g., Williams et al., J Biol Chem
266:5182-5190 (1991)), and antibody mimics, such as those that can
be created from the tenth fibronectin type III domain (see, e.g.,
Xu, L., et al., Chem. Biol. 9(8):933-42 (2002), Koide et al., J Mol
Biol 284:1141-1151, Skerra, J Mol Recognit 13:167-187 (2000), Main
et al., Cell, 71:671-678 (1992), and Dickinson et al., J Mol Biol,
236:1079-1092 (1994)), and can comprise natural proteins and
proteins modified or engineered to include non-natural residues. In
some embodiments, "binding agent" can also refer to the natural
ligand for a receptor. For example, IL-13 can be used as a binding
agent for the IL-13 receptor.
[0057] "Aptamer" refers in general to either an oligonucleotide of
a single defined sequence or a mixture of said oligonucleotides,
wherein the mixture retains the properties of binding specifically
to the target molecule. Thus, as used herein "aptamer" denotes both
singular and plural sequences of oligonucleotides. Structurally,
the aptamers of the invention are specifically binding
oligonucleotides. Oligonucleotides include not only those with
conventional bases, sugar residues and internucleotide linkages,
but also those which contain modifications of any or all of these
three moieties. U.S. Pat. No. 5,756,291, incorporated herein by
reference, provides a description of aptamers, methods of preparing
and testing aptamers, and uses thereof.
[0058] "Target molecule" is used herein to refer to a molecule
specifically bound by a binding domain of a bispecific binding
agent of the invention. The terms "first target molecule" and
"second target molecule" are used herein to refer to molecules of
two distinct molecular species, rather than two molecules of the
same molecular species. Such molecular species may be, for example,
two different receptor tyrosine kinases (such as the basic
fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 and the hepatocyte growth
factor receptor). Some cytokine receptors and other receptors are
composed of subunits known as "chains", and the receptor in some
cases becomes fully activated by recruiting chains once the ligand
for the receptor binds to one of the chains. As used herein, all
the chains of a particular receptor (e.g., the IL-2 receptor) are
considered to be of the same molecular species; therefore, if a
chain of a given receptor is to be the "first target molecule" to
be bound by a first binding domain of a bsBA of the invention, the
"second target molecule" cannot be a second chain of the same
receptor.
[0059] As used herein, "biological activity" refers to a defined,
known activity performed by a target molecule. Most commonly, the
biological activity of the molecules targeted by the bsBAs of the
invention is signal transduction. For example, a later section of
this specification lists a number of growth factor receptors as
molecules that can be target molecules. These receptors typically
have a ligand binding domain on the extracellular surface of the
cell, a transmembrane domain, and a cytosolic domain which has
tyrosine kinase enzyme activity. Typically, the tyrosine kinase
activity is activated by the binding of a ligand to the ligand
binding domain. The receptor kinase activity then initiates a
signal cascade. Thus, the biological activity of these target
molecules is signal transduction. Persons of skill will appreciate
that the biological activity of a target molecule ultimately has an
effect on the cell in which the target molecule is located. For
example, the signal transduction cascade initiated by activating a
growth factor receptor in a cancer cell overexpressing that
receptor is likely to increase the growth and proliferation of the
cell, while inhibiting the activity of the receptor is likely to
inhibit or slow that proliferation. Thus, the term "biological
activity" may also be used herein more broadly in connection with
an activity of a cell in contrast to the activity of a target
molecule. Which meaning is intended will be clear in context.
[0060] As stated above, some molecules that can be used as target
molecules for bsBAs of the invention are not known to have a
biological activity. Determining whether any given molecule on a
cell surface does or does not have a biological activity for
purposes of the present invention can be performed by the following
means. A culture of human cells bearing the cell surface molecule
can be divided to form two separate cultures. The first culture is
contacted with a binding domain that specifically binds to the cell
surface molecule and that is expected to block binding of any
natural ligand for the molecule. The other group is not. The two
groups are then cultured under otherwise identical conditions. For
purposes of the present invention, the target molecule is
considered not to have a "biological activity" if the binding of
the molecule by the binding agent does not evoke an observable
difference in cell proliferation, cell viability, apoptosis,
activation of downstream kinases, transcriptional activation,
adhesion to surfaces, or ability to grow colonies in soft agar.
Assays for observing differences in these characteristics are well
known in the art, and several are discussed in more detail
below.
[0061] As used herein, "modulation" of a biological activity refers
to increasing or inhibiting the biological activity of a target
molecule, as the practitioner desires. For example, if the target
molecule is a receptor considered to increase the proliferation of
cancer cells (e.g., an ErbB3 receptor), the practitioner may desire
to inhibit the receptor's activity by using a binding domain to
bind to the receptor, blocking binding of the receptor by a natural
ligand of the receptor. Frequently, these target molecules are
receptors that act as tyrosine kinases upon binding of a natural
ligand. Conversely, if the biological activity of the target
molecule is one that the practitioner wishes to increase, the
practitioner can, for example, use as the binding domain an
antibody known in the art to act as an agonist of the target
molecule. The result is intended to be beneficial to a disease or
disease state being treated; e.g. for the treatment of malignancies
and some autoimmune disorders, the desired effect would usually be
inhibition of cell growth or the induction of apoptosis, or it
could be the induction of the proliferation of a certain cell type,
e.g. T-regulatory T-cells for the treatment of autoimmune
disease.
[0062] It is understood that cell surface receptors have ligands
that specifically bind to those receptors. With respect to a given
receptor, therefore, the term "natural ligand" refers to a molecule
that binds to that receptor in the course of normal physiology. For
example, interleukin ("IL")-13 is the natural ligand for the IL-13
receptor, IL-2 is the natural ligand for the IL-2 receptor,
epidermal growth factor is a natural ligand for the EGF receptor,
and so on.
[0063] The terms "effective amount" or "amount effective to" or
"therapeutically effective amount" includes reference to a dosage
of an agent sufficient to produce a desired result, such as
inhibiting cell protein synthesis by at least 50%, or killing the
cell.
[0064] "Effector molecules" are defined as cell surface receptors
which may be used to modulate the behavior of a cell, e.g. by
signaling, phosphorylation, inducing proliferation, or inducing
cell death, when contacted by a binding molecule, such as the
effector domain of a bsBA of the invention.
[0065] "Kd" is the ratio of the reverse and forward rate constants
for a reaction of the type:
A+B=AB.
[0066] At equilibrium, the equilibrium constant (K) equals the
product of the concentrations of reactants divided by the
concentration of product and has dimensions of concentration.
Kd=(concentration A.times.concentration B)/(concentration AB).
[0067] "Univalent binding agent" and "univalent binding
composition" are defined as a binding molecule with a single domain
for binding a cell surface marker, as opposed, for example, to an
intact immunoglobulin G molecule, which has two binding domains. A
univalent binding agent is typically an isolated fragment of one of
the two binding domains that form a bi-specific antibody such as an
scFv, Fab', single domain antibody, etc.
[0068] A "target cell" is a cell to which a bispecific antibody
binding agent of the invention is intended to preferentially bind
by virtue of its high affinity targeting domain.
[0069] The term "contacting" includes reference to placement in
direct physical association.
[0070] Cells are generally understood in the art to be bounded by a
plasma membrane (commonly referred to as the "cell membrane")
comprising a lipid bilayer, in which various proteins, such as
transporters, ion channels, and cytokine receptors, are situated.
See, generally, Alberts et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell,
Garland Publishing, Inc., New York (3rd Ed., 1994), Chapter 10. The
cell membrane may be considered to have a surface facing on the
cytosol, or the interior of the cell, and a surface facing on the
exterior of the cell, or the extracellular space. Transmembrane
proteins are often amphipathic, that is, they have regions that are
hydrophobic and regions that are hydrophilic. Regions that pass
through the membrane are hydrophobic and interact with the
hydrophobic tails of the lipid molecules comprising the bilayer.
Regions that are hydrophilic are exposed to water on either the
cytosolic or the extracellular side of the membrane. The
transmembrane domain of transmembrane proteins are either in an
alpha helix or multiple beta strands. See, e.g., Lodish et al.,
Molecular Cell Biology, W.E. Freeman and Co., New York (4th Ed.,
2000), at chapter 3.
[0071] By "cytokine" is meant a generic term for proteins released
by one cell population which act on the same cell population
(autocrine) or another cell population (paracrine) as intercellular
mediators. Examples of such cytokines are lymphokines, monokines,
and traditional polypeptide hormones. Included among the cytokines
are growth hormones such as human growth hormone, N-methionyl human
growth hormone, and bovine growth hormone; parathyroid hormone;
thyroxine; insulin; proinsulin; relaxin; prorelaxin; glycoprotein
hormones such as follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), thyroid
stimulating hormone (TSH), luteinizing hormone (LH); hepatic growth
factor; fibroblast growth factor; prolactin; placental lactogen;
tumor necrosis factor-.alpha. and .beta.; mullerian-inhibiting
substance; mouse gonadotropin-associated peptide; inhibin; activin;
vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF); integrin; thrombopoietin
(TPO); nerve growth factors such as NGF-.beta.; platelet-derived
growth factor (PDGF); transforming growth factors (TGFs) such as
TGF-.alpha. and TGF-.beta.; insulin-like growth factor (IGF), e.g.,
IGF-I and IGF-II; erythropoietin (EPO); osteoinductive factors;
interferons such as interferon-.alpha., -.beta., and -.gamma.;
colony stimulating factors (CSFs) such as macrophage-CSF (M-CSF);
granulocyte-macrophage-CSF (GM-CSF); and granulocyte-CSF (G-CSF);
interleukins (ILs) such as IL-1, IL-1a, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5,
IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL9, IL-11, IL-12; and other polypeptide factors
including LIF and kit ligand (KL, also known as steel factor).
[0072] Unless otherwise indicated, references herein to amino acid
positions of antibody heavy or light chains refer to the numbering
of the amino acids under the "Kabat and Wu" system. See, Kabat, E.,
et al., Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, U.S.
Government Printing Office, NIH Publication No. 91-3242 (1991),
which is hereby incorporated by reference (the Kabat and Wu
database and numbering system are also referred to herein as the
"Kabat" system and numbering). The Kabat and Wu database is the
most widely used system in the art for numbering amino acid
residues of antibodies and is now too large to be conveniently
printed. It is now maintained as a subscription service online,
which can be found by entering "http://" followed by
"immuno.bme.nwu.edu/". The number accorded to a residue under the
Kabat and Wu system does not necessarily correspond to the number
that one might obtain for a residue in a given heavy or light chain
by counting from the amino terminus of that chain.
[0073] The term "residue" or "amino acid residue" or "amino acid"
includes reference to an amino acid that is incorporated into a
protein, polypeptide, or peptide (collectively "peptide"). The
amino acid can be a naturally occurring amino acid and, unless
otherwise limited, can encompass analogs of natural amino acids
that can function in a similar manner as naturally occurring amino
acids.
[0074] A "conservative substitution", when describing a protein
refers to a change in the amino acid composition of the protein
that does not substantially alter the protein's activity. Thus,
"conservatively modified variations" of a particular amino acid
sequence refers to amino acid substitutions of those amino acids
that are not critical for protein activity or substitution of amino
acids with other amino acids having similar properties (e.g.,
acidic, basic, positively or negatively charged, polar or
non-polar, etc.) such that the substitutions of even critical amino
acids do not substantially alter activity. Conservative
substitution tables providing functionally similar amino acids are
well known in the art. The following six groups in Table A each
contain amino acids that are conservative substitutions for one
another:
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE A 1) Alanine (A), Serine (S), Threonine (T);
2) Aspartic acid (D), Glutamic acid (E); 3) Asparagine (N),
Glutamine (Q); 4) Arginine (R), Lysine (K); 5) Isoleucine (I),
Leucine (L), Methionine (M), Valine (V); and 6) Phenylalanine (F),
Tyrosine (Y), Tryptophan (W). See also, Creighton, Proteins, W.H.
Freeman and Company, New York (1984).
[0075] The terms "selectively reactive" and "selectively binds"
refer, with respect to an antigen, the preferential association of
an antibody, in whole or part, with a cell or tissue bearing that
antigen and not to cells or tissues lacking that antigen. It is, of
course, recognized that a certain degree of non-specific
interaction may occur between a molecule and a non-target cell or
tissue. Nevertheless, selective reactivity, may be distinguished as
mediated through specific recognition of the antigen. Although
selectively reactive antibodies bind antigen, they may do so with
low affinity. On the other hand, specific binding results in a much
stronger association between the antibody and cells bearing the
antigen than between the bound antibody and cells lacking the
antigen. Specific binding typically results in greater than 2-fold,
preferably greater than 5-fold, more preferably greater than
10-fold and most preferably greater than 100-fold increase in
amount of bound antibody (per unit time) to a cell or tissue
bearing the target antigen or marker as compared to a cell or
tissue lacking that antigen or marker. Specific binding to a
protein under such conditions requires an antibody that is selected
for its specificity for a particular protein. A variety of
immunoassay formats are appropriate for selecting antibodies
specifically immunoreactive with a particular protein. For example,
solid-phase ELISA immunoassays are routinely used to select
monoclonal antibodies specifically immunoreactive with a protein.
See Harlow & Lane, Antibodies, A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring
Harbor Publications, New York (1988), for a description of
immunoassay formats and conditions that can be used to determine
specific immunoreactivity.
[0076] The term "immunologically reactive conditions" includes
reference to conditions which allow an antibody generated to a
particular epitope to bind to that epitope to a detectably greater
degree than, and/or to the substantial exclusion of, binding to
substantially all other epitopes. Immunologically reactive
conditions are dependent upon the format of the antibody binding
reaction and typically are those utilized in immunoassay protocols
or those conditions encountered in vivo. See Harlow & Lane,
supra, for a description of immunoassay formats and conditions.
Preferably, the immunologically reactive conditions employed in the
methods of the present invention are "physiological conditions"
which include reference to conditions (e.g., temperature,
osmolarity, pH) that are typical inside a living mammal or a
mammalian cell. While it is recognized that some organs are subject
to extreme conditions, the intra-organismal and intracellular
environment normally lies around pH 7 (i.e., from pH 6.0 to pH 8.0,
more typically pH 6.5 to 7.5), contains water as the predominant
solvent, and exists at a temperature above 0.degree. C. and below
50.degree. C. Osmolarity is within the range that is supportive of
cell viability and proliferation.
Coupling the bsBAs to Therapeutic Agents or Labels
[0077] While the binding of the bsBAs to their ligands itself is
intended to modulate the biological activity of the target cell by,
for example, blocking access of cytokines to their receptors, the
effect of the bsBA on biological activity can be increased by
coupling a therapeutic agent to the bsBA. In some embodiments,
therefore, the bsBAs are derivatized to introduce functional groups
permitting the attachment of a therapeutic agent. The bsBA can be
derivatized to introduce, for example, side chains terminating in
hydrazide, hydrazine, primary amine, or secondary amine groups.
Therapeutic agents can be conjugated through, for example, a
Schiffs base linkage, a hydrazone or acyl hydrazone bond or a
hydrazide linker (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,474,765 and
5,762,918, each of which is specifically incorporated herein by
reference). A number of other chemistries suitable for conjugating
therapeutic agents to bsABs of the invention are well known in the
art, as exemplified by Hermanson, G., Bioconjugate Techniques,
Academic Press, San Diego, Calif. (1996).
[0078] Therapeutic agents can be selected from, for example,
anti-neoplastic agents, anti-metabolic agents, radioactive agents,
cytotoxic agents, and chemotherapeutic agents.
[0079] Cytotoxic agents include anti-cancer agents, such as the
following: gemcitabine; methotrexate; 5-FU; FUDR; FdUMP;
hydroxyurea; docetaxel; discodermolide; epothilones; vincristine;
vinblastine; vinorelbine; meta-pac; irinotecan; SN-38; 10-OH
campto; topotecan; etoposide; adriamycin; flavopiridol; cisplatin;
carboplatin; bleomycin; mitomycin C; mithramycin; capecitabine;
cytarabine; 2-Cl-2' deoxyadenosine; mitoxantrone; mitozolomide;
pentostatin; and raltitrexed.
[0080] The bsBAs of the invention can further be modified or
labeled to facilitate diagnostic or therapeutic uses. For example,
detectable labels such as a radioactive, fluorescent, heavy metal,
or other label, may be conjugated to the bsBAs of the invention.
Single, dual, or multiple labeling of the bsBAs may be
advantageous. For example, a bsBA can be dual labeled, with both
radioactive iodination of one or more residues and the coupling of,
for example, .sup.90Y via a chelating group to amine-containing
side or reactive groups. This combination labeling can be useful
for specialized diagnostic needs such as identification of widely
dispersed small neoplastic cell masses.
[0081] Radioisotopes for radiolabeling the bsBAs of the invention
include any radioisotope that can be conjugated or coupled to a
residue of the bsBAs. The radioisotopes can be selected from
radioisotopes that emit either beta or gamma radiation, or
alternatively, the peptide agents can be modified to contain
chelating groups that, for example, can be covalently bonded to
lysine residue(s) of the analog. The chelating groups can then be
modified to contain any of a variety of radioisotopes, such as
gallium, indium, technetium, ytterbium, rhenium, or thallium (e.g.,
.sup.125I, .sup.67Ga, .sup.111In, .sup.99mTc, .sup.169Yb,
.sup.186Re).
[0082] Chelating groups may be used to indirectly couple detectable
labels or other molecules to the bsBAs of the invention. For
example, a bifunctional stable chelator may be linked to one or
more terminal or internal amino acid reactive groups via an
isothiocyanate beta-Ala or an appropriate non alpha-amino acid
linker which prevents Edman degradation. Examples of chelators
known in the art include, for example, the ininocarboxylic and
polyaminopolycarboxylic reactive groups, DTPA
(N,N-Bis[2-[bis(carboxymethyl) amino]ethyl]glycine), and DOTA
(1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid).
[0083] In terms of cancer diagnosis and treatment, the bsBAs of the
invention can be used to prepare diagnostic and imaging
compositions, and kits utilizing the bsBAs in diagnostic and
imaging methods (e.g., in vivo and in vitro diagnostic methods).
For example, a vascularized tumor may be imaged using a
diagnostically effective amount of a bsBA that includes at least a
first binding molecule that binds to an accessible component of a
tumor cell, tumor vasculature, or tumor stroma, attached to an in
vivo diagnostic imaging agent.
[0084] In another preferred embodiment in which the disease or
disorder is cancer, pre-imaging before cancer treatment may be
carried out by: (a) administering to the animal or patient a
diagnostically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition
comprising a detectably-labeled bsBA of the invention that has a
first binding molecule that binds with high affinity to a highly
expressed receptor characteristic of a tumor cell, or to the tumor
vasculature or tumor stroma, and a second binding molecule that
binds with at least an order of magnitude lower affinity to a
second ubiquitously-expressed receptor (e.g., ErbB3 or ErbB4); and
(b) subsequently detecting the detectably-labeled bsBA bound to the
tumor cells, tumor blood vessels, or tumor stroma; thereby
obtaining an image of the tumor, tumor vasculature, and/or tumor
stroma.
[0085] Without wishing to be bound by theory, the bsBA can reduce,
prevent, or inhibit cell signaling by competing with a natural
ligand for binding to a cell surface receptor. In this situation,
the bsBA functions by blocking cell signaling induced upon ligand
binding. The bsBA can also act by inducing
internalization/downregulation of the cell surface receptors. The
reduction in the number of receptors at the cell surface caused by
internalization/downregulation results in reduced receptor
activation, which reduces or prevents cell signaling along the
signal transduction pathway for those receptors. Finally, in cases
where receptor dimerization is required for signal transduction,
the bsBA can act by preventing dimerization of the two cell surface
receptors.
Selecting Cell Markers for Use as Targets and for Effectors
[0086] Cell markers used for targeting bsBAs typically are
expressed at higher levels on the target cell than on non-target
cells, or are not expressed on non-target cells. For example, a
target marker may be highly overexpressed in particular cancers
compared to its expression in non-target cells, or may not be
expressed by cells that are not cancerous.
[0087] The cell markers used as effectors are typically involved in
cellular signaling, such as growth factor, cytokine, or chemokine
receptors, that are beneficial to modulate in given pathological
conditions. Because of the selectivity provided by the hi-lo bsBAs
of the invention, the expression of the marker bound by the bsBA
effector domain need not be confined to the target cell and may be
expressed on other cells of the organism.
Measuring Kd
[0088] The binding affinity of the binding molecules of the bsBA
can be determined using methods known in the art, e.g., as
described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,703,020, incorporated herein by
reference. The binding affinity of the first and second binding
molecules of the bsBA to their respective target receptors, and the
off-rate of bsBA-receptor complexes, can be determined by
competitive binding assays. One example of a competitive binding
assay is a radioimmunoassay comprising incubating one or both
receptors, labeled with, for example, .sup.3H or .sup.125I, with a
bsBA of interest in the presence of increasing amounts of unlabeled
receptor, and detecting bsBA bound to the labeled receptor. The
affinity of the bsBA of interest for a particular receptor and the
binding off-rates can be determined from the data by, for example,
Scatchard plot analysis. The Kd may also be determined by flow
cytometry as described, for example, in Nielsen et al. (Cancer Res.
60(22):6434-40 (2000)). An exemplary assay for determining Kd is
set forth in the Examples.
[0089] In preferred methods, the receptor-binding affinities of the
bsAb is determined from association and dissociation rate constants
measured using a BIAcore surface plasmon resonance system (BIAcore,
Inc., Piscataway, N.J.). Typically, the affinity of the bsBA to the
ligand molecule is determined by immobilizing an appropriate amount
(e.g., 500 resonance units) on a biosensor chip (BIAcore). On- and
off-rates of the bsBAs are typically measured in PBS by injecting
25 .mu.g/ml of the bsBA over the chip surface for 5 minutes and
then allowing the bound material to dissociate for 5 minutes by
flowing the buffer solution over the chip. Binding kinetics can be
analyzed using, for example, BIAevaluation 2.1 software (BIAcore).
For purposes of determining whether a particular bsBA falls within
the scope of this invention, the affinities of the binding domains
of the bsBA are determined after the bsBA is formed (as opposed to
measuring the affinity of the domains individually prior to their
placement in the bsBA) so that the relative affinity of the binding
domains can be determined.
Measuring Desired Biological Effects
[0090] The bsBAs of the invention are preferably first tested in
vitro for the desired therapeutic or prophylactic activity. For
example, in vitro assays that can be used to demonstrate the
therapeutic or prophylactic utility of the bsBAs include the effect
of a bsBA on a cell line or a patient tissue sample.
[0091] The effect of the bsBA on the cell line and/or tissue sample
can be determined utilizing techniques known to those of skill in
the art including, e.g., cell proliferation assays, cell viability
assays, assays of protein phosphorylation, protein kinase activity,
apoptosis assays, and protein synthesis inhibition studies, among
others. Antibody microarrays can be used to determine the effect on
multiple protein in a protein pathway. Such assays are described
in, for example, Nielsen et al. (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA.,
100(16):9330-5. (2003)) ("Nielsen 2003"). The bsBAs are then tested
in vivo for efficacy in non-human animals prior to commencing human
clinical trials.
Creating Univalent Binding Compositions
[0092] When the bsBA is created by chemical cross linking, the
non-cross-linked fragments are themselves univalent binding
fragments. In the case of the genetically linked (that is,
recombinantly expressed) bsBA's, the univalent binding compositions
can be created by cloning the individual binding proteins into
expression vectors that allow the expression and isolation of the
monovalent binding protein. The affinity of the individual,
univalent binding compositions can then be determined as set forth
above.
Testing for Equivalent K.sub.d
[0093] Equivalent K.sub.d's may be determined by the methods set
forth above, using the univalent binding compositions.
Comparing the Binding of bsBAs and Univalent Binding
Compositions
[0094] The univalent binding compositions and the bsBA may be
subjected to biological activity assays, e.g., in order to evaluate
its effectiveness as a therapeutic and to compare the effectiveness
of the bsBA. Such assays are known in the art and depend on the
target antigen. Examples include the measurement of AKT
phosphorylation by ELISA or immunoblotting following activation
with heregulin or other growth factors, growth inhibition assays
(as described for example, in WO 89/06692); or assays of
apoptosis.
[0095] For phosphorylation, standard immunoblotting may be used to
determine the effect of the binding molecules on e.g. activation of
the effector molecule itself or downstream kinases or antibody
arrays may be employed as is described in detail in Nielsen 2003,
supra.
[0096] For apoptosis, DNA fragmentation can be detected in vitro
using standard electrophoresis or TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl
transferase dUTP nick end labeling) assays that detect DNA nicks in
apoptotic cells. Once the cells are fixed, DNA strand breaks can be
detected in situ using mammalian terminal deoxynucleotidyl
transferase (TdT), which covalently adds labeled nucleotides to the
3'-hydroxyl ends of these DNA fragments in a template-independent
fashion.
[0097] Cell viability and proliferation can be monitored with
various chemical and biological reagents. For example, antibodies
to cell-cycle-related markers or fluorescence-based cell viability
and proliferation assays such as tritiated thymidine assays, trypan
blue exclusion assays, the ATCC Bioproducts.TM. MTT Cell
Proliferation Assay (American Type Culture Collection, Manassas,
Va.), or the CellTiter-Blue.RTM. Cell Viability Assay (Promega,
Madison, Wis.).
Use of bsBAs to Bind Growth Factor Receptors
[0098] A number of molecules can be bound by the effector domain of
a bsBA of the invention. In one important series of embodiments,
the effector domain binds a growth factor receptor on a cell
surface, such as a tyrosine kinase receptor. The overexpression or
inappropriate activation of a number of important growth factor
receptors and their ligands, such as those belonging to the
epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF),
insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), platelet-derived growth factor
(PDGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) families are
known to be associated with or responsible for the initiation and
progression of diseases and disorders, such as cancer and
autoimmune diseases. It is thought that these growth factors act in
an autocrine and/or paracrine manner to stimulate survival,
proliferation, or migration of diseased cells. Binding of growth
factors to their receptors results in activation of the receptor,
e.g., by receptor dimerization, which results in receptor
autophosphorylation and subsequent signal transduction via an array
of different signaling molecules.
[0099] Interfering with the activity of the binding of the growth
factor or activation of the tyrosine kinase receptors in such cells
can restore a non-cancerous phenotype or reduce the rate of
proliferation of affected cells. That is, contacting the receptor
with a bsBA of the invention blocks the signals generated upon the
binding of ligands, e.g., growth factors, to their cell surface
receptors. The bsBA prevents or reduces activation of the signal
transduction pathway by preventing or reducing ligand binding to
the receptor, or by preventing or reducing ligand-induced receptor
dimerization.
[0100] Exemplar tyrosine kinase receptors (with alternative names
shown in parentheses) that can be bound by the effector domain of
the bsBA to effect a useful result in the methods of the invention
include:
ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase), a tyrosine kinase receptor
expressed as part of the chimeric NPM-ALK protein, in anaplastic
large cell lymphomas (ALCLs); Discoidin domain receptor (DDR), a
receptor tyrosine kinase that is distinguished by a unique
extracellular domain homologous to the lectin Discoidin I
(Discoidin receptor tyrosine kinase) (Tyrosine-protein kinase CAK)
(Cell adhesion kinase) (TRK E) (Protein-tyrosine kinase RTK 6)
(CD167a antigen); Discoidin domain receptor 2 precursor (Receptor
protein-tyrosine kinase TKT) (Tyrosine-protein kinase TYRO 10)
(Neurotrophic tyrosine kinase, receptor-related 3); Epidermal
growth factor receptor (Receptor protein-tyrosine kinase ErbB-1);
Receptor protein-tyrosine kinase erbB-2 (p185erbB2) (NEU
proto-oncogene) (C-erbB-2); Receptor protein-tyrosine kinase erbB-3
precursor (c-erbB3) (Tyrosine kinase-type cell surface receptor);
Receptor protein-tyrosine kinase erbB-4 (p180erbB4) (Tyrosine
kinase-type cell surface receptor); Basic fibroblast growth factor
receptor 1 (FGFR-1) (bFGF-R) (Fms-like tyrosine kinase-2) (c-fgr);
FL cytokine receptor (Tyrosine-protein kinase receptor FLT3) (Stem
cell tyrosine kinase 1) (STK-1) (CD135 antigen); Mast/stem cell
growth factor receptor (SCFR) (Proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein
kinase Kit) (c-kit) (CD 117 antigen); Leukocyte tyrosine kinase
receptor (Protein tyrosine kinase-1); Hepatocyte growth factor
receptor (Met proto-oncogene tyrosine kinase) (c-met) (HGF
receptor) (HGF-SF receptor); Protein-tyrosine phosphatase eta
(R-PTP-eta) (HPTP eta) (Protein-tyrosine phosphatase receptor type
J) (Density enhanced phosphatase-1) (DEP-1) (CD148 antigen);
Proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase receptor ret (C-ret);
Tyrosine-protein kinase transmembrane receptor ROR1 (Neurotrophic
tyrosine kinase, receptor-related 1); Tyrosine-protein kinase
transmembrane receptor ROR2 (Neurotrophic tyrosine kinase,
receptor-related 2); Tyrosine-protein kinase receptor Tie-1;
Angiopoietin 1 receptor (Tyrosine-protein kinase receptor TIE-2)
(Tyrosine-protein kinase receptor TEK) (P 140 TEK) (Tunica interna
endothelial cell kinase) (CD202b antigen); High affinity nerve
growth factor receptor (TRK1 transforming tyrosine kinase protein)
(p140-TrkA) (Trk-A); BDNF/NT-3 growth factors receptor (TrkB
tyrosine kinase) (GP145-TrkB) (Trk-B); NT-3 growth factor receptor
(TrkC tyrosine kinase) (GP145-TrkC) (Trk-C); Vascular endothelial
growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR-1) (Vascular permeability factor
receptor) (Tyrosine-protein kinase receptor FLT) (Flt-1)
(Tyrosine-protein kinase FRT) (Fms-like tyrosine kinase 1);
Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) (Kinase
insert domain receptor) (Protein-tyrosine kinase receptor Flk-1);
and Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 precursor (EC
2.7.1.112) (VEGFR-3) (Tyrosine-protein kinase receptor FLT4).
[0101] The discussion below describes more specific information
about tyrosine kinase receptors that are particularly useful to
bind with an effector domain, as well as other receptor families
that can usefully be regulated by the methods of the invention.
Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)/ErbB Receptor
[0102] The EGFR/ErbB family of single-spanning, tyrosine kinase
receptors consists of four members: epidermal growth factor
receptor (EGFR), ErbB2 (HER2/neu), ErbB3 (HER3) and ErbB4 (HER4). A
number of ligands, all of which are different gene products, have
been identified that bind and activate the ErbB receptors. These
receptors and ligands play key roles in normal cell growth and
differentiation.
[0103] Aberrant signaling and/or unregulated activation of ErbB
receptor proteins has been linked to the development and
progression of many cancers. Uncontrolled cellular proliferation
mediated via dysfunctional ErbB receptor pathways can be found in a
wide variety of solid cancers of epithelial origin and data have
linked tumor ErbB receptor expression, overexpression and/or
dysregulation to advanced disease, metastatic phenotype, resistance
to chemotherapy and an overall poorer prognosis. Furthermore, data
has also implicated ErbB receptors in increased tumor invasion,
inhibition of cellular apoptosis, increased cellular adhesion and
angiogenesis. In particular, increased expression of the EGFR has
been observed in more aggressive carcinomas of the breast, bladder,
lung and stomach (Modjtahedi and Dean, Int. J. Oncol. 4:277-296,
(1994)). Overexpression of human ErbB2 has been associated with
breast and ovarian cancers (Slamon et al., Science 235:177-182
(1987) and Slamon et al., Science 244:707-712 (1989)), and
carcinomas of the stomach, endometrium, salivary gland, lung,
kidney, colon and bladder. Markedly elevated levels of ErbB3 have
been associated with certain human mammary tumor cell lines
indicating that ErbB3, like ErbB1 and ErbB2, plays a role in human
malignancies. Specifically, ErbB3 has been found to be
overexpressed in breast (Lemoine et al., Br. J. Cancer
66:1116-1121, 1992), gastrointestinal (Poller et al., J. Pathol.
168:275-280, 1992; Rajkumer et al., J. Pathol. 170:271-278, 1993;
and Sanidas et al., Int. J. Cancer 54:935-940, 1993), and
pancreatic cancers (Lemoine et al., J. Pathol. 168:269-273, 1992,
and Friess et al., Clinical Cancer Research 1:1413-1420, 1995).
Finally, increased ErbB4 expression is also closely correlated with
human carcinomas, e.g., carcinomas of epithelial origin, including
breast adenocarcinomas.
[0104] Signal transduction mediated by the ErbB family of protein
receptors occurs, in many instances, upon ligand-induced receptor
heterodimerization. "Receptor cross-talking" following
heterdimerization results in activation of the ErbB receptor kinase
domain and cross-phosphorylation of the ErbB receptors, which is
known to occur between, e.g., EGFR and ErbB2, ErbB2 and ErbB3, and
ErbB2 and ErbB4 (see, e.g., Wada et al., Cell 61:1339-1347 (1990);
Plowman et al., Nature 336:473-475 (1993); Carraway and Cantley,
Cell 78:5-8 (1994); Riese et al., Oncogene 12:345-353 (1996); Kokai
et al., Cell 58:287-292 (1989); Stern et al., EMBO J. 7:995-1001
(1988); and King et al., Oncogene 4:13-18 (1989)).
[0105] Preferred binding molecules for use in preparing the bsBAs
of the invention are described in, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,183,884,
5,480,968, 5,968,511, 5,977,322, and 6,512,097; Kraus et al., Proc.
Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:9193-9197 (1989); European Pat. Appln. No.
444,961A1; and Kraus et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA
90:2900-2904 (1993), each of which is incorporated herein by
reference. Embodiments of the method of treatment encompass a
disease state or states in addition to cancer, such as
immunological disorders, neurological disorders, such as
neurofibromatosis and peripheral neuropathy, and cardiac disorders,
such as cardiac hypertrophy.
Insulin Receptor (IR) and Insulin-Like Growth Factor Receptor
(IGF-R)
[0106] The insulin receptor and IGF-1 receptors are closely related
proteins that are important targets for the development of new
therapeutics for two major diseases, diabetes and cancer. Diabetes
is a global health problem of increasing importance. It is the only
non-infectious disease classified by the World Health Organization
as an epidemic. Worldwide the incidence of diabetes is 2-3%, rising
to 6% in the USA and other Western countries.
[0107] There is growing evidence that the insulin-like growth
factor receptors (IGFRs) play an important role in certain cancers
and psoriasis. Deregulated signaling by these receptors is
associated with the pathogenesis of, e.g., Wilm's tumorigenesis,
hepatoblastoma, hepatocarcinoma, colorectal cancer, breast cancer,
adenocortical carcinoma, multiple myeloma, lymphoma, leukemia,
prostate cancer, and lung cancer, with resistance to radiotherapy
and chemotherapy. The insulin and IGF receptors are closely related
to the ErbB receptor family.
[0108] The insulin-like growth factor receptors (IGFRs) are
involved in the maintenance of normal function of many cells of the
body. IGF-II receptor is commonly expressed by tumor cells and may
act as an autocrine growth factor; occasionally even reaching
target tissues and causing tumor-induced hypoglycemia. IGF-I
receptor is commonly overexpressed in many cancers, and many recent
studies have identified new signaling pathways emanating from the
IGF-I receptor that affect cancer cell proliferation, adhesion,
migration, and cell death; functions that are critical for cancer
cell survival and metastases (see, e.g., LeRoith et al., Cancer
Lett. 195:127-137 (2003)). The IGF-I receptor has not been viewed
as a likely target for cancer therapeutics because many normal
cells also express this receptor. Scientific evidence suggests that
IGF-I receptor inhibition impacts multiple intracellular signals
related to cell proliferation or tumor development and provides
possible mechanisms to explain how IGF-I receptor inhibition can
make tumor cells more sensitive to conventional chemotherapy or
other anticancer agents. Perhaps most significantly, inhibiting the
signaling of IGF-I receptor suppresses tumor growth, prolongs
patient survival, and enhances the antitumor effect of chemotherapy
in clinically relevant mouse models of multiple myeloma and other
hematological malignancies. Therefore, it is envisioned that a bsBA
in which the low affinity binding molecule of the bsBA binds to the
IGF-I receptor will overcome the deficiencies of the prior art
therapeutics that preferentially target the IGF-I receptor (i.e.,
by avoiding the inhibition of IGF-I receptor signaling in
non-target, non-diseased cells). In this instance, it is preferable
that the high affinity binding molecule of the bsBA binds to a cell
surface receptor that specifically targets the bsBA to the diseased
cells (e.g., cells in which inhibition of overstimulation of the
IGF-I receptor is desired). Once preferentially targeted to
diseased cells, the low affinity binding molecule of the bsBA can
then bind to IGF-I and inhibit the inappropriate cell signaling
associated with the disease state.
[0109] Therapeutic strategies for patients with advanced-stage
adenocarcinoma of the breast frequently include the use of
cytotoxic chemotherapy. IGF-I receptor, a key factor in cell-cycle
regulation, is frequently overexpressed in high-grade breast
cancers and represents a primary target in these cancers. It has
also been noted that patients being treated for breast cancer using
an anti-HER2/neu receptor monoclonal antibody (Trastuzumab, also
known as Herceptin.RTM.), which inhibits growth of
ErbB2-overexpressing breast cancer cells, commonly develop
resistance to the antibody. It has been observed that insulin-like
growth factor-I (IGF-I), which activates cell survival signals,
interferes with the growth-inhibitory action of trastuzumab. By
preventing, reducing, or inhibiting cell signaling through the
IGF-I receptor using a bsBA of the invention, trastuzumab-induced
growth inhibition can be restored (see, e.g., Lu et al., J. Natl.
Cancer Inst. 93:1852-1857, 2001). Thus, one possible use of the
bsBA of the invention is to target IGF-I receptor signaling to
prevent or delay development of resistance to trastuzumab or other
current or future anti-cancer therapeutics.
[0110] Central nervous system (CNS) atypical teratoid/rhabdoid
tumors (ATT/RhT) are among the pediatric malignant tumors with the
worst prognosis and fatal outcome. To date there are no
explanations for their remarkable resistance to cytostatic drugs
and radiotherapy. IGF-I receptor plays a critical role in cell
survival, proliferation, transformation, and regulation of
apoptosis. IGF-I receptor protects cancer cells from apoptosis
induced by a variety of anticancer drugs and radiation, but when
impaired by inhibitors such as antisense strategies, dominant
negative mutants, or triple-helix formation, tumor cells undergo
massive apoptosis, resulting in an inhibition of tumorigenesis and
metastases in experimental animal models. A bsBA of the invention
that targets the IGF-I receptor can be used to prevent or reduce
the signal transduction via activation of the IGF-I receptor, and
thereby treat the disease conditions, such as cancer.
[0111] Cross-talk between insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-- and
estrogen receptor (ER)--signaling pathways results in synergistic
growth. Estrogen enhances IGF signaling by inducing expression of
IGF-I receptor and its downstream signaling molecules, and insulin
receptor substrate (IRS)-1 and IRS-2. Estrogen induction of IGF-I
receptor and IRS expression results in enhanced tyrosine
phosphorylation of IRS-1 after IGF-I stimulation, followed by
enhanced mitogen-activated protein kinase activation. This
indicates that activation of the IGF-I receptor is involved in
estrogen-mediated growth and breast cancer pathogenesis (see, e.g.,
Lee et al., Mol. Endocrinol. 13:787-796, 1999). Therefore, a bsBA
of the invention that targets the IGF-I receptor can be used to
prevent or reduce the signal transduction via activation of the
IGF-I receptor, and thereby treat estrogen-induced breast cancer
disease conditions.
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor (VEGFR)
[0112] Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a
multifunctional cytokine that is induced by hypoxia and oncogenic
mutations. VEGF is a primary stimulant of the development and
maintenance of a vascular network in embryogenesis. It functions as
a potent permeability-inducing agent, an endothelial cell
chemotactic agent, an endothelial survival factor, and an
endothelial cell proliferation factor (Thomas, J. Biol. Chem.
271:603-606, 1996; and Neufeld et al., FASEB J. 13:9-22, 1999).
VEGF is an important factor driving angiogenesis or vasculogenesis
in numerous physiological and pathological processes, including
wound healing (Frank et al., 1995; Burke et al., 1995), diabetic
retinopathy (Alon et al., 1995; Malecaze et al., 1994), psoriasis
(Detmar et al., 1994), atherosclerosis (Inoue et al., 1998),
rheumatoid arthritis (Harada et al., 1998; Nagashima et al., 1999),
and solid tumor growth (Plate et al., 1994; Claffey et al.,
1996).
[0113] A wide variety of cells and tissues produce VEGF. VEGF
dimers bind with high affinity to two well-characterized receptors,
VEGFR1 (FLT-1) and VEGFR2 (KDR/Flk-1), which are selectively
expressed on endothelial cells (Flt-1 and Flk-1 are the mouse
homologues). The Kd of VEGF binding to VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 is 15-100
.mu.M and 400-800 .mu.M, respectively (Terman et al., 1994). A
recently identified third cell surface protein, neuropilin-1, also
binds VEGF with high affinity (e.g., Soker et al., Cell.
92(6):735-45 (1998)).
[0114] VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 are members of the Type III receptor
tyrosine kinase (RTK III) family that is characterized by seven
extracellular IgG-like repeats, a single spanning transmembrane
domain, and an intracellular split tyrosine kinase domain (Mustonen
and Alitalo, J Cell Biol 129: 895-898 (1995)). Until very recently,
VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 were thought to be almost exclusively expressed
on endothelial cells (id.). Recent studies have shown that each of
VEGF, VEGFR1, and VEGFR2 are essential for vasculogenesis,
angiogenesis, and embryo development. VEGFR1 has a higher affinity
for VEGF than VEGFR2, although it has a lower tyrosine kinase
activity.
[0115] Binding of the VEGF dimer to the VEGF receptor is believed
to induce receptor dimerization. Dimerization of the receptor then
causes autotransphosphorylation of specific tyrosine residues,
which leads to a signal transduction cascade. The intracellular
events further downstream in VEGF-induced signaling are less clear,
although a number of groups have shown that nitric oxide (NO) is
produced after VEGF activation of VEGFR2 (Kroll and Waltenberger,
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 252(3):743-6 (1998)). Activation of
VEGFR2, but not VEGFR1, by VEGF has also been shown to activate Src
and the Ras-MAP kinase cascade, including the MAP kinases, ERK 1
and 2 (Kroll and Waltenberger, J Biol. Chem. 272(51):32521-7
(1997)).
[0116] Preferred binding molecules for use in preparing the bsBA of
the invention are described in, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,840,301,
5,874,542, 6,703,020, and in WO 99/40118, each of which is
incorporated herein by reference. A preferred binding molecule for
use in preparing the bsBA is monoclonal antibody 2C3 (ATCC PTA
1595). RNA aptamers, antisense molecules and ribozymes against the
VEGF receptors can also be used as a binding molecule in the bsBA.
Preferred RNA antisense molecules, aptamers and ribozymes are
described in, e.g., Saleh et al., Cancer Res. 56(2):393-401 (1996);
Cheng et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 93(16):8502-7 (1996); Ke et
al., Int J. Oncol. 12(6):1391-6 (1998); and Parry et al., Nucleic
Acids Res. 27(13):2569-77. (1999); each of which is incorporated
herein by reference.
[0117] The compositions and methods of use of the present invention
are particularly intended for use in animals and patients (e.g.,
human patients) that have, or are at risk for developing, any form
of vascularized tumor; macular degeneration, including age-related
macular degeneration; arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis;
atherosclerosis and atherosclerotic plaques; diabetic retinopathy
and other retinopathies; thyroid hyperplasias, including Grave's
disease; hemangioma; neovascular glaucoma; and psoriasis, which are
associated with inappropriate or excessive activation of a VEGF
receptor.
[0118] The compositions and methods of use of the invention are
further intended for the treatment of animals and patients that
have, or are at risk for developing, arteriovenous malformations
(AVM), meningioma, and vascular restenosis, including restenosis
following angioplasty, conditions that are also associated with
inappropriate or excessive activation of a VEGF receptor. Other
intended targets of the therapeutic methods and uses are animals
and patients that have, or are at risk for developing, the
following VEGF receptor-related conditions: angiofibroma,
dermatitis, endometriosis, hemophilic joints, hypertrophic scars,
inflammatory diseases and disorders, pyogenic granuloma,
scleroderma, synovitis, trachoma and vascular adhesions.
[0119] The treatment groups listed above are not exhaustive of the
conditions that can be treated by the bsBAs of the invention. U.S.
Pat. No. 5,712,291, incorporated herein by reference, discloses a
method of identifying a number of other conditions that may be
effectively treated by using the bsBA of the invention when the
effector domain is directed to one of the VEGF receptors.
Furthermore, additional conditions that can be treated using a bsBA
of the invention that has the effector domain binding a VEGFR can
be found in, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,703,020, incorporated herein by
reference.
Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor (TNFR)
[0120] Tumor necrosis factors (TNF) alpha and beta are cytokines
that act through TNF receptors to regulate numerous biological
processes, including protection against infection and induction of
shock and inflammatory disease. The TNF molecules belong to the
"TNF-ligand" superfamily, and act together with their receptors or
counter-ligands, the "TNF-receptor" superfamily. So far, nine
members of the TNF ligand superfamily have been identified and ten
members of the TNF-receptor superfamily have been characterized.
Among the ligands there are included TNF-, lymphotoxin-(LT-, also
known as TNF-.beta.), LT-.beta. (found in complex heterotrimer
LT-2-.beta.), FasL, CD40L, CD27L, CD30L, 4-1BBL, OX40L and nerve
growth factor (NGF). The superfamily of TNF receptors includes the
p55TNF receptor, p75TNF receptor, TNF receptor-related protein, FAS
antigen or APO-1, CD40, CD27, CD30, 4-1BB, OX40, low affinity p75
and NGF-receptor (see, e.g., A. Meager, Biologicals 22:291-295,
1994).
[0121] Many members of the TNF-ligand superfamily are expressed by
activated T-cells, implying that they are necessary for T-cell
interactions with other cell types which underlie cell ontogeny and
functions. (Meager 1994, supra). Considerable insight into the
essential functions of several members of the TNF receptor family
has been gained from the identification and creation of mutants
that abolish the expression of these proteins. For example,
naturally occurring mutations in the FAS antigen and its ligand
cause lymphoproliferative disease (see, e.g., Watanabe-Fukunaga et
al., Nature 356:314, 1992), perhaps reflecting a failure of
programmed cell death. Mutations of the CD40 ligand cause an
X-linked immunodeficiency state characterized by high levels of
immunoglobulin M and low levels of immunoglobulin G in plasma,
indicating faulty T-cell-dependent B-cell activation (see, e.g., R.
C. Allen et al., Science 259:990, 1993). Targeted mutations of the
low affinity nerve growth factor receptor cause a disorder
characterized by faulty sensory innovation of peripheral structures
(see, e.g., Lee et al., Cell 69:737, 1992).
[0122] The TNFR ligands, TNF and LT-, are capable of binding to two
TNF receptors (the 55- and 75-kd TNF receptors). A large number of
biological effects elicited by TNF and LT-, acting through their
receptors, include hemorrhagic necrosis of transplanted tumors,
cytotoxicity, a role in endotoxic shock, inflammation,
immunoregulation, proliferation and anti-viral responses, as well
as protection against the deleterious effects of ionizing
radiation. TNF and LT-are involved in the pathogenesis of a wide
range of diseases, including endotoxic shock, cerebral malaria,
tumors, autoimmune disease, AIDS and graft-host rejection (Beutler
and Von Huffel, Science 264:667-668, 1994). Mutations in the p55
receptor cause increased susceptibility to microbial infection.
[0123] Another TNFR, TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand or
"TRAIL," is expressed in many human tissues (e.g., spleen, lung,
prostate, thymus, ovary, small intestine, colon, peripheral blood
lymphocytes, placenta, kidney). It has been shown that TRAIL acts
independently from the FAS ligand and activates apoptosis rapidly,
within a time frame that is similar to death signaling by
Fas/Apo-1L, but much faster than TNF-induced apoptosis.
[0124] Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) family ligands are known to be
among the most pleiotropic cytokines, inducing a large number of
cellular responses, including cytotoxicity, anti-viral activity,
immunoregulatory activities, and the transcriptional regulation of
several genes. Cellular response to TNF-family ligands include not
only normal physiological responses, but also diseases associated
with increased apoptosis or the inhibition of apoptosis.
Apoptosis-programmed cell death is a physiological mechanism
involved in the deletion of peripheral T lymphocytes of the immune
system, and its dysregulation can lead to a number of different
pathogenic processes. Diseases associated with increased cell
survival, or the inhibition of apoptosis, include cancers,
autoimmune disorders, viral infections, inflammation, graft vs.
host disease, acute graft rejection, and chronic graft rejection.
Diseases associated with increased apoptosis include AIDS,
neurodegenerative disorders, myelodysplastic syndromes, ischemic
injury, toxin-induced liver disease, septic shock, cachexia, and
anorexia.
[0125] The bsBA of the invention can be prepared so that at least
one of the two binding domains specifically binds to a TNFR. Such a
bsBA can then be used in methods for treating cancers, autoimmune
disorders, viral infections, inflammation, graft vs. host disease,
acute graft rejection, and chronic graft rejection by activating a
TNFR, e.g., by binding the TNFR, thereby promoting apoptosis and
preventing or reducing inappropriate cell growth (e.g., in cases of
cancer). In a preferred embodiment, one of the binding molecules of
the bsBA binds a TNFR and the second binding molecule binds to a
second receptor that is known to be expressed on the target cell
(e.g., a second, different TNFR, or a disease-specific receptor).
In the case of cancer, a preferable second receptor is a receptor
of the ErbB family, such as ErbB2. Preferably, the binding molecule
of the bsBA that binds the TNFR has a lower affinity than the
affinity that the second binding molecule has for its receptor.
[0126] Alternatively, the bsBA of the invention can be prepared so
that at least one of the two binding molecules of the bsBA
specifically binds to a TNFR and prevents or reduces activation of
the TNFR, e.g., by blocking ligand binding to the TNFR. Such a bsBA
can then be used in methods for treating AIDS, neurodegenerative
disorders, myelodysplastic syndromes, ischemic injury,
toxin-induced liver disease, septic shock, cachexia, and anorexia
by preventing or reducing activation of a TNFR, e.g., by preventing
or reducing ligand binding to the TNFR, thereby preventing or
reducing apoptosis. Preferably, a bsBA in which at least one of the
two binding molecules specifically binds to a TNFR is used to treat
a disease wherein increased apoptosis is exhibited (e.g., ischemic
injury). In a preferred embodiment, the targeting domain of the
bsBA is directed to an antigen or a second receptor that is
expressed on the target cell (i.e., a receptor other than the
TNFR), which is used to target the bsBA to the target cell.
Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor (FGFR)
[0127] The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling pathway is an
important part of normal development and wound healing. The FGFs
produce their effects through cell surface receptors, which are
members of the tyrosine kinase family. In humans, 4 different
fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) have been identified
(FGFR1-FGFR4).
[0128] The FGFRs are activated by autophosphorylation following
dimerization. The dimerization occurs after ligand binding in the
presence of heparan sulfate and results in phosphorylation of
several tyrosine residues within the cytoplasmic domain of the
FGFRs. Phosphorylation of the FGFRs activates the kinase activity
and leads to activation of MAPK, PI3 kinase, and Stat1/3
pathways.
[0129] Mutations in FGFR genes typically result in gain-of-function
mutations, which result in diseases or disorders due to
inappropriate activation of the receptors. FGFR mutations have been
linked to several developmental disorders, including, e.g.,
Pfeiffer Syndrome, Jackson-Weiss Syndrome, Crouzon syndrome, Apert
Syndrome, Beare-Stevenson Cutis Gyrata Syndrome, Saethre-Chotzen
Syndrome, Achondroplasia, Thanatophoric Dysplasia,
Hypochondroplasia, Muenke Syndrome, and Severe Achondroplasia with
Developmental Delay and Acanthosis Nigricans (SADDAN) dysplasia.
FGFRs are also found to be overexpressed in many tumor samples when
compared to normal tissues by immunohistochemistry. For example,
FGFR overexpression has been identified in primary colorectal
cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, and colon cancer. FGF
molecules act as mitogenic, angiogenic, and antiapoptotic factors
and are likely involved in carcinogenesis.
[0130] The bsBA of the invention can be prepared so that at least
one of the two binding molecules of the bsBA specifically binds to
an FGFR and prevents or reduces activation of the FGFR, e.g., by
blocking ligand binding to the FGFR or by preventing or reducing
FGFR dimerization. Such a bsBA can then be used in methods for
treating Pfeiffer Syndrome, Jackson-Weiss Syndrome, Crouzon
syndrome, Apert Syndrome, Beare-Stevenson Cutis Gyrata Syndrome,
Saethre-Chotzen Syndrome, Achondroplasia, Thanatophoric Dysplasia,
Hypochondroplasia, Muenke Syndrome, Severe Achondroplasia with
Developmental Delay and Acanthosis Nigricans (SADDAN) dysplasia,
primary colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, and
colon cancer by preventing or reducing activation of an FGFR. In a
preferred embodiment, the targeting domain of the bsBA is directed
to a second receptor that is expressed on the target cell (i.e., a
receptor other than the FGFR), which is used to target the bsBA to
the target cell.
Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor (PDGFR)
[0131] The PDGFR family activates downstream signaling enzymes that
stimulate the growth and motility of connective tissue cells, such
as vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), oligodendrocytes (cells of
the tissue encasing nerve fibers), and chondrocytes (cartilage
cells). The PDGF beta receptor is essential for directing the
differentiation of VSMCs.
[0132] Overexpression of the PDGFR pathway has been linked to a
variety of serious diseases, including atherosclerosis and cancer,
which are associated with inappropriate or increased activation of
the PDGFR. Alternatively, it may be desirable to promote activation
of the PDGFR to promote repair of bone, periodontium, ligament, and
cartilage.
[0133] The bsBA of the invention can be prepared so that at least
one of the two binding molecules of the bsBA specifically binds to
an PDGFR and prevents or reduces activation of the PDGFR, e.g., by
blocking ligand binding to the PDGFR. Such a bsBA can then be used
in methods for treating, e.g., antherosclerosis and cancer, by
preventing or reducing activation of an PDGFR. In a preferred
embodiment, the second binding molecule of the bsBA is directed to
a second receptor that is expressed on the target cell (i.e., a
receptor other than the PDGFR), which is used to target the bsBA to
the target cell. Preferably, the binding molecule of the bsBA that
binds the PDGFR has a lower affinity than the affinity that the
second binding molecule has for its receptor.
[0134] Alternatively, the bsBA of the invention can be prepared so
that at least one of the two binding molecules of the bsBA
specifically binds to and activates a PDGFR. Such a bsBA can then
be used in methods for promoting repair of bone, periodontium,
ligament, and cartilage by activating a PDGFR. In a preferred
embodiment, the effector domain of the bsBA binds a PDGFR and the
targeting domain binds to an antigen or to a second receptor that
is known to be expressed on the target cell (e.g., a second,
different PDGFR, or a bone-, periodontium-, ligament-, or
cartilage-specific receptor).
C-Kit Receptor (Also Known as the Steel Factor Receptor)
[0135] The c-Kit proto-oncogene is a transmembrane tyrosine kinase
type receptor that is crucial for melanocyte development and
proliferation. The proto-oncogene c-Kit encodes a transmembrane
tyrosine kinase receptor related to the platelet-derived growth
factor PDGF/CSF-1 (c-fms) receptor subfamily. C-Kit has been found
to play a pivotal role in the normal growth and differentiation of
embryonic melanoblasts. Malignant transformation of melanocytes and
progression of human melanoma is associated with the loss of
expression of the c-Kit proto-oncogene. The expression of the
tyrosine kinase receptor encoded by the c-Kit proto-oncogene
gradually declines during the tumor growth and invasion of human
melanoma.
[0136] The bsBA of the invention can be prepared so that at least
one of the two binding molecules of the bsBA specifically binds to
and activates the c-Kit receptor. Such a bsBA can then be used in
methods for treating, e.g., melanomas. In a preferred embodiment,
the targeting domain of the bsBA is directed to an antigen or to a
second receptor that is expressed on the target cell (i.e., a
receptor other than the c-Kit receptor), which is used to target
the bsBA to the target cell.
Fc Receptors (FcR)
[0137] Fc receptors are specific cell-surface receptors for
antigen-antibody complexes or aggregated immunoglobulins that bind
a site in the Fc portion of an immunoglobulin molecule and may
exhibit specificity for particular immunoglobulin classes. FcRs are
found on B cells, K cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and
eosinophils, and, during some developmental stages, on T cells;
those on K cells, macrophages, and neutrophils bind to opsonizing
antibodies bound to antigens and trigger phagocytosis of the
antigen.
[0138] Human FcRs are known to be associated with the development
or progression of autoimmune diseases (e.g., systemic lupus
erythematosus, autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura, myasthenia
gravis, multiple sclerosis, uveitis, and thyroid-associated
ophthalmopathy) and allergic reaction to allergens. Natural
inhibition of FcRs is responsible for maintaining peripheral
tolerance, thereby preventing the development of autoimmunity and
autoimmune disease. Conversely, deficiency of activation FcRs
results in a protective phenotype, uncoupling autoimmunity from
autoimmune disease.
[0139] The bsBA of the invention can be prepared so that at least
one of the two binding molecules of the bsBA specifically binds to
an FcR and prevents or reduces activation of the FcR, e.g., by
blocking its binding to Ig molecules on immune cells. Such a bsBA
can then be used in methods for treating, e.g., autoimmune disease,
such as systemic lupus erythematosus, autoimmune thrombocytopenic
purpura, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, uveitis, and
thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy. Typically, the targeting domain
of the bsBA is directed to an antigen or to a second receptor that
is expressed on the target cell (i.e., a receptor other than the
FcR), which is used to target the bsBA to the target cell.
Use of bsBAs to Bind Cytokine Receptors
[0140] In an important group of embodiments, the targeting domain
or the effector domain can be used to bind a cytokine receptor on a
cell surface. In some embodiments, which are somewhat less
preferred, the binding agent can be a natural ligand for the
cytokine receptor (for example, IL-13 can be used as a binding
agent to bind the IL-13 receptor), or a fragment of such a ligand
that retains the ability to bind to the receptor.
[0141] Exemplar cytokine receptors (with alternative names shown in
parentheses) that can be bound as desired by the targeting domain
or the effector domain of the bsBA to effect a useful result in the
methods of the invention include:
Cytokine receptor common gamma chain (Gamma-C) (Interleukin-2
receptor gamma chain) (IL-2R gamma chain) (P64) (CD132 antigen);
Interleukin-10 receptor alpha chain (IL-10R-A) (IL-10R1);
Interleukin-10 receptor beta chain (IL-10R-B) (IL-10R2) (Cytokine
receptor class-II CRF2-4); Interleukin-12 receptor beta-1 chain
(IL-12R-beta1) (Interleukin-12 receptor beta) (IL-12 receptor beta
component) (IL-12RB1); Interleukin-12 receptor beta-2 chain (IL-12
receptor beta-2) (IL-12R-beta2); Interleukin-13 receptor alpha-1
chain (IL-13R-alpha-1) (IL-13RA-1) (CD213 al antigen);
Interleukin-13 receptor alpha-2 chain (Interleukin-13 binding
protein); Interleukin-17 receptor (IL-17 receptor); Interleukin-17B
receptor (IL-17B receptor) (IL-17 receptor homolog 1) (IL-17Rh1)
(IL17Rh1) (Cytokine receptor CRL4) (UNQ2501/PRO19612); Interleukin
21 receptor precursor (IL-21R); Interleukin-1 receptor, type I
(IL-1R-1) (IL-1R-alpha) (P80) (Antigen CD121a); Interleukin-1
receptor, type II (IL-1R-2) (IL-1R-beta) (Antigen CDw121b);
Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IL-1ra) (IRAP) (IL1
inhibitor) (IL-1RN) (ICIL-1RA); Interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain
(IL-2 receptor alpha subunit) (P55) (TAC antigen) (CD25 antigen);
Interleukin-2 receptor beta chain (IL-2 receptor) (P70-75) (High
affinity IL-2 receptor beta subunit) (CD122 antigen); Interleukin-3
receptor alpha chain (IL-3R-alpha) (CD123 antigen); Interleukin-4
receptor alpha chain (IL-4R-alpha) (CD124 antigen); Interleukin-5
receptor alpha chain (IL-5R-alpha) (CD125 antigen) Interleukin-6
receptor alpha chain (IL-6R-alpha) (IL-6R 1) (CD126 antigen);
Interleukin-6 receptor beta chain (IL-6R-beta) (Interleukin 6
signal transducer) (Membrane glycoprotein 130) (gp130) (Oncostatin
M receptor) (CDw130) (CD130 antigen); Interleukin-7 receptor alpha
chain (IL-7R-alpha) (CDw127) (CD127 antigen); High affinity
interleukin-8 receptor A (IL-8R A) (IL-8 receptor type 1) (CXCR-1)
(CDw128a); High affinity interleukin-8 receptor B (IL-8R B)
(CXCR-2) (GRO/MGSA receptor) (IL-8 receptor type 2) (CDw128b);
Interleukin-9 receptor (IL-9R); Interleukin-18 receptor 1 (IL1
receptor-related protein) (IL-1Rrp); Interleukin-1 receptor-like 1
precursor (ST2 protein); Interleukin-1 receptor-like 2 (IL-1 Rrp2)
(Interleukin-1 receptor related protein 2) (IL1R-rp2); Toll-like
receptor 1 (Toll/interleukin-1 receptor-like) (TIL); Toll-like
receptor 2 (Toll/interleukin 1 receptor-like protein 4); Toll-like
receptor 5 (Toll/interleukin-1 receptor-like protein 3); CX3C
chemokine receptor 1 (C--X3-C CKR-1) (CX3CR1) (Fractalkine
receptor) (GPR13) (V28) (Beta chemokine receptor-like 1)
(CMK-BRL-1) (CMKBLR1); C-X-C chemokine receptor type 3 (CXC-R3)
(CXCR-3) (CKR-L2) (CD183 antigen); C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4
(CXC-R4) (CXCR-4) (Stromal cell-derived factor 1 receptor) (SDF-1
receptor) (Fusin) (Leukocyte-derived seven transmembrane domain
receptor) (LESTR) (LCR1) (FB22) (NPYRL) (HM89) (CD184 antigen);
C-X-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CXC-R5) (CXCR-5) (Burkitt'S
lymphoma receptor 1) (Monocyte-derived receptor 15) (MDR15); C-X-C
chemokine receptor type 6 (CXC-R6) (CXCR-6) (G protein-coupled
receptor bonzo) (G protein-coupled receptor STRL33); Chemokine
binding protein 2 (Chemokine-binding protein D6) (C-C chemokine
receptor D6) (Chemokine receptor CCR-9) (CC-Chemokine receptor
CCR10); C-C chemokine receptor type 1 (C-C CKR-1) (CC-CKR-1)
(CCR-1) (CCR1) (Macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha receptor)
(MIP-1alpha-R) (RANTES-R) (HM145) (LD78 receptor); C-C chemokine
receptor type 2 (C-C CKR-2) (CC-CKR-2) (CCR-2) (CCR2) (Monocyte
chemoattractant protein 1 receptor) (MCP-1-R); C-C chemokine
receptor type 3 (C-C CKR-3) (CC-CKR-3) (CCR-3) (CCR3) (CKR3)
(Eosinophil eotaxin receptor); C-C chemokine receptor type 4 (C-C
CKR-4) (CC-CKR-4) (CCR-4) (CCR4) (K.sub.5-5); C-C chemokine
receptor type 5 (C-C CKR-5) (CC-CKR-5) (CCR-5) (CCR5) (HIV-1 fusion
coreceptor) (CHEMR13) (CD195 antigen); C-C chemokine receptor type
6 (C-C CKR-6) (CC-CKR-6) (CCR-6) (LARC receptor) (GPR-CY4) (GPRCY4)
(Chemokine receptor-like 3) (CKR-L3) (DRY6); C-C chemokine receptor
type 7 precursor (C-C CKR-7) (CC-CKR-7) (CCR-7) (MIP-3 beta
receptor) (EBV-induced G protein-coupled receptor 1) (EBI1) (BLR2);
C-C chemokine receptor type 8 (C-C CKR-8) (CC-CKR-8) (CCR-8)
(GPR-CY6) (GPRCY6) (Chemokine receptor-like 1) (CKR-L1) (TER1)
(CMKBRL2) (CC-chemokine receptor CHEMR1); C-C chemokine receptor
type 9 (C-C CKR-9) (CC-CKR-9) (CCR-9) (GPR-9-6); C-C chemokine
receptor type 10 (C-C CKR-10) (CC-CKR-10) (CCR-10) (G-protein
coupled receptor 2); C-C chemokine receptor type 11 (C-C CKR-11)
(CC-CKR-11) (CCR-11) (Chemokine receptor-like 1) (CCRL1) (CCX CKR);
Chemokine receptor-like 1 (G-protein coupled receptor DEZ) (G
protein-coupled receptor ChemR23), Chemokine receptor-like 2
(IL8-related receptor DRY12) (Flow-induced endothelial G
protein-coupled receptor) (FEG-1) (G protein-coupled receptor
GPR30) (GPCR-BR); Chemokine XC receptor 1 (XC chemokine receptor 1)
(Lymphotactin receptor) (G protein-coupled receptor 5). Use of
bsBAs to Bind Tumor-Associated Antigens
[0142] In a particularly important group of embodiments, the
targeting domain of the bsBAs bind to a tumor-associated antigen.
As the name implies, tumor-associated antigens (TAA) are typically
antigens that are expressed on cells of particular tumors, but that
are typically not expressed in normal cells. Often, TAA are
antigens that are normally expressed in cells only at particular
points in an organism's development (such as during fetal
development) and that are being inappropriately expressed in the
organism at the present point of development, or are antigens not
expressed in normal tissues or cells of an organ now expressing the
antigen. A number of TAA are known in the art, including MART-1,
carcinoembryonic antigen ("CEA"), gp100, MAGE-1, HER-2, and
Lewis.sup.Y antigens, and antigens identified in, e.g., U.S. Pat.
Nos. 5,922,566 and 6,020,478 and WO 2004/016643 A2.
[0143] Other tumor-associated antigens suitable for targeting with
the bsBA of the invention include:
[0144] hematopoietic differentiation antigens--glycoproteins
usually associated with cluster differentiation (CD) groupings,
such as CD5, CD19, CD20, CD22, CD33, CD45, CD52, and CD147;
[0145] cell surface differentiation antigens, including
glycoproteins, such as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA, Swiss-Prot ID
No. P06731), tumor associated glycoprotein (TAG-72, also identified
as CA72-4, see, e.g., Hombach et al., Gastroenterology.
113(4):1163-70 (1997)), polymorphic epithelial mucin (PEM),
epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Ep-CAM), MUC-1, A33, G250,
E-cadherin, prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA, Swiss-Prot ID
No. Q04609) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA), glycolipids, such
as gangliosides, e.g., GD2, GD3, GM2) and carbohydrates, such as
blood group-related antigens, including LE.sup.Y and LE.sup.b
(LE.sup.Y is "LewisY", also known as "CD174"; it is a difucosylated
tetrasaccharide found on the type 2 blood group oligosaccharides of
glycolipids and glycoproteins);
[0146] growth factor receptors, including epidermal growth factor
receptor (EGFR, ErbB1, Swiss-Prot ID P00533) and its mutant form
EGFRvIII, ErbB2 (HER-2/neu, Swiss-Prot ID No. PO.sub.4626), ErbB3
(HER-3, Swiss-Prot ID No. P21860) and IL-2 receptor.
[0147] angiogenesis and stromal antigens, including fibroblast
activation protein (FAP), vascular endothelial growth factor
receptor (VEGFR), tenascin and integrin; and,
[0148] the Frizzled receptor family (e.g. Fz-2)
[0149] In some embodiments, the targeting domain of the bsBA is
targeted to bind the TAA, while the effector domain binds to a
growth factor receptor.
[0150] In some preferred embodiments, the targeting domain is
targeted to a molecule selected from CEA (Swiss-Prot ID No.
P06731), ErbB2 (Swiss-Prot ID No. P04626), EGFR (Swiss-Prot ID No.
P00533), LewisY, MUC-1 (Swiss-Prot ID No. P15941), EpCAM (the
target of mAb 17-1A (edrecolomab, Panorex.RTM., Glaxo Wellcome
GmbH)), CA125 (Swiss-Prot ID No. Q96RK2), PSMA (Swiss-Prot ID No.
Q04609), TAG72, CD20 (Swiss-Prot ID No. P11836), CD19 (Swiss-Prot
ID No. P15391), CD22 (Swiss-Prot ID No. P20273), and CD36
(Swiss-Prot ID No. P16671). It should be noted that the CD antigens
in particular are frequently expressed on normal cells but are
overexpressed on or a marker for certain cancers.
[0151] In some preferred embodiments, the effector domain binds to
a molecule selected from ErbB3 (Swiss-Prot ID No. P21860), ErbB4
(Swiss-Prot ID No. Q15303), FGF recptors 1-4 (Swiss-Prot ID Nos.
P22455, P11362, P21802, P22607), HGF receptor (Swiss-Prot ID No.
P08581), IGF1-R (Swiss-Prot ID No. P08069), Insulin receptor
(Swiss-Prot ID No. PO.sub.6213), PDGF receptors alpha and beta
(Swiss-Prot ID Nos. P16234, P09619, respectively) and C-KIT
(Swiss-Prot ID No. P10721). In some particularly preferred
embodiments, the targeting domain binds to a molecule as described
in the preceding paragraph and the effector domain binds to a
molecule described in this paragraph.
Aptamers
[0152] BsBAs in which one or both of the binding molecules are
aptamers can be prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,756,291,
incorporated herein by reference. Aptamers are usually prepared by
the "SELEX" (short for "systematic evolution of ligands by
exponential enrichment") method. This is an iterative process used
to identify an aptamer to a chosen molecular target. To begin, a
large "library" of nucleic acid molecules is generated. In a
selection step the molecules with the greatest affinity for the
target of interest are isolated. The library of nucleotide
sequences is exposed to the cell surface protein and allowed to
incubate for a period of time. The molecules in the library with
weak or no affinity for the target are washed away and the
target-bound molecules, among which are the highest affinity
aptamers, are purified away from the target and used for the
subsequent steps in the SELEX process.
[0153] The captured, purified sequences are copied enzymatically,
or "amplified", to generate a new library of molecules that is
substantially enriched for those that can bind to the target. The
enriched library is used to initiate a new cycle of selection,
partitioning and amplification. After 5-15 cycles of the complete
process, the library of molecules is reduced from 10.sup.15 of
unique sequences to a small number that bind tightly to the cell
surface protein of interest. Individual molecules in the mixture
are then isolated, their nucleotide sequences are determined, and
their properties with respect to binding affinity is measured
essentially as for antibodies. Often the aptamers are further
refined to eliminate any nucleotides that do not contribute to
target binding or aptamer structure. Aptamers truncated to their
core binding domain typically range in length from 15 to 60
nucleotides. Two aptamers may be linked by a nucleotide linker or
chemically cross linked to form bi-specific aptamers or a single
aptamer may be similarly linked to an antibody or antibody fragment
to form a chimeric antibody-DNA molecule.
Creating Bi-Specific BAs by Chemical Cross Linking
[0154] The two binding molecules of bispecific blocking agents,
such as bispecific antibodies, can be joined using conventional
conjugation methods known to the skilled artisan, such as those
described in Hermanson, supra. In some embodiments, the two binding
molecules of the bsBA are joined using chemical linkages. One
example of a prior bispecific antibody prepared using a chemical
linkage is described by Brennan et al., (Science, 229: 81 (1985)),
and can also be used to prepare bsBAs of the present invention.
Intact antibodies are proteolytically cleaved to generate
F(ab').sub.2 fragments. These fragments are reduced in the presence
of the dithiol complexing agent sodium arsenite to stabilize
vicinal dithiols and prevent intermolecular disulfide formation.
The Fab' fragments generated are then converted to
thionitrobenzoate (TNB) derivatives. One of the Fab'-TNB
derivatives is then reconverted to the Fab'-thiol by reduction with
mercaptoethylamine and is mixed with an equimolar amount of the
other Fab'-TNB derivative to form the bispecific antibody. The
bispecific antibodies produced can be used as agents for the
selective immobilization of enzymes.
[0155] Another preferred chemical linkage employs
bis-maleimidohexane or bi-maleimidoethane for cross-linking
Antibody fragments containing --SH groups for cross-linking can
also be prepared recombinantly (e.g. Shalaby et al., J. Exp. Med.,
175: 217-225 (1992)) to avoid proteolytic cleavage of full length
antibodies.
Creating bsBAs by Recombinant or Synthetic Techniques
[0156] BsBAs can also be prepared by recombinant techniques.
Nucleic acid sequences encoding the bsBAs can be prepared by any
suitable method including, for example, cloning of appropriate
sequences or by direct chemical synthesis by methods such as the
phosphotriester method of Narang, et al., Meth. Enzymol. 68:90-99
(1979); the phosphodiester method of Brown, et al., Meth. Enzymol.
68:109-151 (1979); the diethylphosphoramidite method of Beaucage,
et al., Tetra. Lett. 22:1859-1862 (1981); the solid phase
phosphoramidite triester method described by Beaucage &
Caruthers, Tetra. Letts. 22(20):1859-1862 (1981), e.g., using an
automated synthesizer as described in, for example,
Needham-VanDevanter, et al. Nucl. Acids Res. 12:6159-6168 (1984);
and, the solid support method of U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,066. Chemical
synthesis produces a single stranded oligonucleotide. This may be
converted into double stranded DNA by hybridization with a
complementary sequence, or by polymerization with a DNA polymerase
using the single strand as a template. One of skill would recognize
that while chemical synthesis of DNA is limited to sequences of
about 100 bases, longer sequences may be obtained by the ligation
of shorter sequences.
[0157] In a preferred embodiment, nucleic acid sequences encoding
bsBAs are prepared by cloning techniques. Examples of appropriate
cloning and sequencing techniques, and instructions sufficient to
direct persons of skill through many cloning exercises are found in
Sambrook, et al., MOLECULAR CLONING: A LABORATORY MANUAL (2ND ED.),
Vols. 1-3, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (1989)), Berger and Kimmel
(eds.), GUIDE TO MOLECULAR CLONING TECHNIQUES, Academic Press,
Inc., San Diego Calif. (1987)), or Ausubel, et al. (eds.), CURRENT
PROTOCOLS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, Greene Publishing and John Wiley
& Sons, Inc., (1987, 1995 Supplement) (Ausubel)). Product
information from manufacturers of biological reagents and
experimental equipment also provide useful information. Such
manufacturers include the SIGMA chemical company (Saint Louis,
Mo.), R&D systems (Minneapolis, Minn.), Pharmacia Amersham
(Piscataway, N.J.), CLONTECH Laboratories, Inc. (Palo Alto,
Calif.), Chem Genes Corp., Aldrich Chemical Company (Milwaukee,
Wis.), Glen Research, Inc., GIBCO BRL Life Technologies, Inc.
(Gaithersburg, Md.), Fluka Chemica-Biochemika Analytika (Fluka
Chemie AG, Buchs, Switzerland), Invitrogen (San Diego, Calif.), and
Applied Biosystems (Foster City, Calif.), as well as many other
commercial sources known to one of skill.
[0158] Once nucleic acids encoding a bsBA are cloned, one may
express the desired protein in a recombinantly engineered cell such
as bacteria, plant, yeast, insect and mammalian cells. It is
expected that those of skill in the art are knowledgeable in the
numerous expression systems available for expression of proteins
including E. coli, other bacterial hosts, yeast, and various higher
eukaryotic cells such as the COS, CHO, HeLa and myeloma cell lines.
No attempt to describe in detail the various methods known for the
expression of proteins in prokaryotes or eukaryotes will be
made.
[0159] One of skill would recognize that modifications can be made
to a nucleic acid encoding a bsBA without diminishing its
biological activity. Some modifications may be made to facilitate
the cloning, expression, or incorporation of the targeting molecule
into a fusion protein. Such modifications are well known to those
of skill in the art and include, for example, termination codons, a
methionine added at the amino terminus to provide an initiation
site, and additional amino acids placed on either terminus to
create conveniently located restriction sites.
[0160] In addition to recombinant methods, the bsBAs can also be
constructed in whole or in part using standard peptide synthesis.
Solid phase synthesis of the polypeptides of the present invention
of less than about 50 amino acids in length may be accomplished by
attaching the C-terminal amino acid of the sequence to an insoluble
support followed by sequential addition of the remaining amino
acids in the sequence. Techniques for solid phase synthesis are
described by Barany & Merrifield, The Peptides: Analysis,
Synthesis, Biology. Vol. 2: Special Methods in Peptide Synthesis,
Part A. pp. 3-284; Merrifield, et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc.
85:2149-2156 (1963), and Stewart, et al., Solid Phase Peptide
Synthesis, 2nd ed., Pierce Chem. Co., Rockford, Ill. (1984).
Proteins of greater length may be synthesized by condensation of
the amino and carboxyl termini of shorter fragments. Methods of
forming peptide bonds by activation of a carboxyl terminal end
(e.g., by the use of the coupling reagent
N,N'-dicycylohexylcarbodiimide) are known to those of skill.
[0161] Once expressed, the recombinant bsBAs can be purified
according to standard procedures of the art, including ammonium
sulfate precipitation, affinity columns, column chromatography, and
the like (see, generally, R. Scopes, Protein Purification,
Springer-Verlag, N.Y. (1982)). Substantially pure compositions of
at least about 90 to 95% homogeneity are preferred, and 98 to 99%
or more homogeneity are most preferred for pharmaceutical uses.
Once purified, partially or to homogeneity as desired, if to be
used therapeutically, the polypeptides should be substantially free
of endotoxin.
[0162] Methods for expression of single chain antibodies and/or
refolding to an appropriate active form, including single chain
antibodies, from bacteria such as E. coli have been described and
are well-known and are applicable to the bsBAs of this invention,
particularly those which employ antibodies. See, Buchner, et al.,
Anal. Biochem. 205:263-270 (1992); Pluckthun, Biotechnology 9:545
(1991); Huse, et al., Science 246:1275 (1989) and Ward, et al.,
Nature 341:544 (1989), all incorporated by reference herein.
[0163] Often, functional heterologous proteins from E. coli or
other bacteria are isolated from inclusion bodies and require
solubilization using strong denaturants, and subsequent refolding.
During the solubilization step, as is well-known in the art, a
reducing agent must be present to separate disulfide bonds. An
exemplary buffer with a reducing agent is: 0.1 M Tris pH 8, 6 M
guanidine, 2 mM EDTA, 0.3 M DTE (dithioerythritol). Reoxidation of
the disulfide bonds can occur in the presence of low molecular
weight thiol reagents in reduced and oxidized form, as described in
Saxena, et al., Biochemistry 9: 5015-5021 (1970), incorporated by
reference herein, and especially as described by Buchner, et al.,
supra.
[0164] Renaturation is typically accomplished by dilution (e.g.,
100-fold) of the denatured and reduced protein into refolding
buffer. An exemplary buffer is 0.1 M Tris, pH 8.0, 0.5 M
1-arginine, 8 mM oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and 2 mM EDTA.
[0165] As a modification to the two chain antibody purification
protocol, the heavy and light chain regions are separately
solubilized and reduced and then combined in the refolding
solution. A preferred yield is obtained when these two proteins are
mixed in a molar ratio such that a 5 fold molar excess of one
protein over the other is not exceeded. It is desirable to add
excess oxidized glutathione or other oxidizing low molecular weight
compounds to the refolding solution after the redox-shuffling is
completed.
BsBA-Based Therapeutic Uses
[0166] The present invention is further directed to bsBA-based
therapies which involve administering bsBAs of the invention to an
animal, preferably a mammal, and most preferably a human patient,
for treating one or more of the described diseases or disorders.
Therapeutic compounds of the invention include, but are not limited
to, bsBAs of the invention. The bsBAs of the invention can be used
to treat, inhibit, or prevent the diseases and disorders disclosed
herein that are associated with aberrant expression and/or activity
of a cell surface receptor. The treatment and/or prevention of
diseases and disorders associated with aberrant expression and/or
activity of a cell surface receptor includes, but is not limited
to, alleviating symptoms associated with those diseases and
disorders. BsBAs of the invention may be provided in
pharmaceutically acceptable compositions as known in the art or as
described herein. Armed with the teachings provided herein, one of
ordinary skill in the art will know how to use the bsBAs of the
present invention for diagnostic, monitoring, or therapeutic
purposes without undue experimentation.
[0167] The bsBAs of the invention may be administered alone or in
combination with other types of treatments (e.g., radiation
therapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, immunotherapy and
anti-tumor agents).
BsBA-Based Therapeutic/Prophylactic Composition and Administration
Thereof
[0168] The invention provides methods of treatment, inhibition, and
prophylaxis by administration to a subject of an effective amount
of a bsBA of the invention, preferably a bispecific antibody of the
invention. In a preferred aspect, the bsBA is substantially
purified (e.g., substantially free from substances that limit its
effect or produce undesired side effects). The subject is
preferably an animal, including but not limited to animals such as
cows, pigs, horses, chickens, cats, and dogs, and is preferably a
mammal, and most preferably a human.
[0169] Various delivery systems are known and can be used to
administer a bsBA of the invention, e.g., encapsulation in
liposomes, microparticles, microcapsules, recombinant cells capable
of expressing the bsBA, receptor-mediated endocytosis (see, e.g.,
Wu and Wu, J. Biol. Chem. 262:4429-4432, 1987), construction of a
nucleic acid as part of a retroviral or other vector, etc. Methods
of introduction include but are not limited to intradermal,
intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intravenous, subcutaneous,
intranasal, epidural, and oral routes. The bsBAs may be
administered by any convenient route, for example by infusion or
bolus injection, by absorption through epithelial or mucocutaneous
linings (e.g., oral mucosa, rectal and intestinal mucosa, etc.),
and may be administered together with other biologically active
agents. Administration can be systemic or local. In addition, it
may be desirable to introduce the bsBA of the invention into the
central nervous system by any suitable route, including
intraventricular and intrathecal injection; intraventricular
injection may be facilitated by an intraventricular catheter, for
example, attached to a reservoir, such as an Ommaya reservoir.
Pulmonary administration can also be employed, e.g., by use of an
inhaler or nebulizer, and formulation with an aerosolizing
agent.
[0170] In a specific embodiment, it may be desirable to administer
the bsBAs of the invention locally to the area in need of
treatment; this may be achieved by, for example, and not by way of
limitation, local infusion during surgery, topical application,
e.g., in conjunction with a wound dressing after surgery, by
injection, by means of a catheter, by means of a suppository, or by
means of an implant, said implant being of a porous, non-porous, or
gelatinous material, including membranes, such as sialastic
membranes, or fibers. Preferably, when administering a bsBA of the
invention, e.g., an antibody, care must be taken to use materials
to which the bsBA does not absorb.
[0171] In another embodiment, the bsBA can be delivered in a
vesicle, in particular a liposome (see Langer, Science
249:1527-1533, 1990; and Treat et al., in Liposomes in the Therapy
of Infectious Disease and Cancer, Lopez-Berestein and Fidler
(eds.), Liss, New York, pp. 353-365, 1989).
[0172] In yet another embodiment, the bsBA can be delivered in a
controlled release system. In one embodiment, a pump may be used
(see Langer, supra; Sefton, CRC Crit. Ref. Biomed. Eng. 14:201,
1987; Buchwald et al., Surgery 88:507, 1980; Saudek et al., N.
Engl. J. Med. 321:574, 1989). In another embodiment, polymeric
materials can be used (see Medical Applications of Controlled
Release, Langer and Wise (eds.), CRC Pres., Boca Raton, Fla.
(1974); Controlled Drug Bioavailability, Drug Product Design and
Performance, Smolen and Ball (eds.), Wiley, N.Y. (1984); Ranger and
Peppas, J., 1983, Macromol. Sci. Rev. Macromol. Chem. 23:61; see
also Levy et al., 1985, Science 228:190; During et al., 1989, Ann.
Neurol. 25:351; Howard et al., 1989, J. Neurosurg. 71:105). In yet
another embodiment, a controlled release system can be placed in
proximity of the therapeutic target, e.g., an affected organ of the
body, such as the brain, lungs, kidney, liver, ovary, testes,
colon, pancreas, breast, and skin, thus requiring only a fraction
of the systemic dose (see, e.g., Goodson, in Medical Applications
of Controlled Release, supra, vol. 2, pp. 115-138 (1984)). Other
controlled release systems are discussed in the review by Langer
(1990, Science 249:1527-1533).
[0173] The present invention also provides bsBAs provided in a
pharmaceutical composition. Such compositions comprise a
therapeutically effective amount of a bsBA and a pharmaceutically
acceptable carrier. In a specific embodiment, the term
"pharmaceutically acceptable" means approved by a regulatory agency
of the Federal or a state government or listed in the U.S.
Pharmacopeia or other generally recognized pharmacopeia for use in
animals, and more particularly in humans. The term "carrier" refers
to a diluent, adjuvant, excipient, or vehicle with which the
therapeutic is administered. Such pharmaceutical carriers can be
sterile liquids, such as water and oils, including those of
petroleum, animal, vegetable or synthetic origin, such as peanut
oil, soybean oil, mineral oil, sesame oil and the like. Water is a
preferred carrier when the pharmaceutical composition is
administered intravenously. Saline solutions and aqueous dextrose
and glycerol solutions can also be employed as liquid carriers,
particularly for injectable solutions. Suitable pharmaceutical
excipients include starch, glucose, lactose, sucrose, gelatin,
malt, rice, flour, chalk, silica gel, sodium stearate, glycerol
monostearate, talc, sodium chloride, dried skim milk, glycerol,
propylene, glycol, water, ethanol and the like. The composition, if
desired, can also contain minor amounts of wetting or emulsifying
agents, or pH buffering agents. These compositions can take the
form of solutions, suspensions, emulsion, tablets, pills, capsules,
powders, sustained-release formulations and the like. The
composition can be formulated as a suppository, with traditional
binders and carriers such as triglycerides. Oral formulation can
include standard carriers such as pharmaceutical grades of
mannitol, lactose, starch, magnesium stearate, sodium saccharine,
cellulose, magnesium carbonate, etc. Examples of suitable
pharmaceutical carriers are described in "Remington: The Science
and Practice of Pharmacy," A. R. Gennaro, ed. Lippincott Williams
& Wilkins, Philadelphia, Pa. (20th Ed., 2003). Such
compositions will contain a therapeutically effective amount of the
compound, preferably in purified form, together with a suitable
amount of carrier so as to provide the form for proper
administration to the patient. The formulation should suit the mode
of administration.
[0174] In a preferred embodiment, the composition is formulated in
accordance with routine procedures as a pharmaceutical composition
adapted for intravenous administration to human beings. Typically,
compositions for intravenous administration are solutions in
sterile isotonic aqueous buffer. Where necessary, the composition
may also include a solubilizing agent and a local anesthetic such
as lignocaine to ease pain at the site of the injection. Generally,
the ingredients are supplied either separately or mixed together in
unit dosage form, for example, as a dry lyophilized powder or water
free concentrate in a hermetically sealed container such as an
ampoule or sachette indicating the quantity of active agent. Where
the composition is to be administered by infusion, it can be
dispensed with an infusion bottle containing sterile pharmaceutical
grade water or saline. Where the composition is administered by
injection, an ampoule of sterile water for injection or saline can
be provided so that the ingredients may be mixed prior to
administration.
[0175] The bsBAs, when formulated in pharmaceutical compositions,
can be formulated as neutral or salt forms. Pharmaceutically
acceptable salts include those formed with anions such as those
derived from hydrochloric, phosphoric, acetic, oxalic, tartaric
acids, etc., and those formed with cations such as those derived
from sodium, potassium, ammonium, calcium, ferric hydroxides,
isopropylamine, triethylamine, 2-ethylamino ethanol, histidine, or
procaine.
[0176] The amount of the bsBA of the invention that will be
effective in the treatment, inhibition and prevention of a disease
or disorder associated with aberrant expression and/or activity of
a cell surface receptor can be determined by standard clinical
techniques. In addition, in vitro assays may optionally be employed
to help identify optimal dosage ranges. The precise dose to be
employed in the formulation will also depend on the route of
administration, and the seriousness of the disease or disorder, and
should be decided according to the judgment of the practitioner and
each patient's circumstances. Effective doses may be extrapolated
from dose-response curves derived from in vitro or animal model
test systems.
[0177] For bsBAs, the dosage administered to a patient is typically
0.1 mg/kg to 100 mg/kg of the patient's body weight. Preferably,
the dosage administered to a patient is between 0.1 mg/kg and 20
mg/kg of the patient's body weight, more preferably 1 mg/kg to 10
mg/kg of the patient's body weight. Generally, human antibodies
have a longer half-life within the human body than antibodies from
other species due to the immune response to the foreign
polypeptides. Thus, bsBAs derived from human antibodies can be
administered in smaller dosages and with less frequent
administration. Further, the dosage and frequency of administration
of bsBAs of the invention may be reduced by enhancing uptake and
tissue penetration of the antibodies by modifications such as, for
example, lipidation.
Kits
[0178] The present invention further encompasses kits for use in
detecting cells expressing or overexpressing target molecules in
vivo, or in biological samples. In some preferred embodiments, the
kits contain bsBAs targeted by bispecific scFv antibodies.
Depending on use, the antibodies can be functionalized with linkers
or chelators, or both, for coupling to an effector (e.g. a
radioactive moiety, a liposome, a cytotoxin, another antibody,
etc.) as described herein. The kits optionally further comprise
buffers and compositions to be used for detection of the bsBAs.
[0179] The kits can also include instructional materials teaching
the use of the antibodies for detecting, e.g. cancer cells, and/or
teaching the combination of the antibodies with functionalizing
reagents or teaching the use of functionalized antibodies for
imaging and/or therapeutic applications. In certain embodiments,
the bsBA is provided functionalized with a linker and/or a chelator
(in one container) along with one or more effectors, e.g.
cytotoxins, radioactive labels (in a second container) such that
the two components can be separately administered (e.g. in
pre-targeting approaches) or such that the two components can be
administered shortly before use.
[0180] Certain instructional materials will provide recommended
dosage regimen, counter indications, and the like. While the
instructional materials typically comprise written or printed
materials, any medium capable of storing such instructions and
communicating them to an end user is contemplated by this
invention. Such media include, but are not limited to electronic
storage media (e.g., magnetic discs, tapes, cartridges, chips),
optical media (e.g., CD ROM), and the like, or internet locations
that provide the instructions. The invention also provides a
pharmaceutical pack or kit comprising one or more containers filled
with one or more of the ingredients of the pharmaceutical
compositions of the invention. Optionally associated with such
container(s) can be a notice in the form prescribed by a
governmental agency regulating the manufacture, use or sale of
pharmaceuticals or biological products, which notice reflects
approval by the agency of manufacture, use or sale for human
administration.
EXAMPLES
Example 1
Diabodies and (scFv).sub.2
[0181] The production of diabodies is disclosed, for example, in EP
404,097; WO 93/11161; and Hollinger et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.
USA, 90:6444-6448 (1993)). Diabodies are constructed from antibody
fragments, usually from two scFvs, by using a linker that is too
short to allow pairing between the two domains on the same chain;
the domains are forced to pair with the complementary domains of
another chain and create two antigen-binding sites. Alternatively,
two scFv's may be linked by a genetically encoded linker that
covalently links the two molecules thereby forming a (scFv).sub.2
that is a bivalent antibody.
Example 2
[0182] Different types of "dimerization domains" may be used to
heterodimerize two antibody fragments. For instance, by genetically
fusing a bispecific/divalent diabody to, via the hinge region, the
N-terminus of the CH(3) domain of an IgG (Lu et al. J Immunol
Methods. 279(1-2):219-32 (2003)), creating a construct termed a
"di-diabody". The result is a tetravalent diabody dimer resulting
from dimerization between the hinge region and the CH(3)
domains.
[0183] The natural CH1 domain of an antibody may also be used to
heterodimerize two antibody fragments by genetically fusing a
single-chain Fv (scFv) to the C-terminus of either the light chain
or the heavy chain of a Fab fragment of different antigen-binding
specificity (Lu et al. Immunol Methods. 267(2):213-26 (2002)). The
natural dimerization mechanism between IgG heavy and light chains
may also be used. Two single-chain Fv (scFv) of different
specificity can be fused to the constant domain of human kappa
chain (C(L)) and the first constant domain of human heavy chain
(C(H1)), to form two polypeptides, (scFv)(1)-C(L) and
(scFv)(2)-C(H1)-C(H2)-C(H3), respectively. Co-expression of the two
polypeptides in mammalian cells results in the formation of a
covalently linked IgG-like hetero-tetramer, Bs(scFv)(4)-IgG, with
dual specificity (Zuo et al. Protein Eng. 13(5):361-7 (2000), Lu et
al. J. Biol. Chem. 23; 279(4):2856-65 (2004)).
[0184] Heterodimer formation of two antibody fragments may also be
forced through non-covalent interaction in a dimerization domain,
e.g. with heterodimer-forming leucine zippers Fos and Jun that can
mediate the formation of bispecific F(ab').sub.2 when they are
fused separately to two different Fab' fragments (Tso et al J.
Hematother. 4(5):389-94 (1995)).
Example 3
Determining Suitable Target and Effector Markers
[0185] Suitable target markers may be determined in a number of
ways such as by mRNA profiling of target and non-target tissue to
identify target molecules that are over-expressed in target tissue,
or by proteomic methods such as 2D electrophoresis of target and
non-target cells for comparison of protein expression levels and
subsequent identification by mass spectroscopy. For example, mRNA
profiling typically employs Affymetrix microarrays and is performed
as described in Cao et al (BMC Genomics. 27; 5(1):26 (2004)) by
comparing cRNA prepared from target and non-target tissue (e.g.
tumor and adjacent normal tissue).
[0186] In proteomic methods, target and non-target cells are
typically lysed or homogenized and then subjected to
electrophoresis in two dimensions. The proteins are then fixed in
the gel and stained for visualization. Image analysis of the gels
from the target and non-target cells can reveal proteins spots than
are differentially expressed. These spots can then be identified by
excision of the protein spot, in-gel trypsin digestion, and
analysis by mass spectrophotometer. The process is described in,
for example, Van Greevenbroek et al. 45, 1148-1154 (2004).
[0187] Suitable effector markers can be identified in a number of
ways, such as by identifying receptors with putative
phosphorylation sites. Protein or DNA sequences can be obtained
from GenBank or other public databases and potential
phosphorylation sites can be predicted by publicly available search
engines, such as ScanSite (found on-line by entering "http://",
followed by "scansite.mit.edu/") or NetPhos (found on the web by
entering "www." followed by "cbs.dtu.dk/services/NetPhos/").
Receptors with phosphorylation sites are more likely to be good
effector markers since these are often involved in signaling.
Alternatively, suitable effector markers may be identified by
contacting target cells with antibodies to markers on the cell and
then assaying for the desired biological activity as described
above.
Example 4
Testing Univalent and Bivalent Binding Domains
[0188] To test the univalent affinity of the binding domains or of
the bispecific binding molecule, bsBAs are produced as described
above. To measure the binding kinetics by surface plasmon
resonance, a biosensor chip can activated for covalent coupling of
the receptor using N-ethyl-N'-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide
hydrochloride (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) according to the
manufacturer's (BIAcore) instructions. The marker is then coupled
e.g. by injection in 10 mM sodium acetate buffer (pH 4.5) to obtain
a signal of ideally less than 400 response units (RU) of
immobilized material. For kinetics measurements, two-fold serial
dilutions of the univalent or bispecific binding domain is injected
over the antigen chip in PBS/Tween buffer (0.05% Tween-20 in
phosphate buffered saline) at 25.degree. C. using a flow rate of 20
.mu.l/min. Dissociation data is then fit to a one-site model to
obtain k.sub.off and the pseudo-first order rate constant (ks) can
be calculated for each association curve, and plotted as a function
of protein concentration to obtain k.sub.on+/-s.e. Equilibrium
dissociation constant, K.sub.d can then be calculated from SPR
measurements as k.sub.off/k.sub.on. The absence of experimental
artifacts, such as rebinding of dissociated bsBA, must be
determined by performing above measurements on several surfaces of
different densities, e.g., 100, 200, and 400 RU.
[0189] Alternatively, their affinities may also be determined by
flow cytometry as described in, for example, Nielsen et al. (Cancer
Res. 60(22):6434-40 (2000)).
Example 5
Measuring Effector Function in Cells
[0190] Effector function of a binding domain can be determined by
contacting target cells grown in culture with the effector binding
domain at different concentrations for e.g. 30 minutes. At this
point the cells are in some cases stimulated with exogenous growth
factor to promote the biological effect that the molecule seeks to
alter. Extracts of the treated cells, grown in 6- or 12-well tissue
culture plates, are prepared by passing cells 5 times through a 27G
needle in lysis buffer (20 mM Tris (pH 7.5), 150 mM NaCl, 1 mM
EDTA, 1 mM EGTA, 1% Triton X-100, 0.5% NP40, 10 mM
.beta.-glycerolphosphate, 10 mM NaF, 1 mM Na.sub.3VO.sub.4
containing protease inhibitors (1 mM PMSF, 1 .mu.g/mL Leupeptin, 1
.mu.g/mL Pepstatin) on ice. Before lysis, cells are washed twice in
cold PBS. The lysates are then analyzed e.g. by immunoblotting with
phospho-specific antibodies: Total cell protein extracts (50 .mu.g
of total proteins/lane) is resolved by electrophoresis using 7.5%
SDS-PAGE precast gels (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.), transferred
to nitrocellulose filters, and incubated with antibodies that
detect activation of the marker or downstream associated proteins.
Alternatively, the lysates may be analyzed by antibody microarrays
as described in Nielsen et al. (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA.
100(16):9330-5 (2003)).
[0191] Effector function of a binding domain may also be determined
by other readouts of the desired biological function e.g. cell
proliferation assays. Target cells can be seeded at
5.times.10.sup.3 per well in a 96-well dish containing DMEM and 5%
FCS and varying concentrations of binding domain. After 72 h, the
cells are lysed and the amount of ATP can be determined by
CellTiter-Glo Luminescent Cell Viability Assay (Promega, Madison,
Wis.) according to the manufacturer's protocol.
[0192] The results of the phosphorylation and proliferation assays
can be plotted with degree of inhibition as a function of the log
of the concentration and the IC.sub.50 determined for the effector
and targeting domains by fitting to the equation:
Y = Bottom + ( Top - Bottom ) 1 + 10 Lo gEC 50 - X ##EQU00001##
Example 6
Testing of BsBAs
[0193] To test the effect of a bsBA for its ability to prevent,
reduce, or inhibit cell signaling mediated by ErbB receptors,
cancer cells such as A431 (an estrogen dependent breast cancer cell
line, National Center for Biotechnology Information Accession
GDS121) are incubated with bsBAs at various concentrations for 30
minutes before challenging the cells with growth factors (e.g.,
heregulin or EGF) for up to two hours. Cells are then lysed in
Triton buffer followed by sonication. The lysates are then analyzed
for changes in phosphorylation either by immunoblotting or using
antibody microarrays that are sensitive to phosphorylation of
proteins (see, e.g., Nielsen et al., 2003, PNAS 100:9330).
[0194] For instance, our computational modeling predicts that a
bsBA with a targeting domain that binds to a cell surface antigen
expressed at 1 million copies per cell with an affinity of 1 nM and
an effector domain that binds to ErbB3 (and therefore competes for
heregulin binding) with 1 .mu.M affinity, will be as effective (as
measured by IC.sub.50) as a bsBA with a targeting domain and an
effector domain that both bind with 1 nM affinity.
[0195] BsBAs can be used for inhibition of the growth of cancers
that express appropriate antigens. The effect of the bsBAs can be
augmented by conjugating small molecule drugs to the bsBA. The
drugs can be, for example, standard cytotoxic agents, such as a
chemotherapeutic, or tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as
Gleevec.RTM. (imatinib mesylate).
Example 7
ErbB BsBAs
[0196] Computer simulation of the heregulin (HRG)-induced ERK and
AKT activation in A431 cells showed that ErbB bsBAs are most
efficient if one of the ErbB receptor binding molecules of the bsBA
has a lower affinity for its receptor than the other ErbB binding
molecule has for its receptor.
[0197] If the low affinity binding molecule of the bsBA of the
invention is directed to either ErbB3 or ErbB4 and the high
affinity binding molecule of the bsBA is directed to another ErbB
receptor (e.g., ErbB1 or ErbB2), the bsBA reduces, prevents, or
inhibits cell signaling mediated by the ErbB receptors by, it is
believed, sequestering ErbB3 or ErbB4 into a trimeric complex
consisting of the ErbB3 or ErbB4 receptor, the bsBA, and an ErbB1
or ErbB2 receptor (i.e., ErbB3/4:bsBA:ErbB1/2).
[0198] The binding molecules of the bsBA can also be directed to
ErbB3 and ErbB4. Such a bsBA is believed to inhibit the
dimerization of these ErbB receptors with ErbB1 or ErbB2. Because
the dimerization of ErbB3 or ErbB4 with ErbB1 or ErbB2 is necessary
for signal transduction, the bsBA effectively prevents, reduces, or
inhibits cell signaling by blocking formation of the dimer.
Preferably, the low affinity binding molecule of this bsBA binds to
ErbB3.
[0199] The binding molecules of the bsBA can be prepared so that
they bind to ErbB1 and ErbB2, thereby crosslinking these two
receptors. This bsBA functions by reducing, preventing, or
inhibiting dimerization of ErbB 1 and ErbB2 with ErbB3 or ErbB4,
which, as is discussed above, is necessary for signal transduction.
Preferably, the low affinity binding molecule of this bsBA binds to
ErbB1.
[0200] Exemplar bsBAs include a low affinity binding molecule that
binds to ErbB3 with a high binding molecule for EGFR or ErbB4.
BsBAs can also be used to localize cytotoxic or chemotherapeutic
agents to cells which express an ErbB receptor. These agents
possess two binding molecules, each of which is specific for a
different ErbB receptor, and a cytotoxic or chemotherapeutic agent
(e.g. saporin, anti-interferon-.alpha., vinca alkaloid, ricin A
chain, methotrexate or radioactive isotope hapten) conjugated to
the bsBA. BsBAs can be prepared as full length antibodies or
antibody fragments (e.g. F(ab').sub.2 or (Fv).sub.2 bispecific
antibodies), diabodies, or as an aptamer with two different binding
molecules.
[0201] The model has been tested using the ErbB family of
receptors. Stimulation of the ErbB receptors with EGF or HRG leads
to the simultaneous activation of the pathways leading to
phosphorylation of ERK and AKT, which crosstalk on various levels
within the signal cascade. The sensitivity of analysis enables us
to apportion the uncertainty of the model output to different
sources of uncertainty in the model input. As tumor cells are
characterized by distinct receptor expression levels, we identified
ErbB3 and ErbB4 as very sensitive targets when HRG was the
ligand.
[0202] In general, when the binding molecules of the bsBA are
antibodies, or fragments thereof, these binding molecules can be
well characterized biochemically because their dissociation
constants or even the association and dissociation rates can be
easily determined. Likewise, the mechanism of action of antibodies
can be easily described using a mathematical model and the effect
of using a known antibody as an inhibitor can be tested in silico.
Using our computational model, we tested the idea of using
bispecific antibodies (i.e., an antibody that has two distinct
binding molecules, in which each binding region binds a different
ErbB receptor) to block the ErbB cell signaling pathway. The in
silico results confirm that an antibody having binding specificity
for two different ErbB receptors, in which the binding affinity for
one ErbB receptor is greater than the binding affinity for the
other ErbB receptor, is ideal for blocking or preventing cell
signaling through the ErbB pathway.
[0203] Using an in silico approach, we compared the ability of
bispecific antibodies that target two different ErbB receptors to
block or prevent activation of the ErbB signaling pathway in three
different cell lines that exhibit differential expression of ErbB
receptors (Table 1) versus the ability of conventional inhibitors
that target only one ErbB receptor. Signal inhibition in each cell
line was modeled in silico for bispecific antibodies, as well as
for current therapeutic monospecific antibodies. Our model
predicted that inhibition of cellular signaling by bispecific
antibodies that have a differential affinity for two different ErbB
receptor would be much higher than the inhibition of cellular
signaling mediated by traditional single receptor inhibitors. The
data generated by our computer modeling is shown in Table 2.
Depending on the receptor ratios present in tumors, distinct bsAbs,
having a high affinity binding molecule and a low affinity binding
molecule, are predicted to be substantially more potent inhibitors
than monospecific antibodies or bispecific antibodies in which both
binding molecules bind to their respective antigens with the same
binding affinity.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 1 Receptor expression profiles of ErbB
receptors on different cell lines Cell Type A Cell Type B Cell Type
C ErbB1 xxx xx x ErbB2 xx xxx xx ErbB3 x xx x ErbB4 -- xx x
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 2 Inhibition by BsBA compared to traditional
monospecific receptor inhibitors BsAb(1-2) BsAb(1-3/4) BsAb(2-3/4)
BsAb(3-4) ErbB1-Inh ErbB2-Inh ErbB3/4-Inh ERK | ERK | ERK | ERK |
ERK | ERK | ERK | AKT AKT AKT AKT AKT AKT AKT Cell Type EGF +|+
++|++ --|+ --|+ +|+ --|-- --|+ A HRG +|+ ++|++ ++|++ --|-- --|--
+|+ +|+ Cell Type EGF +|+ ++|++ --|+ --|+ +|+ -|- --|+ B HRG +|+
+|+ ++|++ +|+ -|- +|+ +|+ Cell Type EGF +|+ ++|++ --|++ --|+ +|+
+|+ --|+ C HRG +|+ ++|++ ++|++ +|+ -|- +|+ +|+
[0204] We identified a bispecific antibody against ErbB1 (high
affinity) and ErbB3 or ErbB4 (low affinity) as the most effective
blocking agent for preventing cell signaling due to activation of
the ErbB pathway under all stimulation conditions. An ErbB1-ErbB2
bsAb was also quite effective as a ErbB cell signaling blocking
agent under all stimulation conditions. When HRG was used as the
activating agent, an ErbB3-ErbB4 bsAb is a very effective blocking
agent of the ErbB pathway. Therefore, a preferred bsBA is one in
which at least one feature of the blocking agent is the ability to
target an ErbB3 or ErbB4 receptor (using a low affinity binding
molecule). In fact, with the help of the computational model, we
have identified the strong signaling properties of ErbB3/4.
Cross-linking ErbB3/4 to themselves, or to a more typical cancer
antigen such as ErbB1 or ErbB2, serves as mechanism to inhibit
ErbB3/4 signaling by either the simultaneous inhibition of two
receptors or the sequestration of the receptors.
[0205] One of the benefits associated with using a bsBA, rather
than a traditional monospecific blocking agent, such as an
monospecific antibody, is that the bispecific blocking agent forms
stable trimers (i.e., ErbB receptor-bispecific blocking agent-ErbB
receptor). Therefore, the efficiency of the bsBA is much higher
than that of a traditional single receptor inhibitor, as shown in
Table 2.
[0206] By binding to two different ErbB receptors, the bsBA of the
invention sequesters the ErbB receptor from interacting with the
same or a different ErbB receptor. The bsBAs form a very stable
(irreversible) trimer complex that prevents, reduces, or inhibits
the cell signaling activities of the bound ErbB receptors. The
initial binding step of the bsBA to either ErbB1, ErbB2, ErbB3, or
ErbB4 can be a reversible step and the second binding step to the
remaining ErbB receptor leads to the formation of a very stable
trimer. Alternatively, the first binding step of the bsBA to either
ErbB1, ErbB2, ErbB3, or ErbB4 may be irreversible and the second
binding step is reversible, thereby allowing the bsBA to form
multiple different trimer complexes. The formation of an ErbB
receptor:bsBA: ErbB receptor trimer results in a complex that
cannot induce cell signaling. Furthermore, by sequestering ErbB1,
ErbB2, ErbB3, and ErbB4, the bsBA prevents, reduces, or inhibits
dimerization of these ErbB receptors with the same or a different
ErbB receptor. Preferably, the bsBA has a higher affinity for ErbB1
or ErbB2 and a lower affinity for ErbB3 or ErbB4, provided that
when one binding domain of the bsBA has a high affinity for ErbB2,
the second binding domain does not bind to ErbB3.
[0207] The formation of an incomplete bsBA-ErbB receptor dimer, in
which only one of the two binding molecules of the bsBA is engaged,
does not result in a complex that impairs cell signaling; only the
formation of the trimeric complex (i.e., ErbB receptor:bsBA: ErbB
receptor) prevents cell signaling. Furthermore, trimer formation is
not possible between two ErbB receptors that are bound by a
bsBA.
[0208] Other characteristics of a bsBA include the ability of one
binding domain to reduce, prevent, or inhibit cell signaling by
competing with the natural ligand for the ErbB receptor, such as
HRG.
[0209] Our in silico data demonstrate that an ErbB3-ErbB4 bsBA is
more efficient at blocking cell signaling than a monospecific ErbB3
or ErbB4 inhibitor. A monospecific inhibitor directed solely to
ErbB3 or ErbB4 does not inhibit AKT phosphorylation as effectively
as the ErbB3-ErbB4 bsBA, primarily due to the high cell surface
expression level of ErbB3 and ErbB4. AKT phosphorylation is only
prevented when both an ErbB3 and an ErbB4 monospecific inhibitor
are used.
[0210] Because the bsBA does not have any inhibitory effect in an
unbound state or as dimeric complex with only one ErbB receptor, an
increase in the inhibitor concentration, such that the ErbB
receptors become saturated with bsBA, results in a decrease in the
inhibitory effect of the bsBA. This effect can be reversed by
providing a bsBA that has an increased affinity of for ErbB2, such
that the binding affinity of the bsBA is greater for ErbB3 than for
ErbB4 (i.e., KdErbB3>ErbB4).
[0211] The bsBAs discussed above are particularly efficient in a
HRG dominated regime. In general the bsBAs are efficient at much
lower doses compared to ErbB receptor inhibitors that target only
one receptor.
[0212] Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is a
bsBA in which one binding molecule of the bsBA has binding
specificity for ErbB 1 (high affinity binding) and the other
binding molecule has binding specificity for ErbB3 or ErbB4 (low
affinity binding). In general, tumor cells express high amounts of
ErbB1 (i.e., often greater than 100,000 receptors/cell), whereas
the receptor expression for ErbB3 and ErbB4 ranges from between
5,000 to 20,000 receptors/cell. A bsBA that antagonizes ligand
binding will successfully inhibit receptor signaling even though
the receptor expression levels differ more than 10 fold.
[0213] Our in silico analysis confirms the effectiveness of a
bispecific ErbB1/ErbB3 and ErbB1/ErbB4 bsBA. The inhibition of the
ErbB3 receptor inhibits signaling in a HRG dominated regime.
[0214] Based on our in silico analysis of the ErbB cell signaling
pathway, we identified the ErbB 1 binding molecule as the high
affinity binding site with a low dissociation constant KD<1 nM,
but which is not irreversible. ErbB3 and ErbB4 receptors are
expressed at much lower levels than ErbB1 receptors. Because the
bsBA binds to both ErB1 and ErbB3/ErbB4 receptors, and because the
bsBA has a higher affinity for the more abundant ErbB1 receptor,
the bsBA can effectively block cell signaling mediated by
dimerization of ErbB1 with either ErbB3 or ErbB4 at a much lower
concentration than conventional monospecific ErbB inhibitors. The
high affinity of the bsBA for ErbB1 leads to a high efficiency at
low bsBA concentrations.
[0215] Our approach takes advantage of computational modeling to
identify the optimal receptors for cross linking as well as the
desired affinities of the two binding molecules. The differential
affinity of the two binding molecules of the bsBA effectively
target the bsBA to receptors, such as ErbB3, that are not thought
to be specific to cancer cells. Cross-linking ErbB3 to a more
typical cancer antigen such as ErbB1 provides a means to
specifically target cancer cells and to modulate ErbB3 receptor
activity in these cells.
[0216] Using our computational model, we identified the necessity
for the differential affinity of the two binding molecules of the
bsBA. The differential affinity promotes stabilization of the bsBA
trimer complex. Generally speaking, the active binding molecule of
the bsBA should have the lower affinity compared to the inactive or
less active binding molecule. If both binding molecules of the bsBA
are inactive or less active, the binding molecule targeting the
higher expressed or stronger signaling receptor should have the
higher affinity. Having a differential affinity for one of the
receptors targeted results in the following: if the bsBA is
administered at a concentration above the Kd of higher affinity
interaction (e.g. ErbB1), but below the Kd of lower affinity
interaction (e.g. ErbB3) the bsBA should only accumulate onto cells
expressing the antigen for the higher affinity interaction. The
other end of the bsBA is available to interact with the low
affinity antigen on these cells to interfere with its biological
function (e.g. ErbB3; to prevent downstream signaling). Which
receptor will be the low or high affinity interaction depends on
the receptor's specific signaling strength (importance as a target)
and the mode of action of the bsBA.
[0217] It is understood that the examples and embodiments described
herein are for illustrative purposes only and that various
modifications or changes in light thereof will be suggested to
persons skilled in the art and are to be included within the spirit
and purview of this application and scope of the appended claims.
All publications, patents, and patent applications cited herein are
hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all
purposes.
* * * * *