An anti-EGFR × cotinine bispecific antibody complexed with cotinine-conjugated duocarmycin inhibits growth of EGFR-positive cancer cells with KRAS mutations

Exp Mol Med. 2018 May 24;50(5):1-14. doi: 10.1038/s12276-018-0096-z.

Abstract

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) can selectively deliver cytotoxic agents to tumor cells and are frequently more potent than naked antibodies. However, optimization of the conjugation process between antibodies and cytotoxic agents and characterization of ADCs are laborious and time-consuming processes. Here, we describe a novel ADC platform using a tetravalent bispecific antibody that simultaneously binds to the tumor-associated antigen and a hapten conjugated to a cytotoxic agent. We selected cotinine as the hapten because it is not present in biological systems and is inert and nontoxic. We prepared an anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) × cotinine bispecific antibody and mixed it with an equimolar amount of cotinine-conjugated duocarmycin to form the ADC. This ADC showed significant in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity against EGFR-positive, cetuximab-refractory lung adenocarcinoma cells with KRAS mutations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bispecific / chemistry
  • Antibodies, Bispecific / pharmacokinetics
  • Antibodies, Bispecific / pharmacology*
  • Cell Death / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cetuximab / pharmacology
  • Cotinine / chemistry
  • Cotinine / pharmacokinetics
  • Cotinine / pharmacology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Indoles / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mutation / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / genetics*
  • Single-Chain Antibodies / metabolism
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bispecific
  • Indoles
  • KRAS protein, human
  • Single-Chain Antibodies
  • EGFR protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
  • Cotinine
  • Cetuximab