Human derived dimerization tag enhances tumor killing potency of a T-cell engaging bispecific antibody

M Ahmed, M Cheng, IY Cheung, NKV Cheung - Oncoimmunology, 2015 - Taylor & Francis
M Ahmed, M Cheng, IY Cheung, NKV Cheung
Oncoimmunology, 2015Taylor & Francis
Bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) have proven highly efficient T cell recruiters for cancer
immunotherapy by virtue of one tumor antigen-reactive single chain variable fragment (scFv)
and another that binds CD3. In order to enhance the antitumor potency of these tandem scFv
BsAbs (tsc-BsAbs), we exploited the dimerization domain of the human transcription factor
HNF1α to enhance the avidity of a tsc-BsAb to the tumor antigen disialoganglioside GD2
while maintaining functional monovalency to CD3 to limit potential toxicity. The dimeric tsc …
Bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) have proven highly efficient T cell recruiters for cancer immunotherapy by virtue of one tumor antigen-reactive single chain variable fragment (scFv) and another that binds CD3. In order to enhance the antitumor potency of these tandem scFv BsAbs (tsc-BsAbs), we exploited the dimerization domain of the human transcription factor HNF1α to enhance the avidity of a tsc-BsAb to the tumor antigen disialoganglioside GD2 while maintaining functional monovalency to CD3 to limit potential toxicity. The dimeric tsc-BsAb showed increased avidity to GD2, enhanced T cell mediated killing of neuroblastoma and melanoma cell lines in vitro (32–37 fold), exhibited a near 4-fold improvement in serum half-life, and enhanced tumor ablation in mouse xenograft models. We propose that the use of this HNF1α-derived dimerization tag may be a novel and effective strategy to increase the potency of T-cell engaging antibodies for clinical cancer immunotherapy.
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