Targeting ErbB2 and ErbB3 with a bispecific single-chain Fv enhances targeting selectivity and induces a therapeutic effect in vitro

Inappropriate signalling through the EGFR and ErbB2/HER2 members of the epidermal growth factor family of receptor tyrosine kinases is well recognised as being causally linked to a variety of cancers. Consequently, monoclonal antibodies specific for these receptors have become increasingly important components of effective treatment strategies for cancer. Increasing evidence suggests that ErbB3 plays a critical role in cancer progression and resistance to therapy. We hypothesised that co-targeting the preferred ErbB2/ErbB3 heterodimer with a bispecific single-chain Fv (bs-scFv) antibody would promote increased targeting selectivity over antibodies specific for a single tumour-associated antigen (TAA). In addition, we hypothesised that targeting this important heterodimer could induce a therapeutic effect. Here, we describe the construction and evaluation of the A5-linker-ML3.9 bs-scFv (ALM), an anti-ErbB3/ErbB2 bs-scFv. The A5-linker-ML3.9 bs-scFv exhibits selective targeting of tumour cells in vitro and in vivo that co-express the two target antigens over tumour cells that express only one target antigen or normal cells that express low levels of both antigens. The A5-linker-ML3.9 bs-scFv also exhibits significantly greater in vivo targeting of ErbB2‘+'/ErbB3‘+' tumours than derivative molecules that contain only one functional arm targeting ErbB2 or ErbB3. Binding of ALM to ErbB2‘+'/ErbB3‘+' cells mediates inhibition of tumour cell growth in vitro by effectively targeting the therapeutic anti-ErbB3 A5 scFv. This suggests both that ALM could provide the basis for an effective therapeutic agent and that engineered antibodies selected to co-target critical functional pairs of TAAs can enhance the targeting specificity and efficacy of antibody-based cancer therapeutics

Unlocking the power of cross-species genomic analyses: identification of evolutionarily conserved breast cancer networks and validation of preclinical models

The application of high-throughput genomic technologies has revealed that individual breast tumors display a variety of molecular features that require more personalized approaches to treatment. Several recent studies have demonstrated that a cross-species analytic approach provides a powerful means to filter through genetic complexity by identifying evolutionarily conserved genetic networks that are fundamental to the oncogenic process. Mouse-human tumor comparisons will provide insights into cellular origins of tumor subtypes, define interactive oncogenetic networks, identify potential novel therapeutic targets, and further validate as well as guide the selection of genetically engineered mouse models for preclinical testing

Uptake of catamphiphilic drugs into erythrocytes and muscular tissue correlates to membrane enrichment and to ca-45 displacement from phosphatidylserine monolayers

The uptake of the catamphiphilic drugs flunarizine, R 56865 [N-1-4-(4-fluorophenoxy)butyl-4-piperidinyl-N-methyl-2-benzothia- zolamine], verapamil, diltiazem, lidocaine and the noncatamphiphilic drug nitrendipine into erythrocytes and erythrocyte membranes was measured at pH 7.2 in a Ringer's solution at 22°C. The uptake was concentration proportional between 10-8and 10-6mol/l for all drugs investigated; the erythrocyte/medium ratio (E/M) was constant after 20 min in all experiments. In rat aortas and left atria drug uptake was measured in a 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid buffered medium (pH 7.2, 32°C). Equilibrium was reached after 360 min and the tissue/medium ratio (T/M) was concentration proportional between 10-8and 10-6mol/l for all drugs. E/M or T/M ratios, respectively, increased in the order: erythrocytes <aortas <left atria. However, the particular drug/phospholipid ratios were relatively constant for the drugs investigated, indicating that the membranes were a major distribution phase for these drugs. For the catamphiphilic drugs, the E/M or T/M ratios correlated linearly with the EC50for45Ca displacement from phosphatidylserine monolayers, but were poorly correlated with the octanol-water coefficient of the uncharged molecules. The EC50for45Ca displacement from phosphatidylserine monolayers is a measure for the uptake of the protonated species of catamphiphilic drugs into erythrocytes or tissue and may be a good estimate of tissue uptake of these drugs in general