A FcγRIII-engaging bispecific antibody expands the range of HER2-expressing breast tumors eligible to antibody therapy

Oncotarget. 2014 Jul 30;5(14):5304-19. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.2093.

Abstract

Trastuzumab is established as treatment of HER2high metastatic breast cancers but many limitations impair its efficacy. Here, we report the design of a Fab-like bispecific antibody (HER2bsFab) that displays a moderate affinity for HER2 and a unique, specific and high affinity for FcγRIII. In vitro characterization showed that ADCC was the major mechanism of action of HER2bsFab as no significant HER2-driven effect was observed. HER2bsFab mediated ADCC at picomolar concentration against HER2high, HER2low as well as trastuzumab-refractive cell lines. In vivo HER2bsFab potently inhibited HER2high tumor growth by recruitment of mouse FcγRIII and IV-positive resident effector cells and more importantly, exhibited a net superiority over trastuzumab at inhibiting HER2low tumor growth. Moreover, FcγRIIIA-engagement by HER2bsFab was independent of V/F158 polymorphism and induced a stronger NK cells activation in response to target cell recognition. Thus, taking advantage of its epitope specificity and affinity for HER2 and FcγRIIIA, HER2bsFab exhibits potent anti-tumor activity against HER2low tumors while evading most of trastuzumab Fc-linked limitations thereby potentially enlarging the number of patients eligible for breast cancer immunotherapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bispecific / immunology
  • Antibodies, Bispecific / pharmacology*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Breast Neoplasms / immunology
  • Breast Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Random Allocation
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / biosynthesis
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / immunology*
  • Receptors, IgG / immunology*
  • Trastuzumab
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bispecific
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Receptors, IgG
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Trastuzumab