L1-CAM-targeted antibody therapy and (177)Lu-radioimmunotherapy of disseminated ovarian cancer.

The L1-cell adhesion molecule (L1-CAM) is highly expressed in various cancer types including ovarian carcinoma but is absent from most normal tissue. A chimeric monoclonal antibody, chCE7, specifically binds to human L1-CAM and exhibits anti-proliferative effects on L1-CAM-expressing tumor cells. The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a novel (177)Lu-chCE7 radioimmunotherapeutic agent and to compare it to a treatment protocol with unlabeled, growth-inhibiting chCE7 in a mouse xenograft model of disseminated ovarian cancer.

The soluble form of the cancer-associated L1 cell adhesion molecule is a pro-angiogenic factor.

A soluble form of the L1 cell adhesion molecule (sL1) is released from various tumor cells and can be found in serum and ascites fluid of uterine and ovarian carcinoma patients. sL1 is a ligand for several Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-binding integrins and can be deposited in the extracellular matrix. In this study we describe a novel function of this physiologically relevant form of L1 as a pro-angiogenic factor.

Antibodies directed against L1-CAM synergize with Genistein in inhibiting growth and survival pathways in SKOV3ip human ovarian cancer cells.

Antibodies directed against the L1 cell adhesion protein inhibit growth of SKOV3ip human ovarian cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Responses of SKOV3ip cells in vitro to anti-L1 mAb chCE7 and Genistein were investigated. Genistein potentiated the anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of chCE7 in SKOV3ip cells.

Modification of different IgG1 antibodies via glutamine and lysine using bacterial and human tissue transglutaminase.

The modification of proteins by chemical methods is well-established, however usually difficult to control. In this paper, we describe the posttranslational modification of different IgGs via the Lys or Gln side chains catalyzed by bacterial and human tissue transglutaminase (BTGase and TG2). For proof of concept, different IgG1s (commercial bovine IgG1, and L1CAM targeting chCE7 and chCE7 aglycosylated) were enzymatically functionalization with different fluorescent TGase substrates based on the CY3 analogue Dy547.

The L1 cell adhesion molecule as a target for radioimmunotherapy.

Monoclonal antibodies directed against the L1 cell adhesion molecule were shown recently to inhibit growth of target tumor cells in vitro and the growth of tumor cells in vivo in nude mice. The biologic functions of L1 in tumor cells, which include growth-promoting activity linked to endocytosis and cellular processing of the L1 cell surface protein, make this protein an attractive target for antibodies. This update deals with recent results on L1 expression in normal tissues and in the tumors that were investigated until now.

Copper-67 radioimmunotherapy and growth inhibition by anti-L1-cell adhesion molecule monoclonal antibodies in a therapy model of ovarian cancer metastasis.

Purpose: We examined the tumor-targeting and therapeutic effects of (67)Cu-labeled single amino acid mutant forms of anti-L1 monoclonal antibody chCE7 in nude mice with orthotopically implanted SKOV3ip human ovarian carcinoma cells.

Experimental Design: For radioimmunotherapy, chCE7 antibodies with a mutation of histidine 310 to alanine (chCE7H310A) and a mutation of asparagine 297 to glutamine (chCE7agl) were generated to achieve more rapid blood clearance. Biodistributions of (67)Cu-4-(1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradec-1-yl)-methyl benzoic acid tetrachloride (CPTA)-labeled mutant antibodies were measured in nude mice bearing SKOV3ip human ovarian cancer metastases.

Evaluation of 177Lu-DOTA-labeled aglycosylated monoclonal anti-L1-CAM antibody chCE7: influence of the number of chelators on the in vitro and in vivo properties.

Introduction: In this study, we optimized the 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N-N'-N"-N"'-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) chelator-to-antibody (c/a) ratio for the aglycosylated variant of the anti-L1-CAM antibody chCE7 (chCE7agl), providing high specific activity and low liver uptake in 177Lu-labeled form.

Methods: chCE7agl was substituted with increasing molar excess of DOTA-NCS. The number of chelators coupled to the antibody and the binding affinities to target tumor cells (IC50 values) of the resulting immunoconjugates were determined.

Efficient inhibition of intra-peritoneal tumor growth and dissemination of human ovarian carcinoma cells in nude mice by anti-L1-cell adhesion molecule monoclonal antibody treatment.

The L1 cell adhesion molecule is implicated in the control of proliferation, migration, and invasion of several tumor cell types in vitro. Recently, L1 overexpression was found to correlate with tumor progression of ovarian carcinoma, one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths in gynecologic malignant diseases. To evaluate L1 as a potential target for ovarian cancer therapy, we investigated the effects of anti-L1 monoclonal antibodies (chCE7 and L1-11A) on proliferation and migration of L1-positive human SKOV3ip ovarian carcinoma cells in vitro and the therapeutic efficacy of L1-11A against i.

In vivo evaluation of 177Lu- and 67/64Cu-labeled recombinant fragments of antibody chCE7 for radioimmunotherapy and PET imaging of L1-CAM-positive tumors.

Purpose: The L1 cell adhesion protein is overexpressed in tumors, such as neuroblastomas, renal cell carcinomas, ovarian carcinomas, and endometrial carcinomas, and represents a target for tumor diagnosis and therapy with anti-L1-CAM antibody chCE7. Divalent fragments of this internalizing antibody labeled with 67/64Cu and 177Lu were evaluated to establish a chCE7 antibody fragment for radioimmunotherapy and positron emission tomography imaging, which combines high-yield production with improved clearance and biodistribution properties.

Experimental Design: chCE7F(ab')2 fragments were produced in high amounts (0.

Hepatocyte growth factor-induced ectodomain shedding of cell adhesion molecule L1: role of the L1 cytoplasmic domain.

The L1 cell adhesion molecule and its soluble form are tumor-associated proteins and potential markers for tumor staging as well as targets for therapeutic intervention. Soluble L1 is produced by metalloprotease-mediated ectodomain shedding of L1. We investigated effects of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), a growth factor shown to increase invasiveness of renal carcinoma cells, on ectodomain shedding of L1 from these cells.

Targeting of renal carcinoma with 67/64Cu-labeled anti-L1-CAM antibody chCE7: selection of copper ligands and PET imaging.

In order to optimize radiocopper labeling of anti-L1-CAM antibody chCE7, five bifunctional copper chelators were synthesized and characterized (CPTA-N-hydoxysuccinimide, DO3A-L-p-isothiocyanato-phenylalanine, DOTA-PA-L-p-isocyanato-phenylalanine, DOTA-glycyl-L-p-isocyanato-phenylalanine and DOTA-triglycyl-L-p-isocyanato-phenylalanine). Substitution with more than 11 chelators per antibody molecule was found to influence immunoreactivity and biodistributions of (67)Cu-MAb chCE7 significantly. CPTA-labeled antibody achieved the best tumor to normal tissue ratios when biodistributions of the different (67)Cu-chCE7 conjugates were assessed in tumor-bearing mice.

High-yield production of recombinant antibody fragments in HEK-293 cells using sodium butyrate.

To develop new recombinant monoclonal antibody fragments for therapy and imaging, it is indispensable to have a simple and easy procedure to handle the eukaryotic expression system for production of proteins in high amounts. Gene amplification techniques such as the dehydrofolate reductase (DHFR) system in Chinese hamster ovary cells or the glutamine synthase system in myeloma cells have a couple of disadvantages. The selection procedure is complex, time-consuming, and not fruitful in all cases.

Ceruloplasmin carries the anionic glycan oligo/poly alpha2,8 deaminoneuraminic acid.

Oligo/poly alpha2,8 deaminoneuraminic acid (KDN), a unique posttranslational protein modification, was found on megalin and a not yet characterized 150 kDa glycoprotein. We purified this glycoprotein from rat testis and identified it as ceruloplasmin. Furthermore, immunoprecipitated ceruloplasmin from rat thymus, ovary, blood serum, and postnatal day 2 but not adult lung and brain was immunoreactive for oligo/poly alpha2,8 KDN.

Copper-67 as a therapeutic nuclide for radioimmunotherapy.

The application of the beta particle-emitting nuclide 67Cu in radioimmunotherapy is reviewed. The production of the nuclide is outlined, and different production modes are discussed with an emphasis on cyclotron production. A short survey of copper chelators currently used for antibody labelling and their impact on the pharmacokinetics of 67Cu-labelled immunoconjugates is provided.