Use of multimeric anti-DR 5 binding molecules in combination with chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer
阅读说明：本技术 多聚体抗dr5结合分子与化学治疗剂联合用于治疗癌症的用途 (Use of multimeric anti-DR 5 binding molecules in combination with chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer ) 是由 B·T-Y·王 B·A·基特 于 2019-02-25 设计创作，主要内容包括：本公开提供了用于治疗癌症的治疗方法,所述治疗方法包括使用多聚体抗DR5抗体和化学治疗剂的联合疗法,所述化学治疗剂例如I型拓扑异构酶抑制剂、核苷类似物或促凋亡剂,例如BCL-2抑制剂。(The present disclosure provides therapeutic methods for treating cancer comprising combination therapy using a multimeric anti-DR 5 antibody and a chemotherapeutic agent, e.g., a type I topoisomerase inhibitor, a nucleoside analog, or a pro-apoptotic agent, e.g., a BCL-2 inhibitor.)
1. A method for inhibiting, delaying or reducing malignant cell growth in a subject having cancer, the method comprising administering to a subject in need of treatment a combination therapy comprising:
(a) an effective amount of a dimeric IgA antibody or a hexameric or pentameric IgM antibody or multimeric antigen-binding fragment, variant or derivative thereof that specifically and agonizes to DR5, wherein at least three antigen-binding domains of the IgA or IgM antibody or fragment thereof are DR5 specific and agonistic; and
(b) an effective amount of a chemotherapeutic agent.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the chemotherapeutic agent is a DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor is a camptothecin derivative or an active variant, isomer, or salt thereof.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the topoisomerase I inhibitor comprises irinotecan or topotecan.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the topoisomerase I inhibitor comprises irinotecan.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the chemotherapeutic agent comprises a nucleoside analog or an active variant, isomer, or salt thereof.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the nucleoside analog is gemcitabine.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the chemotherapeutic agent is a pro-apoptotic agent.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the pro-apoptotic agent is a BCL-2 inhibitor or an active variant, isomer, or salt thereof.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the BCL-2 inhibitor is venetocalax.
11. The method of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein at least three, at least four, at least five, at least six, at least seven, at least eight, at least nine, at least ten, at least eleven, or twelve antigen binding domains of the antibody or fragment, variant, or derivative thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region (VH) and a light chain variable region (VL), wherein the VH and VL comprise six immunoglobulin complementarity determining regions HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3, wherein the HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 comprise the CDRs of an antibody comprising VH and VL amino acid sequences SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2, respectively; 3 and 4; 5 and 6 SEQ ID NO; 7 and 8 SEQ ID NO; 9 and 10; 11 and 12 SEQ ID NO; 13 and 14; 15 and 16; 17 and 18; 19 and 20; 21 and 22; 23 and 24; 25 and 26 SEQ ID NO; 27 and 28; 29 and 30 SEQ ID NO; 31 and 32 SEQ ID NO; 33 and 34; 35 and 36; 37 and 38; 39 and 40 of SEQ ID NO; 41 and 42; 43 and 44; 45 and 46 SEQ ID NO; 47 and 48; 49 and 50; 51 and 52 SEQ ID NO; 53 and 54 SEQ ID NO; 55 and 56; 82 and 83; 84 and 85; 86 and 87 SEQ ID NO; or SEQ ID NO 88 and SEQ ID NO 89; or the ScFv sequence SEQ ID NO 57, SEQ ID NO 58, SEQ ID NO 59, SEQ ID NO 60, SEQ ID NO 61, SEQ ID NO 62, SEQ ID NO 63, SEQ ID NO 64, SEQ ID NO 65, SEQ ID NO 66, SEQ ID NO 67, SEQ ID NO 68, SEQ ID NO 69, SEQ ID NO 70, SEQ ID NO 71, SEQ ID NO 72 or SEQ ID NO 73, or six CDRs having one or two amino acid substitutions in one or more of said CDRs.
12. The method of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the at least three, at least four, at least five, at least six, at least seven, at least eight, at least nine, at least ten, at least eleven, or twelve antigen binding domains of the antibody, or fragment, variant, or derivative thereof, comprise antibodies VH and VL, wherein the VH and VL comprise amino acid sequences at least 90% identical to: 1 and 2 SEQ ID NO; 3 and 4; SEQ ID NO 5 and SEQ ID NO 6; 7 and 8 SEQ ID NO; 9 and 10; SEQ ID NO 11 and SEQ ID NO 12; 13 and 14; 15 and 16; 17 and 18; 19 and 20; 21 and 22 SEQ ID NO; 23 and 24; 25 and 26 SEQ ID NO; 27 and 28; 29 and 30 SEQ ID NO; 31 and 32; 33 and 34; 35 and 36; 37 and 38; 39 and 40 of SEQ ID NO; 41 and 42; 43 and 44; 45 and 46 SEQ ID NO; 47 and 48; 49 and 50; SEQ ID NO 51 and SEQ ID NO 52; 53 and 54 SEQ ID NO; 55 and 56; 82 and 83; 84 and 85; 86 and 87 SEQ ID NO; or SEQ ID NO 88 and SEQ ID NO 89; or wherein said VH and VL are comprised in an ScFv having an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to: SEQ ID NO 57, SEQ ID NO 58, SEQ ID NO 59, SEQ ID NO 60, SEQ ID NO 61, SEQ ID NO 62, SEQ ID NO 63, SEQ ID NO 64, SEQ ID NO 65, SEQ ID NO 66, SEQ ID NO 67, SEQ ID NO 68, SEQ ID NO 69, SEQ ID NO 70, SEQ ID NO 71, SEQ ID NO 72 or SEQ ID NO 73.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least four, at least ten, or twelve antigen binding domains of the antibody or fragment, variant, or derivative thereof comprise antibody VH and VL regions comprising the amino acid sequences SEQ ID No. 1 and SEQ ID No. 2, SEQ ID No. 5 and SEQ ID No. 6, SEQ ID No. 7 and SEQ ID No. 8, SEQ ID No. 84 and SEQ ID No. 85, or SEQ ID No. 88 and SEQ ID No. 89, respectively.
14. The method of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the antibody or fragment, variant or derivative thereof is a dimeric IgA antibody comprising two bivalent IgA binding units or fragments thereof and a J chain or fragment or variant thereof, wherein each binding unit comprises two IgA heavy chain constant regions or fragments thereof each associated with an antigen binding domain.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the IgA antibody or fragment thereof further comprises a secretory component, or a fragment or variant thereof.
16. The method of claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the IgA heavy chain constant region or fragment thereof each comprises a ca1 domain, a ca2 domain, and a ca 3-tp domain.
17. The method of any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the IgA heavy chain constant region is a human IgA constant region.
18. The method of any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein each binding unit comprises: two IgA heavy chains each comprising a VH located amino-terminal to the IgA constant region or fragment thereof; and two immunoglobulin light chains each comprising a VL amino-terminal to an immunoglobulin light chain constant region.
19. The method of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the antibody or fragment, variant or derivative thereof is a pentameric or hexameric IgM antibody comprising five or six bivalent IgM binding units, respectively, wherein each binding unit comprises two IgM heavy chain constant regions or fragments thereof each associated with an antigen binding domain, and wherein the IgM heavy chain constant regions or fragments thereof each comprise a C μ 1 domain, a C μ 2 domain, a C μ 3 domain, and a C μ 4-tp domain.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the antibody or fragment, variant, or derivative thereof is a pentamer and further comprises a J chain or fragment or variant thereof.
21. The method of claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the IgM heavy chain constant region is a human IgM constant region.
22. The method of any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein each binding unit comprises: two IgM heavy chains each comprising a VH situated amino-terminal to an IgM constant region or fragment thereof; and two immunoglobulin light chains each comprising a VL amino-terminal to an immunoglobulin light chain constant region.
23. The method of any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein administration of the combination therapy results in enhanced therapeutic efficacy relative to administration of the antibody or fragment thereof or the chemotherapeutic agent alone.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the enhanced therapeutic effect comprises a decrease in tumor growth rate, tumor regression, or increased survival rate.
25. The method of any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein the subject is a human.
Background
Multimerizable antibodies and antibody-like molecules, such as IgA and IgM antibodies, have become promising drug candidates in the fields of e.g. immunooncology and infectious diseases, allowing for improved specificity, improved avidity and binding capacity multiple target-binding capacities. See, for example, PCT publications nos. WO2015/153912, WO 2016/118641, WO 2016/141303, WO2016/154593, WO 2016/168758, WO 2017/059387, WO 2017059380, WO 2018/017888, WO2018/017763, WO2018/017889, and WO 2018/017761, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Multimeric IgA or IgM antibodies provide a useful tool for application in specific biological systems where multiple components must bind simultaneously to transmit biological signals. For example, many receptor proteins on the surface of eukaryotic cells require simultaneous activation of multiple monomers or subunits to achieve activation of biological signals and transport them across the cell membrane to the cytoplasm of the cell.
One such receptor is the Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) receptor superfamily protein DR5 (also known as TRAILR2) which induces apoptosis. DR5 activation requires cross-linking of at least three non-interacting receptor monomers to form a stable receptor trimer, e.g., by TRAIL ligand or a elicitor antibody, resulting in signal transduction across cell membranes. Aggregation of DR5 protein trimers into trimeric "rafts" can lead to more efficient activation of the signaling cascade.
The increased interest in DR5 was due to its expression found in the following cancers: bladder cancer (Li et al, Urology,79(4):968.e7-15, (2012)), gastric cancer (Lim et al, Carcinogen, 32(5): 723-. Current standards of care for some of these cancers include chemotherapeutic agents that disrupt cell growth and metabolism, for example by blocking DNA synthesis, blocking cell division, or promoting apoptosis.
Although certain anti-DR 5 monoclonal antibodies, such as Tigatuzumab (Tigatuzumab) (CS-1008, Daiichi Sankyo co. ltd., disclosed in U.S. patent No. 7,244,429), have been found to be effective in vitro and in vivo even without the addition of additional cross-linking agents, these antibodies do not result in significant clinical efficacy. (see, Reck et al, 2013). Recently, however, several different anti-DR 5IgM antibodies have been shown to have higher efficacy both in vitro and in vivo. See, for example, U.S. patent application publication No. 2018 and 0009897, which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
For tumors that are difficult to treat, there is a need for better therapies and enhancements to existing therapies, including combination therapies with anti-DR 5IgM antibodies.
Disclosure of Invention
The present disclosure provides a method for inhibiting, delaying or reducing malignant cell growth in a subject having cancer, wherein the method comprises administering to a subject in need of treatment a combination therapy comprising an effective amount of a dimeric IgA antibody or a hexameric or pentameric IgM antibody or multimeric antigen-binding fragment, variant or derivative thereof that specifically and agonizes binding to DR5, wherein at least three antigen-binding domains of the IgA or IgM antibody or fragment thereof are DR5 specific and agonistic; and an effective amount of a chemotherapeutic agent, e.g., a DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor, a nucleoside analog, or a pro-apoptotic agent, e.g., a BCL-2 inhibitor.
In certain aspects, at least three, at least four, at least five, at least six, at least seven, at least eight, at least nine, at least ten, at least eleven, or twelve antigen binding domains of an antibody or fragment, variant, or derivative thereof can comprise a heavy chain variable region (VH) and a light chain variable region (VL), wherein VH and VL comprise six immunoglobulin complementarity determining regions HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3, wherein HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3 comprise the CDRs of an antibody comprising VH and VL amino acid sequences SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2, respectively; 3 and 4; 5 and 6 SEQ ID NO; 7 and 8 SEQ ID NO; 9 and 10 SEQ ID NO; 11 and 12; 13 and 14; SEQ ID NO 15 and SEQ ID NO 16; 17 and 18; 19 and 20; 21 and 22; 23 and 24; 25 and 26 SEQ ID NO; 27 and 28; 29 and 30 SEQ ID NO; 31 and 32; 33 and 34; 35 and 36; 37 and 38; 39 and 40 of SEQ ID NO; 41 and 42; 43 and 44; 45 and 46 SEQ ID NO; 47 and 48; 49 and 50 of SEQ ID NO; 51 and 52; 53 and 54 SEQ ID NO; SEQ ID NO 55 and
In certain aspects, at least three, at least four, at least five, at least six, at least seven, at least eight, at least nine, at least ten, at least eleven, or twelve antigen binding domains of an antibody or fragment, variant, or derivative thereof can comprise an antibody VH and VL, wherein VH and VL comprise amino acid sequences at least 90% identical to: 1 and 2 SEQ ID NO; 3 and 4; 5 and 6 SEQ ID NO; 7 and 8 SEQ ID NO; 9 and 10; 11 and 12; 13 and 14; 15 and 16; 17 and 18; 19 and 20 SEQ ID NO; 21 and 22; 23 and 24; SEQ ID NO 25 and SEQ ID NO 26; 27 and 28; 29 and 30 SEQ ID NO; 31 and 32 SEQ ID NO; 33 and 34; 35 and 36 SEQ ID NO; 37 and 38; 39 and 40 of SEQ ID NO; 41 and 42; 43 and 44; 45 and 46 SEQ ID NO; 47 and 48; 49 and 50; 51 and 52; 53 and 54 SEQ ID NO; 55 and 56; 82 and 83; 84 and 85 SEQ ID NO; 86 and 87 SEQ ID NO; or SEQ ID NO 88 and SEQ ID NO 89; or wherein VH and VL are comprised in an ScFv having an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to: SEQ ID NO 57, SEQ ID NO 58, SEQ ID NO 59,
In certain aspects, at least four, at least ten, or twelve antigen binding domains of an antibody or fragment, variant, or derivative thereof may comprise antibody VH and VL regions having the amino acid sequences SEQ ID NO 1 and SEQ ID NO 2, SEQ ID NO 5 and SEQ ID NO 6,
In certain aspects, the chemotherapeutic agent is a DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor. In certain aspects, the DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor is a camptothecin derivative, or an active variant, isomer, or salt thereof. For example, the topoisomerase I inhibitor can be Irinotecan (Irinotecan) or Topotecan (Topotecan).
In certain aspects, the chemotherapeutic agent is a nucleoside analog. In certain aspects, the nucleoside analog is Gemcitabine (Gemcitabine).
In certain aspects, the chemotherapeutic agent is a pro-apoptotic agent, e.g., a BCL-2 inhibitor, e.g., Venetoclax (ABT-199).
In certain aspects, administration of a combination therapy can result in enhanced therapeutic efficacy, such as, for example, decreased tumor growth rate, tumor regression, or increased survival, relative to administration of the antibody or fragment, variant, or derivative thereof or chemotherapeutic agent (e.g., a DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor, nucleoside analog, or pro-apoptotic agent, e.g., a BCL-2 inhibitor) alone. In certain aspects, the subject to be treated is a human subject.
Brief Description of Drawings
Fig. 1A and 1B: anti-DR 5IgM and irinotecan in combination induced more complete tumor cytotoxicity in vitro. FIG. 1A: HCT15 tumor cells treated with anti-DR 5IgM (filled squares) or anti-DR 5IgM plus 0.4 μ M irinotecan (open squares). FIG. 1B: HCT15 tumor cells treated with irinotecan (filled circles) or irinotecan plus 1ng/mL of anti-DR 5IgM (open circles).
Fig. 2A and 2B: efficacy of IgM in an IgG-resistant colon tumor model. FIG. 2A: tumor volume of athymic nude mice implanted with IgG-resistant HCT15 tumor cells and administered 5 times daily with vehicle (crosses); 3mg/kg anti-DR 5 IgG (round) 3 times per week; 3mg/kg anti-DR 5IgM 5 times daily (squares); or 80mg/kg irinotecan 3 times within the first week (triangles). FIG. 2B: total survival in athymic nude mice engrafted with IgG-resistant HCT15 tumor cells and administered 5 times daily (solid black line), 3mg/kg anti-DR 5 IgG weekly (dashed black line), 3mg/kg anti-DR 5IgM daily 5 times daily (dashed gray line), or 3 times 80mg/kg irinotecan within the first week (dotted black line).
Fig. 3A and 3B: combining anti-DR 5 IgG with irinotecan standard of care did not enhance efficacy. FIG. 3A: tumor volume of athymic nude mice implanted with IgG-resistant HCT15 tumor cells and administered 5 times daily with vehicle (crosses); 3mg/kg anti-DR 5 IgG (filled circles) 3 times per week; 80mg/kg irinotecan (filled triangles) 3 times within the first week; or a combined anti-DR 5 IgG and irinotecan dosing regimen (open circles). FIG. 3B: total survival in athymic nude mice engrafted with IgG-resistant HCT15 tumor cells and administered 5 times daily (solid black line), 3mg/kg anti-DR 5 IgG weekly (dashed black line), 380 mg/kg irinotecan within the first week (dotted black line), or a combined anti-DR 5 IgG and irinotecan dosing regimen (solid gray line).
Fig. 4A and 4B: the efficacy of combining anti-DR 5IgM with irinotecan standard of care was significantly enhanced. FIG. 4A: tumor volume of athymic nude mice implanted with IgG-resistant HCT15 tumor cells and administered 5 times daily with vehicle (crosses); 3mg/kg anti-DR 5IgM 5 times daily (squares); 80mg/kg irinotecan (filled triangles) 3 times within the first week; or a combined anti-DR 5IgM and irinotecan dosing regimen (open squares). FIG. 4B: total survival in athymic nude mice engrafted with IgG-resistant HCT15 tumor cells and administered 5 vehicle daily (solid black line), 5 anti-DR 5IgM daily (dashed gray line), 3 anti-DR 80mg/kg irinotecan within the first week (dotted black line), or a combined anti-DR 5IgM and irinotecan dosing regimen (solid gray line).
Fig. 5A and 5B: the anti-DR 5IgM and gemcitabine combination induced more complete tumor cytotoxicity in vitro. FIG. 5A: BxPC3 pancreatic tumor cells were treated with 0.56 μ M gemcitabine (black bars), 4ng/mL anti-DR 5IgM Mab #5 (gray bars), or a combination of both agents (white bars). FIG. 5B: panc-1 pancreatic tumor cells were treated with 0.56 μ M gemcitabine (black bar), 4ng/mL anti-DR 5IgM Mab #5 (grey bar), or a combination of both agents (white bar).
Fig. 6A and 6B: the anti-DR 5IgM and gemcitabine combination induced more complete tumor cytotoxicity in vitro. FIG. 6A: BxPC3 pancreatic tumor cells were treated with serial dilutions of anti-DR 5IgM Mab #5 (open circles) alone or in combination with 0.06 μ M gemcitabine (closed diamonds), 0.19 μ M gemcitabine (inverted closed triangles), 0.56 μ M gemcitabine (upright closed triangles), 1.67 μ M gemcitabine (closed squares), or 5 μ M gemcitabine (closed circles). FIG. 6B: panc-1 pancreatic tumor cells were treated with serial dilutions of anti-DR 5IgM Mab #5 (open circles) alone or in combination with 0.06 μ M gemcitabine (closed diamonds), 0.19 μ M gemcitabine (inverted closed triangles), 0.56 μ M gemcitabine (upright closed triangles), 1.67 μ M gemcitabine (closed squares), or 5 μ M gemcitabine (closed circles).
Fig. 7A and 7B: the efficacy of anti-DR 5 IgG in combination with gemcitabine standard of care was less enhanced. FIG. 7A: tumor volume of nude mice subcutaneously implanted with BxPC3 pancreatic tumor fragment and administered 7 times daily vector (crosses); anti-DR 5 IgG Mab #2 (filled circles) at a single dose of 3 mg/kg; 120mg/kg gemcitabine every 3 days for 4 doses (filled triangles); or a combined anti-DR 5 IgG and gemcitabine dosing regimen (open circles). FIG. 7B: total survival of nude mice subcutaneously implanted with BxPC3 pancreatic tumor fragment and administered 7 times daily with vector (black solid line); anti-DR 5 IgG Mab #2 (black dashed) at a single dose of 3 mg/kg; 120mg/kg gemcitabine every 3 days for 4 doses (black dotted line); or a combined anti-DR 5 IgG and gemcitabine dosing regimen (solid grey line).
Fig. 8A and 8B: enhanced tumor efficacy of anti-DR 5IgM in combination with gemcitabine standard care. FIG. 8A: tumor volume of nude mice subcutaneously implanted with BxPC3 pancreatic tumor fragment and administered 7 times daily vector (crosses); anti-DR 5 IgG MaM #2 (filled squares) at 7 mg/kg daily; 120mg/kg gemcitabine every 3 days for 4 doses (filled triangles); or a combined anti-DR 5IgM and gemcitabine dosing regimen (open squares). FIG. 8B: total survival of nude mice subcutaneously implanted with BxPC3 pancreatic tumor fragment and administered 7 times daily with vector (black solid line); anti-DR 5IgM Mab #2 (dashed gray line) at 7 mg/kg daily; 120mg/kg gemcitabine every 3 days for 4 doses (black dotted line); or a combined anti-DR 5IgM and gemcitabine dosing regimen (solid grey line).
Fig. 9A and 9B: anti-DR 5IgM and venetocalax in combination induced more complete tumor cytotoxicity in vitro. FIG. 9A: molm-13AML tumor cells were treated with 1.2ng/mL anti-DR 5IgM Mab #5 (grey bar), 3.7nM Venetocclax (black bar), or a combination of both agents (white bar). FIG. 9B: MV-4-11AML tumor cells were treated with 37ng/mL anti-DR 5IgM Mab #5 (grey bar), 3.7 nMvenetocalax (black bar), or a combination of both agents (white bar).
Fig. 10A and 10B: anti-DR 5IgM and venetocalax in combination induced more complete tumor cytotoxicity in vitro. FIG. 10A: molm-13AML tumor cells were treated with serial dilutions of anti-DR 5IgM Mab #5 (open circles) alone or in combination with 1.2nM Venetocclax (inverted solid triangles), 3.7nM Venetocclax (upright solid triangles), 11nM Venetocclax (solid squares) or 33nM Venetocclax (solid circles). FIG. 10B: MV-4-11AML tumor cells were treated with serial dilutions of anti-DR 5 IgMMab #5 (open circles) alone or in combination with 1.2nM Venetocclax (inverted solid triangles), 3.7nM Venetocclax (upright solid triangles), 11nM Venetocclax (solid squares), 33nM Venetocclax (solid circles) or 100nM Venetocclax (open squares).
Detailed Description
Definition of
It should be noted that the term "a" or "an" entity refers to one or more of the entities; for example, "binding molecule" is understood to represent one or more binding molecules. Thus, the terms "a" (or "an"), "one or more" and "at least one" are used interchangeably herein.
Further, as used herein, "and/or" should be considered to specifically disclose each of the two particular features or components, and either disclose the other or not. Thus, the term "and/or" as used herein in phrases such as "a and/or B" is intended to include: "both A and B"; "A or B"; "A" (alone); and "B" (alone). Similarly, the term "and/or" as used in phrases such as "A, B and/or C" is intended to encompass each of the following embodiments: A. b and C; A. b or C; a or C; a or B; b or C; a and C; a and B; b and C; a (alone); b (alone); and C (alone).
Unless defined otherwise, technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. For example, circumcise Dictionary of Biomedicine and molecular Biology, Juo, Pei-Show, 2 nd edition, 2002, CRC Press; dictionary of Cell and molecular Biology, 3 rd edition, 1999, Academic Press; and Oxford Dictionary of biochemistry And Molecular Biology, revised edition, 2000, Oxford University Press, to provide one of ordinary skill with a general Dictionary of many of the terms used in this invention.
Units, prefixes, and symbols are expressed in a form acceptable to their Syst me International de units (SI). Numerical ranges are inclusive of the numbers defining the range. Unless otherwise indicated, amino acid sequences are written from left to right in the amino to carboxyl direction. The headings provided herein are not limitations of the various aspects or aspects of the disclosure, which can be had by reference to the specification as a whole. Accordingly, the terms defined directly below are defined in more detail by reference to the specification as a whole.
As used herein, the term "polypeptide" is intended to encompass both the singular "polypeptide" and the plural "polypeptide" and refers to a molecule composed of monomers (amino acids) linearly linked by amide bonds (also referred to as peptide bonds). The term "polypeptide" refers to any one or more chains of two or more amino acids, and does not refer to a particular length of the product. Thus, peptides, dipeptides, tripeptides, oligopeptides, "proteins," "amino acid chains," or any other term used to refer to one or more chains of two or more amino acids, are included within the definition of "polypeptide," and the term "polypeptide" may be used instead of or interchangeably with any of these terms. The term "polypeptide" also refers to post-expression modifications of the polypeptide, including but not limited to glycosylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, amidation, and derivatization by known protecting/blocking groups, proteolytic cleavage, or modification by non-naturally occurring amino acids. Polypeptides may be derived from biological sources or produced by recombinant techniques, but do not require translation from a specified nucleic acid sequence. It may be produced in any manner, including by chemical synthesis.
The polypeptides disclosed herein can have a size of about 3 or more, 5 or more, 10 or more, 20 or more, 25 or more, 50 or more, 75 or more, 100 or more, 200 or more, 500 or more, 1000 or more, or 2000 or more amino acids. A polypeptide may have a defined three-dimensional structure, although it need not have such a structure. Polypeptides having a defined three-dimensional structure are referred to as folded, and polypeptides that do not have a defined three-dimensional structure but can adopt a large number of different conformations are referred to as unfolded. As used herein, the term glycoprotein refers to a protein coupled to at least one carbohydrate moiety that is linked to the protein through an oxygen-or nitrogen-containing side chain of an amino acid (e.g., serine or asparagine).
An "isolated" polypeptide or fragment, variant or derivative thereof means a polypeptide that is not in its natural environment. No specific level of purification is required. For example, an isolated polypeptide may be removed from its natural or native environment. Recombinantly produced polypeptides and proteins expressed in host cells are considered isolated as disclosed herein, as are native or recombinant polypeptides isolated, fractionated or partially or substantially purified by any suitable technique.
As used herein, the term "non-naturally occurring polypeptide" or any grammatical variant thereof is a definition of a proviso that specifically excludes but does not excludeOnly byExcluding those forms of the polypeptide that are or may be determined or interpreted as "naturally occurring" by a judge or an administrative or judicial body.
Other polypeptides disclosed herein are fragments, derivatives, analogs, or variants of the aforementioned polypeptides and any combination thereof. The terms "fragment," "variant," "derivative," and "analog" disclosed herein include any polypeptide that retains at least some of the properties (e.g., specific binding to an antigen) of the corresponding native antibody or polypeptide. In addition to specific antibody fragments discussed elsewhere herein, fragments of a polypeptide include, for example, proteolytic fragments as well as deletion fragments. For example, variants of the polypeptide include fragments as described above, and also include polypeptides having altered amino acid sequences due to amino acid substitutions, deletions, or insertions. In certain aspects, a variant may be non-naturally occurring. Non-naturally occurring variants can be generated by using mutagenesis techniques known in the art. Variant polypeptides may comprise conservative or non-conservative amino acid substitutions, deletions or additions. Derivatives are polypeptides that have been altered to exhibit other characteristics not found on the original polypeptide. Examples include fusion proteins. Variant polypeptides may also be referred to herein as "polypeptide analogs". As used herein, a "derivative" of a polypeptide can also refer to a test polypeptide having one or more amino acids chemically derivatized by functional side group reactions. "derivatives" also include those peptides that contain one or more derivatives of the 20 standard amino acids. For example, 4-hydroxyproline may be substituted for proline; 5-hydroxy lysine can be substituted for lysine; 3-methylhistidine may be substituted for histidine; homoserine can be substituted for serine; and ornithine may be substituted for lysine.
A "conservative amino acid substitution" is the replacement of one amino acid by another amino acid having a similar side chain. Families of amino acids with similar side chains have been defined in the art, including basic side chains (e.g., lysine, arginine, histidine), acidic side chains (e.g., aspartic acid, glutamic acid), uncharged polar side chains (e.g., asparagine, glutamine, serine, threonine, tyrosine, cysteine), nonpolar side chains (e.g., glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, proline, phenylalanine, methionine, tryptophan), beta-branched side chains (e.g., threonine, valine, isoleucine) and aromatic side chains (e.g., tyrosine, phenylalanine tryptophan, histidine). For example, substitution of tyrosine with phenylalanine is a conservative substitution. In certain embodiments, conservative substitutions in the sequences of the polypeptides and antibodies of the disclosure do not abrogate the binding of the polypeptide containing the amino acid sequence or the antibody to the antigen to which the antibody binds. Methods for identifying conservative substitutions of nucleotides and amino acids that do not eliminate antigen binding are well known in the art (see, e.g., Brummell et al, biochem.32:1180-1187 (1993); Kobayashi et al, Protein Eng.12(10):879-884 (1999); and Burks et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94: 412-417 (1997)).
The term "polynucleotide" is meant to encompass a single nucleic acid as well as multiple nucleic acids, and refers to an isolated nucleic acid molecule or construct, e.g., messenger rna (mrna), cDNA, or plasmid dna (pdna). Polynucleotides may comprise conventional phosphodiester bonds or unconventional bonds (e.g., amide bonds, such as found in Peptide Nucleic Acids (PNAs)). The term "nucleic acid" or "nucleic acid sequence" refers to any one or more nucleic acid fragments, e.g., DNA or RNA fragments, present in a polynucleotide.
An "isolated" nucleic acid or polynucleotide means any form of nucleic acid or polynucleotide that is separated from its natural environment. For example, a gel-purified polynucleotide or a recombinant polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide contained in a vector will be considered "isolated". In addition, a polynucleotide fragment (e.g., a PCR product) that has been engineered to have a cleavage site for cloning is considered "isolated". Other examples of isolated polynucleotides include recombinant polynucleotides maintained in a heterologous host cell or polynucleotides purified (partially or substantially) in a non-native solution, such as buffer or saline. An isolated RNA molecule includes in vivo or in vitro RNA transcripts of a polynucleotide, wherein the transcripts are not transcripts that can be found in nature. Isolated polynucleotides or nucleic acids also include synthetically prepared such molecules. In addition, the polynucleotide or nucleic acid may be or may include regulatory elements such as a promoter, ribosome binding site, or transcription terminator.
As used herein, the term "non-naturally occurring polynucleotide" or any syntax thereofVariants are conditional definitions which are expressly excluded but which do not define the sameOnly byExcluding those forms of nucleic acids or polynucleotides that are or may be determined or interpreted as "naturally occurring" by a judge or an administrative or judicial body.
As used herein, a "coding region" is a portion of a nucleic acid that consists of codons that are translated into amino acids. Although the "stop codon" (TAG, TGA or TAA) is not translated into an amino acid, it may be considered part of the coding region, but any flanking sequences (e.g., promoter, ribosome binding site, transcription terminator, intron, etc.) are not part of the coding region. The two or more coding regions may be present in a single polynucleotide construct, e.g., on a single vector, or in separate polynucleotide constructs, e.g., on separate (different) vectors. In addition, any vector may contain a single coding region, or may contain two or more coding regions, e.g., a single vector may encode an immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region and an immunoglobulin light chain variable region, respectively. In addition, the vector, polynucleotide or nucleic acid may include a heterologous coding region, either fused or unfused to another coding region. Heterologous coding regions include, but are not limited to, those regions encoding particular elements or motifs, such as secretory signal peptides or heterologous functional domains.
In certain embodiments, the polynucleotide or nucleic acid is DNA. In the case of DNA, a polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid that typically encodes a polypeptide may include a promoter and/or other transcriptional or translational control elements operably associated with one or more coding regions. An operable association is one in which the coding region of a gene product (e.g., a polypeptide) is associated with one or more regulatory sequences, such that expression of the gene product is under the influence or control of the one or more regulatory sequences. Two DNA fragments (such as a polypeptide coding region and a promoter associated therewith) are "operably associated" if induction of promoter function results in transcription of mRNA encoding the desired gene product, and if the nature of the linkage between the two DNA fragments does not interfere with the ability of the expression control sequences to direct expression of the gene product or with the ability of the DNA template to be transcribed. Thus, if a promoter is capable of affecting transcription of a nucleic acid, a promoter region will be operably associated with the nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide. The promoter may be a cell-specific promoter that directs substantial transcription of DNA in a predetermined cell. In addition to promoters, other transcriptional control elements, such as enhancers, operators, repressors, and transcriptional termination signals, may be operably associated with the polynucleotide to direct cell-specific transcription.
Various transcriptional control regions are known to those skilled in the art. These include, but are not limited to, transcriptional control regions that function in vertebrate cells, such as, but not limited to, promoter and enhancer fragments from cytomegalovirus (immediate early promoter, binding to intron-a), simian virus 40 (early promoter), and retroviruses (such as rous sarcoma virus). Other transcriptional control regions include those derived from vertebrate genes, such as actin, heat shock proteins, bovine growth hormone, and rabbit β -globin, as well as other sequences capable of controlling gene expression in eukaryotic cells. Other suitable transcriptional control regions include tissue-specific promoters and enhancers and lymphokine-inducible promoters (e.g., promoters inducible by interferon or interleukin).
Similarly, a variety of translational control elements are known to those of ordinary skill in the art. These include, but are not limited to, ribosome binding sites, translation initiation and termination codons, and elements derived from parvovirus (in particular internal ribosome entry sites or IRES, also known as CITE sequences).
In other embodiments, the polynucleotide may be RNA, for example in the form of messenger RNA (mrna), transfer RNA, or ribosomal RNA.
The polynucleotide and nucleic acid coding regions may be associated with other coding regions that encode a secretory peptide or signal peptide that directs secretion of the polypeptide encoded by the polynucleotides disclosed herein. According to the signal hypothesis, proteins secreted by mammalian cells have a signal peptide or secretory leader sequence that is cleaved from the mature protein once the growing protein chain begins to export through the rough endoplasmic reticulum. One of ordinary skill in the art recognizes that a polypeptide secreted by a vertebrate cell can have a signal peptide fused to the N-terminus of the polypeptide, which signal peptide can be cleaved from the intact or "full-size" polypeptide to produce the secreted or "mature" form of the polypeptide. In certain embodiments, a native signal peptide, e.g., an immunoglobulin heavy or light chain signal peptide, or a functional derivative of such a sequence, is used that retains the ability to direct secretion of the polypeptide with which it is operably associated. Alternatively, a heterologous mammalian signal peptide or functional derivative thereof may be used. For example, the wild-type leader sequence may be replaced by the leader sequence of human Tissue Plasminogen Activator (TPA) or mouse β -glucuronidase.
As used herein, the term "DR 5" or "TRAILR 2" refers to a member of the tumor necrosis factor transmembrane receptor protein family expressed on the surface of various cells and tissues, which upon activation can induce apoptosis of the cell.
Disclosed herein are certain binding molecules, or antigen-binding fragments, variants, or derivatives thereof, that bind to DR5, thereby causing apoptosis. Unless a full-size antibody is specifically mentioned, the term "binding molecule" encompasses a full-size antibody as well as antigen-binding subunits, fragments, variants, analogs or derivatives of such antibodies, e.g., engineered antibody molecules or fragments that bind antigen in a similar manner as antibody molecules, but which use a different scaffold. Where the binding molecule is a polymeric binding molecule (e.g., a pentameric or hexameric IgM antibody or a dimeric IgA antibody), when reference is made to a multimeric fragment, variant or derivative, it is understood that the fragment, variant or derivative continues to be a multimer.
As used herein, the term "binding molecule" refers in its broadest sense to a molecule that specifically binds to a receptor (e.g., an epitope or antigenic determinant). As further described herein, a binding molecule can comprise one of the plurality of "antigen binding domains" described herein. Non-limiting examples of binding molecules are antibodies or fragments thereof that retain antigen-specific binding.
As used herein, the term "binding domain" or "antigen binding domain" refers to a region of a binding molecule that is necessary and sufficient for specific binding to an epitope. For example, an "Fv", e.g., a variable heavy chain and a variable light chain of an antibody, as two separate polypeptide subunits or as a single chain, is considered a "binding domain". Other binding domains include, but are not limited to, the variable heavy chain (VHH) of antibodies derived from species in the family camelidae, or the six immunoglobulin Complementarity Determining Regions (CDRs) expressed in a fibronectin scaffold. A "binding molecule" as described herein may comprise one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve or more "antigen binding domains".
The terms "antibody" and "immunoglobulin" are used interchangeably herein. The antibody (or antigen binding fragment, variant or derivative thereof or multimeric fragment, variant or derivative thereof as disclosed herein) comprises at least the variable domain of a heavy chain (species in the family camelidae) or at least the variable domains of a heavy chain and a light chain, and for multimeric molecules, at least a C μ 4-tp or a C α 3-tp constant region binding domain to allow multimerisation. The basic immunoglobulin structure in vertebrate systems is relatively well understood. See, for example, Harlow et al, Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, (Cold Spring harbor Laboratory Press, 2 nd edition, 1988). Unless otherwise indicated, the term "antibody" encompasses anything from a small antigen-binding fragment of an antibody to a full-size antibody, e.g., an IgG antibody comprising two complete heavy chains and two complete light chains, a dimeric IgA antibody comprising four complete heavy chains and four complete light chains and comprising a J chain and/or secretory component, or a pentameric or hexameric IgM antibody comprising ten or twelve complete heavy chains and ten or twelve complete light chains and optionally comprising a J chain.
As will be discussed in more detail below, the term "immunoglobulin" encompasses a wide variety of polypeptides that are biochemically distinguishable those skilled in the art will appreciate that heavy chains are classified as gamma (gamma), muo (mu), alpha (alpha), delta (delta), or epsilon (epsilon) (gamma, mu, α, phi), with some subclass (e.g., gamma 1 to gamma 4 or α 1 to α 2), and that the nature of this chain determines the "isotype" of the antibody as being respectively of the IgG, IgM, IgA, IgG, or IgE immunoglobulin subclass (subtype), e.g., IgG1、IgG2、IgG3、IgG4、IgA1、IgA2Etc. are well characterized and known to have functional specificity. Modified forms of each of these immunoglobulins are readily discernible to those of skill in the art in view of, and thus within the scope of, the present disclosure.
Light chains are classified as kappa (kappa) or lambda (lambda) (κ, λ). Each heavy chain class may be associated with a kappa (kappa) or lambda (lambda) light chain. Typically, the light and heavy chains are covalently bonded to each other, and when the immunoglobulin is expressed, for example, by a hybridoma, B cell, or genetically engineered host cell, the "tail" portions of the two heavy chains are bonded to each other by covalent disulfide bonds or non-covalent bonds. In the heavy chain, the amino acid sequence runs from the N-terminus of the fork of the Y configuration to the C-terminus of the bottom of each chain. The basic structure of certain antibodies (e.g., IgG antibodies) comprises two heavy chain subunits and two light chain subunits covalently linked by disulfide bonds to form a "Y" structure (also referred to herein as an "H2L 2" structure) or "binding unit.
The term "binding unit" is used herein to refer to a portion of a binding molecule (e.g., an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof) that corresponds to the standard "H2L 2" immunoglobulin structure, i.e., two heavy chains or fragments thereof and two light chains or fragments thereof. In certain aspects, for example, where the binding molecule is a bivalent IgG antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, the terms "binding molecule" and "binding unit" are equivalent. In other aspects, for example, where the binding molecule is an IgA dimer, an IgM pentamer, or an IgM hexamer, the binding molecule comprises two, five, or six "binding units," respectively. The binding unit need not comprise the heavy and light chains of a full length antibody, but will typically be bivalent, i.e. will comprise two "binding domains" as defined herein. Certain binding molecules provided in the present disclosure are dimeric and include two bivalent binding units comprising IgA constant regions or fragments thereof. Certain binding molecules provided in the present disclosure are pentamers or hexamers and include five or six bivalent binding units that include an IgM constant region or necessary fragment thereof to allow multimerization. Binding molecules comprising two or more, e.g., two, five or six, binding units are referred to herein as "multimers".
The terms "valency", "bivalent", "multivalent" and grammatical equivalents refer to the number of binding domains in a given binding molecule or binding unit. Thus, the terms "bivalent", "tetravalent", and "hexavalent" indicate the presence of two binding domains, four binding domains, and six binding domains, respectively, relative to a given binding molecule, e.g., an IgM antibody or fragment thereof. In a typical IgM derived binding molecule where each binding unit is bivalent, the binding molecule itself may have a valency of 10 or 12. Bivalent or multivalent binding molecules may be monospecific, i.e., all binding domains are the same, or may be bispecific or multispecific, e.g., where two or more binding domains are different, e.g., bind different epitopes on the same antigen, or bind completely different antigens.
The term "epitope" includes any molecular determinant capable of specifically binding to an antibody. In certain aspects, an epitope may include a chemically active surface group of a molecule, such as an amino acid, a sugar side chain, a phosphoryl group, or a sulfonyl group, and in certain aspects, may have three-dimensional structural features and or specific charge features. An epitope is the region of the target bound by an antibody.
The term "target" is used in the broadest sense to include substances that can be bound by a binding molecule. The target can be, for example, a polypeptide, nucleic acid, carbohydrate, lipid, or other molecule. Furthermore, a "target" can be, for example, a cell, organ, or organism that comprises an epitope binding that can be bound by a binding molecule.
Light and heavy chains are divided into structurally and functionally homologous regions. The terms "constant" and "variable" are used functionally. In this regard, it is understood that the variable domains of the Variable Light (VL) and Variable Heavy (VH) chain portions determine antigen recognition and specificity. In contrast, the constant domains of the light Chain (CL) and heavy chain (e.g., CH1, CH2, CH3, or CH4 (if present)) confer biological properties such as secretion, placental mobility, Fc receptor binding, complement fixation, and the like. By convention, the numbering of the constant region domains increases as they are farther and farther from the antigen binding site or amino terminus of the antibody. The N-terminal portion is a variable region and the C-terminal portion is a constant region; the CH3 (or CH4-tp in the case of IgM) and CL domains actually comprise the carboxy-termini of the heavy and light chains, respectively.
A "full length IgM antibody heavy chain" is a polypeptide comprising, in the N-terminal to C-terminal direction, an antibody heavy chain variable domain (VH), an antibody constant heavy chain constant domain 1(CM1 or C μ 1), an antibody heavy chain constant domain 2(CM2 or C μ 2), an antibody heavy chain constant domain 3(CM3 or C μ 3), and an antibody heavy chain constant domain 4(CM4 or C μ 4) which may comprise a tail fragment.
A "full-length IgA antibody heavy chain" is a polypeptide comprising, in the N-terminal to C-terminal direction, an antibody heavy chain variable domain (VH), an antibody constant heavy chain constant domain 1(CA1 or CA 1), an antibody heavy chain constant domain 2(CA2 or CA 2), and an antibody heavy chain constant domain 3(CA3 or CA 3) which may comprise a tail fragment.
As indicated above, the variable regions allow the binding molecule to selectively recognize and specifically bind to an epitope on an antigen. That is, a subset of the VL and VH domains or Complementarity Determining Regions (CDRs) of a binding molecule (e.g., an antibody) combine to form an antigen binding domain. More specifically, the antigen binding domain may be defined by three CDRs on each VH and VL chain. Some antibodies form larger structures. For example, IgA can form molecules comprising two H2L2 binding units and a J chain that are covalently linked by disulfide bonds, which can also associate with secretory components, and IgM can form pentameric or hexameric molecules comprising five or six H2L2 binding units and J chains, optionally covalently linked by disulfide bonds.
The six "complementarity determining regions" or "CDRs" present in an antibody antigen-binding domain are short, non-contiguous amino acid sequences that are specifically positioned to form the antigen-binding domain when the antibody assumes its three-dimensional configuration in an aqueous environment. The remaining amino acids in the binding domain are referred to as "backbone" regions, which show less inter-molecular variability. The framework regions adopt predominantly a β -sheet conformation, and the CDRs form loops that connect and in some cases form part of the β -sheet structure. Thus, the framework regions act to form a scaffold that provides for the positioning of the CDRs in the correct orientation by interchain non-covalent interactions. The binding domain formed by the positioned CDRs defines a surface complementary to an epitope on the immunoreactive antigen. This complementary surface facilitates non-covalent binding of the antibody to its cognate epitope. For any given heavy or light chain variable region, the amino acids that make up the CDR and framework regions, respectively, are readily identifiable by those of ordinary skill in the art, as they are defined in a variety of different ways (see, "Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest," Kabat, E., et al, U.S. department of Health and Human Services, (1983); and Chothiaand Lesk, J.mol.biol.,196:901 917(1987), which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety).
Where there are two or more definitions of a term used and/or recognized in the art, the definitions of the terms used herein are meant to include all such meanings unless explicitly stated to the contrary. A specific example is the use of the term "complementarity determining regions" ("CDRs") to describe non-contiguous antigen binding sites found within the variable regions of heavy and light chain polypeptides. These particular regions have been described, for example, by Kabat et al, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, "Sequences of Proteins of immunological Interest" (1983), and by Chothia et al, J.mol.biol.196:901-917(1987), which are incorporated herein by reference. The Kabat and Chothia definitions include overlaps or subsets of amino acids when compared to each other. However, unless otherwise indicated, use of any definition (or other definition known to those of ordinary skill in the art) that refers to a CDR of an antibody or variant thereof is intended to fall within the scope of the terms defined and used herein. Suitable amino acids encompassing the CDRs defined by each of the above-cited references are listed in table 1 below for comparison. The exact number of amino acids covering a particular CDR will vary depending on the sequence and size of the CDR. Given the variable region amino acid sequence of an antibody, one skilled in the art can routinely determine which amino acids comprise a particular CDR.
TABLE 1CDR definitions*
Kabat
Chothia
VH CDR1
31-35
26-32
VH CDR2
50-65
52-58
VH CDR3
95-102
95-102
VL CDR1
24-34
26-32
VL CDR2
50-56
50-52
VL CDR3
89-97
91-96
*The numbering of all CDR definitions in Table 1 is according to the numbering convention proposed by Kabat et al (see below)。
For example, the IMGT information system (www:// IMGT. circuits. fr /) (
Kabat et al also define a numbering system for the variable domain sequences applicable to any antibody. One of ordinary skill in the art can explicitly assign this "Kabat numbering" system to any variable domain sequence, without relying on any experimental data other than the sequence itself. As used herein, "Kabat numbering" refers to the numbering system set forth by: kabat et al, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, "Sequence of Proteins of immunological Interest" (1983). However, all amino acid sequences in this disclosure use sequential numbering unless explicitly indicated to use the Kabat numbering system.
Binding molecules, e.g., antibodies or antigen binding fragments, variants or derivatives thereof, or multimeric, variant or derivatives thereof including, but not limited to, polyclonal, monoclonal, human, humanized or chimeric antibodies, single chain antibodies, epitope binding fragments, e.g., Fab 'and F (ab')2Fd, Fv, single chain Fv (scFv), single chain antibody, disulfide linked Fv (sdFv), fragments comprising a VL or VH domain, fragments produced by a Fab expression library. ScFv molecules are known in the art and described, for example, in U.S. patent 5,892,019.
"specific binding" generally refers to binding of a binding molecule (e.g., an antibody or fragment, variant, or derivative thereof) to an epitope through its antigen binding domain, and binding requires some complementarity between the antigen binding domain and the epitope. By this definition, a binding molecule can be judged to "specifically bind" to an epitope when it binds to the epitope more readily by its antigen binding domain than it does to a random unrelated epitope. The term "specificity" is used herein to define the relative affinity of a binding molecule for binding to an epitope. For example, it can be considered that for a given epitope, binding molecule "a" has a higher specificity than binding molecule "B", or binding molecule "a" can be judged to bind epitope "C" with a higher specificity than the relevant epitope "D".
A binding molecule (e.g., an antibody or fragment, variant, or derivative thereof) disclosed herein can be determined to bind to a target antigen with an off-rate (k (off)) of less than or equal to
A binding molecule (e.g., an antibody or antigen-binding fragment, variant, or derivative) disclosed herein can be judged to bind to a target antigen with a binding ratio (k (on)) of greater than or equal to 103M-1Second of-1、5X 103M-1Second of-1、104M-1Second of-1、5X104M-1Second of-1、105M-1Second of-1、5X 105M-1Second of-1、106M-1Second of-1Or 5X 106M-1Second of-1Or 107M-1Second of-1。
A binding molecule (e.g., an antibody or fragment, variant, or derivative thereof) can be said to competitively inhibit binding of a reference antibody or antigen-binding fragment to an epitope if it preferentially binds to the epitope to the extent that it blocks binding of the reference antibody or antigen-binding fragment to the given epitope. Competitive inhibition can be determined by any method known in the art, such as a competitive ELISA assay. A binding molecule can be judged to competitively inhibit the binding of a reference antibody or antigen binding fragment to a given epitope by at least 90%, at least 80%, at least 70%, at least 60%, or at least 50%.
As used herein, the term "affinity" refers to a measure of the strength of binding of a single epitope to, for example, one or more binding domains of an immunoglobulin molecule. See, for example, Harlow et al, Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 2 nd edition, 1988), pages 27 to 28. As used herein, the term "avidity" refers to the overall stability of the complex between a population of binding domains and an antigen. See, e.g., Harlow, pages 29 to 34. Affinity is not only related to the affinity of individual binding domains in a population for a particular epitope, but also to the valency of the immunoglobulin and antigen. For example, the interaction between a bivalent monoclonal antibody and an antigen with a highly repetitive epitope structure such as a multimer will be a high avidity interaction. The interaction between the bivalent monoclonal antibody and the receptors present at high density on the cell surface will also have high affinity.
A binding molecule as disclosed herein, or an antigen-binding fragment, variant or derivative thereof, may also be described or specified in terms of its cross-reactivity. As used herein, the term "cross-reactivity" refers to the ability of a binding molecule (e.g., an antibody or fragment, variant, or derivative thereof) specific for one antigen to react with a second antigen; a measure of the correlation between two different antigenic substances. Thus, a binding molecule is cross-reactive if it binds to an epitope other than the epitope that it is induced to form. Cross-reactive epitopes usually contain many of the same complementary structural features as the inducing epitope and, in some cases, may actually be more suitable than the original epitope.
Binding molecules (e.g., antibodies or fragments, variants or derivatives thereof) may also be described or specified in terms of their binding affinity to an antigen. For example, the binding molecule can bind to an antigen with a dissociation constant or KDNot more than 5x 10-2M、10-2M、5x10-3M、10-3M、5x 10-4M、10-4M、5x 10-5M、10-5M、5x 10-6M、10-6M、5x 10-7M、10-7M、5x 10-8M、10- 8M、5x 10-9M、10-9M、5x 10-10M、10-10M、5x 10-11M、10-11M、5x 10-12M、10-12M、5x 10-13M、10-13M、5x 10-14M、10-14M、5x 10-15M or 10-15M。
Antibody fragments including single chain antibodies or other binding domains may be present alone or in combination with one or more of the following: a hinge region, a CH1, CH2, CH3 or CH4-tp domain, a J chain or a secretory component. Also included are antigen-binding fragments that may include any combination of one or more variable regions and one or more of the following: a hinge region, a CH1, CH2, CH3 or CH4 domain, a J chain or a secretory component, for example, to allow multimerization. Binding molecules, e.g., antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof, can be from any animal source, including birds and mammals. The antibody may be human, murine, donkey, rabbit, goat, guinea pig, camel, llama, horse or chicken. In another embodiment, the variable region may be of cartilaginous fish (condricthoid) origin (e.g., from sharks). As used herein, "human" antibodies include antibodies having the amino acid sequence of a human immunoglobulin, and include antibodies isolated from a human immunoglobulin library or from an animal transgenic for one or more human immunoglobulins, and may in some cases express endogenous immunoglobulins, and in some cases do not, as described below, and for example, in U.S. patent No. 5,939,598 to Kucherlapati et al.
As used herein, the term "subunit" refers to a single polypeptide chain combined with other identical or heterologous polypeptide chains to produce a binding molecule (e.g., an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof).
As used herein, the term "heavy chain subunit" includes amino acid sequences derived from an immunoglobulin heavy chain, and a binding molecule (e.g., an antibody) comprising a heavy chain subunit can include at least one of: a VH domain, a CH1 domain, a hinge (e.g., upper, middle, and/or lower hinge region) domain, a CH2 domain, a CH3 domain, a CH4-tp domain, or variants or fragments thereof. For example, binding molecules (e.g., antibodies or fragments, variants, or derivatives thereof) can include, but are not limited to: a CH1 domain in addition to the VH domain; a CH1 domain, a hinge, and a CH2 domain; a CH1 domain and a CH3 domain; a CH1 domain, a hinge, and a CH3 domain; or a CH1 domain, a hinge domain, a CH2 domain, and a CH3 domain. In certain aspects, a binding molecule (e.g., an antibody or fragment, variant, or derivative thereof) can include, in addition to a VH domain, a CH3 domain and a CH4-tp domain; or a CH3 domain, a CH4-tp domain, and a J chain. The constant region portions may in some cases be from the same isotype, e.g., all C μ constant domains, or they may be a mixture, e.g., some constant domains may be C μ constant domains (e.g., C μ 4-tp domains) while other constant domains may be from another antibody isotype (e.g., C γ 2 and C γ 3 constant domains). Furthermore, binding molecules for use in the present disclosure may lack certain constant region portions, e.g., all or part of the CH2 domain. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that these domains (e.g., heavy chain subunits) can be modified such that they differ in amino acid sequence from the original immunoglobulin molecule.
As used herein, the term "light chain subunit" includes amino acid sequences derived from an immunoglobulin light chain. The light chain subunits include at least a VL, and may also include a CL (e.g., ck or C λ) domain.
A binding molecule (e.g., an antibody or antigen-binding fragment, variant, or derivative thereof) can be described or specified in terms of one or more epitopes or portions of an antigen that it recognizes or specifically binds to. The portion of the target antigen that specifically interacts with the antigen binding domain of an antibody is an "epitope" or "antigenic determinant. The target antigen may comprise a single epitope or at least two epitopes, and may include any number of epitopes, depending on the size, conformation, and type of antigen.
As previously mentioned, the structure and three-dimensional configuration of the constant regions of various immunoglobulin classes are well known. As used herein, the term "VH domain" includes the amino-terminal variable domain of an immunoglobulin heavy chain, and the term "CH 1 domain" includes the first (amino-most) constant region domain of an immunoglobulin heavy chain. The CH1 domain is adjacent to the VH domain and is amino-terminal to the hinge region of a typical IgG heavy chain molecule.
As used herein, the term "CH 2 domain" includes the portion of a heavy chain molecule that extends from about amino acid 244 to amino acid 360 of an IgG antibody, e.g., using conventional numbering schemes (amino acids 244 to 360, Kabat numbering system; and amino acids 231 to 340, EU numbering system; see Kabat EA et al, op. The CH3 domain extends from the CH2 domain to the C-terminus of the IgG molecule and comprises about 108 amino acids. Certain immunoglobulin classes, e.g., IgM, also include the CH4-tp region.
As used herein, the term "hinge region" includes the portion of the heavy chain molecule that connects the CH1 domain to the CH2 domain in IgG, IgA, and IgD heavy chains. This hinge region comprises about 25 amino acids and is flexible, allowing the two N-terminal antigen binding regions to move independently.
As used herein, the term "disulfide bond" includes a covalent bond formed between two sulfur atoms. The amino acid cysteine comprises a thiol group which can form a disulfide bond or bridge with a second thiol group.
As used herein, the term "chimeric antibody" refers to an antibody in which the immunoreactive region or site is obtained or derived from a first species and the constant region (which may be intact, partial or modified) is obtained from a second species. In some embodiments, the target binding region or site will be from a non-human source (e.g., mouse or primate) and the constant region is human.
The term "multispecific antibody" or "bispecific antibody" refers to an antibody having binding domains directed to two or more different epitopes within a single antibody molecule. In addition to standard antibody structures, other binding molecules can be constructed with both binding specificities. The epitopes bound by the bispecific or multispecific antibodies may be simultaneous or sequential. Triomas and hybrid hybridomas are two examples of bispecific antibody-secreting cell lines. Bispecific antibodies can also be constructed by recombinant means. (
The term "engineered antibody" as used herein refers to an antibody in which the variable domains in the heavy and light chains or both are altered by at least partial replacement of one or more amino acids in the CDR or framework regions. In certain aspects, the entire CDR from an antibody of known specificity can be grafted into the framework region of a heterologous antibody. Although the alternative CDRs may be derived from the same class or even subclass of antibody as the framework region derived antibody, the CDRs may also be derived from a different class of antibody, for example, from a different species of antibody. An engineered antibody in which one or more "donor" CDRs from a non-human antibody of known specificity are grafted into a human heavy or light chain framework region is referred to herein as a "humanized antibody". In certain aspects, not all CDRs are replaced with complete CDRs from the donor variable region, but the antigen binding capacity of the donor can still be transferred to the acceptor variable domain. It would be well within the ability of those skilled in the art to obtain functionally engineered or humanized antibodies by performing routine experimentation or by trial and error, according to the explanations set forth, for example, in U.S. Pat. nos. 5,585,089, 5,693,761, 5,693,762, and 6,180,370.
As used herein, the term "engineering" includes manipulation of a nucleic acid or polypeptide molecule by synthetic means (e.g., by recombinant techniques, in vitro peptide synthesis, by enzymatic or chemical coupling of peptides, or some combination of these techniques).
As used herein, the terms "connect," "fuse," or other grammatical equivalents may be used interchangeably. These terms refer to the joining together of two or more elements or components by any means including chemical conjugation or recombinant means. By "in-frame fusion" is meant joining two or more polynucleotide Open Reading Frames (ORFs) to form a continuous longer ORF, in a manner that preserves the translational reading frame of the original ORF. Thus, a recombinant fusion protein is a single protein containing two or more fragments corresponding to the polypeptide encoded by the original ORF (which fragments would not normally be so linked in nature). Although the reading frame is thus contiguous throughout the fusion fragment, the fragments may be physically or spatially separated, for example, by in-frame linker sequences. For example, polynucleotides encoding CDRs of an immunoglobulin variable region can be fused in frame, but isolated by polynucleotides encoding at least one immunoglobulin framework region or additional CDR regions, so long as the "fused" CDRs are co-translated as part of a continuous polypeptide.
As used herein, the term "cross-linking" refers to the joining together of two or more molecules by a third molecule. For example, a bivalent antibody having two binding domains that specifically bind the same antigen can "cross-link" two copies of the antigen, e.g., when it is expressed on a cell. Many TNF superfamily receptor proteins, including DR5, require cross-linking of three or more receptors on the cell surface to be activated. Cross-linking of DR5 protein means, for example, contacting a binding molecule disclosed herein with DR5 expressed on the surface of a cell such that at least three DR5 monomers are bound together simultaneously by one or more binding molecules, thereby activating the receptor.
In the context of a polypeptide, a "linear sequence" or "sequence" is the sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide in the amino-to carboxy-terminal direction, wherein the amino acids immediately adjacent to each other in the sequence are contiguous in the primary structure of the polypeptide. The portion of a polypeptide "amino-terminal" or "N-terminal" to another portion of the polypeptide is that portion which occurs earlier in the sequential polypeptide chain. Similarly, a portion of a polypeptide that is "carboxy-terminal" or "C-terminal" to another portion of the polypeptide is that portion of the polypeptide that occurs later in the sequential polypeptide chain. For example, in a typical antibody, the variable domain is "N-terminal" to the constant region, and the constant region is "C-terminal" to the variable domain.
As used herein, the term "expression" refers to the process by which a gene produces a biochemical, e.g., a polypeptide. The process includes any manifestation of the functional presence of genes within the cell, including but not limited to gene knockdown as well as transient and stable expression. Including, but not limited to, transcription of a gene into RNA, e.g., messenger RNA (mRNA), and translation of such mRNA into one or more polypeptides. If the final desired product is a biochemical, expression includes creating the biochemical and any precursors. Expression of a gene results in a "gene product". As used herein, a gene product can be a nucleic acid, e.g., a messenger RNA produced by transcription of a gene, or can be a polypeptide translated from a transcript. Gene products described herein also include nucleic acids with post-transcriptional modifications (e.g., polyadenylation), or polypeptides with post-translational modifications (e.g., methylation, glycosylation, addition of lipids, association with other protein subunits, proteolytic cleavage, etc.).
As used herein, the terms "cancer" and "cancerous" refer to or describe the physiological condition of a mammal in which a population of cells is characterized by unregulated cell growth. Cancers may be classified as, for example, a solid tumor or malignancy, or a hematologic cancer or malignancy. Both types can migrate as a metastasis to a remote site. Solid tumors can be classified, for example, as sarcomas, carcinomas, melanomas or metastases thereof.
The terms "proliferative disorder" and "proliferative disease" refer to a disease associated with abnormal cell proliferation, such as cancer. As used herein, "tumor" and "neoplasm" refer to any tissue mass, whether benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous), including precancerous lesions, resulting from excessive cell growth or proliferation.
As used herein, the terms "metastasis," "metastatic," and other grammatical equivalents refer to the spread or metastasis of cancer cells from a primary site (e.g., a primary tumor) to other regions of the human body where similar cancerous lesions develop at the new site. "metastatic" or "metastatic" cells are cells that lose adhesive contact with neighboring cells and migrate from the site of origin of the disease through the bloodstream or lymph to invade adjacent human structures. The term also refers to the process of metastasis, which includes, but is not limited to, the isolation of cancer cells from the primary tumor, the introgression of tumor cells into the circulation, their survival and migration to distant sites, attachment and extravasation from the circulation to new sites, the formation of micro-colonies at distant sites, and tumor growth and development at distant sites.
Examples of such solid tumors can include, for example, squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, breast ductal carcinoma, soft tissue sarcoma, osteosarcoma, melanoma, small-cell lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), lung adenocarcinoma, peritoneal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, gastrointestinal cancer, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, neuroendocrine cancer, glioblastoma, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, liver cancer, bladder cancer, brain cancer, hepatoma, breast cancer, colon cancer, colorectal cancer, endometrial or uterine cancer, esophageal cancer, salivary gland carcinoma, kidney cancer, prostate cancer, vulval cancer, thyroid cancer, head and neck cancer, any metastasis thereof, or any combination thereof.
Examples of hematological cancers or malignancies include, but are not limited to, leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, acute myeloid leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, hairy cell leukemia, hodgkin's lymphoma, non-hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma, any metastasis thereof, or any combination thereof.
In certain embodiments, cancers suitable for treatment by the methods provided herein include, but are not limited to, sarcoma, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, head and neck cancer, NSCLC, esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, renal cancer, liver cancer, bladder cancer, colorectal cancer, and pancreatic cancer.
The term "therapeutically effective amount" refers to an amount of an antibody, polypeptide, polynucleotide, small organic molecule, or other drug effective to "treat" or, in some cases, "prevent" a disease or disorder in a subject (e.g., a human). In the case of cancer, a therapeutically effective amount of the drug may reduce the number of cancer cells; delay or stop cancer cell division, reduce or delay increase in tumor size; inhibiting, e.g., suppressing, delaying, preventing, stopping, delaying or reversing the infiltration of cancer cells into peripheral organs, including, e.g., the spread of cancer into soft tissue and bone; inhibiting, e.g., suppressing, delaying, arresting, shrinking, stopping, delaying or reversing tumor metastasis; inhibit, e.g., suppress, retard, prevent, stop, delay, or reverse tumor growth; relieve to some extent one or more symptoms associated with cancer, reduce morbidity and mortality; improving the quality of life; or a combination of such effects. So long as the drug prevents growth and/or kills existing cancer cells, it may be referred to as cytostatic and/or cytotoxic.
Terms such as "treating" or "alleviating" refer to 1) therapeutic measures that cure, slow, alleviate the symptoms of, reverse and/or stop the progression of the diagnosed pathological condition or disorder, and 2) prophylactic or preventative measures that prevent and/or slow the development of the targeted pathological condition or disorder. Thus, those in need of treatment include those already with the disorder; those susceptible to the disorder; and those that will prevent the disorder. A subject is successfully "treated" according to the methods of the present disclosure if the patient shows one or more of the following: a reduction in the number of cancer cells or the complete absence thereof; reducing tumor size; or to retard or reverse tumor growth, inhibit, e.g., suppress, prevent, retard, shrink, delay or reverse, e.g., metastasis of cancer cell infiltration into peripheral organs, including, e.g., spread of cancer to soft tissue and bone; inhibiting, e.g., suppressing, delaying, arresting, shrinking, reversing, delaying or absence of tumor metastasis; inhibit, e.g., suppress, retard, arrest, shrink, reverse, delay or absence of tumor growth; alleviating one or more symptoms associated with a particular cancer; reducing morbidity and mortality; improving the quality of life; or some combination of effects. Beneficial or desired clinical results include, but are not limited to, alleviation of symptoms, diminishment of extent of disease, stabilized (i.e., not worsening) disease state, delay or slowing of disease progression, amelioration or palliation of the disease state, and remission (whether partial or total), whether detectable or undetectable. "treatment" may also mean prolonging survival compared to expected survival when not receiving treatment. Those in need of treatment include those already with the disorder or condition, as well as those susceptible to or to be prevented from the disorder or condition.
By "subject" or "individual" or "animal" or "patient" or "mammal" is meant any subject, particularly a mammalian subject, in need of diagnosis, prognosis or treatment. Mammalian subjects include humans, domestic animals, farm animals, and zoo, stadium, or pet animals such as dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, rats, mice, horses, pigs, cows, bears, and the like.
As used herein, phrases such as "a subject that will benefit from treatment" and "an animal in need of treatment" include subjects, such as mammalian subjects, that will benefit from administration of a binding molecule, such as an antibody, comprising one or more antigen binding domains. Such binding molecules, e.g., antibodies, can be used, for example, in diagnostic procedures and/or in the treatment or prevention of disease.
IgM binding molecules
IgM is the first immunoglobulin produced by B cells in response to antigenic stimulation and is present in serum at about 1.5mg/ml with a half-life of 5 days. IgM is a pentameric or hexameric molecule. The IgM binding unit comprises two light chains and two heavy chains. While IgG contains three heavy chain constant domains (CH1, CH2, and CH3), the heavy (μ) chain of IgM also contains a fourth constant domain (CH4) that includes a C-terminal "tail fragment" (tp). The human IgM constant region usually comprises the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 74. The human C.mu.1 region ranges from about amino acid 5 to about amino acid 102 of SEQ ID NO 74; the human C.mu.2 region ranges from about amino acid 114 to about amino acid 205 of SEQ ID NO. 74, the human C.mu.3 region ranges from about amino acid 224 to about amino acid 319 of SEQ ID NO. 74, the C.mu.4 region ranges from about amino acid 329 to about amino acid 430 of SEQ ID NO. 74, and the tail segment ranges from about amino acid 431 to about amino acid 453 of SEQ ID NO. 74. SEQ ID NO 74 is shown below:
GSASAPTLFPLVSCENSPSDTSSVAVGCLAQDFLPDSITLSWKYKNNSDISSTRGFPSVLRGGKYAATSQVLLPSKDVMQGTDEHVVCKVQHPNGNKEKNVPLPVIAELPPKVSVFVPPRDGFFGNPRKSKLICQATGFSPRQIQVSWLREGKQVGSGVTTDQVQAEAKESGPTTYKVTSTLTIKESDWLGQSMFTCRVDHRGLTFQQNASSMCVPDQDTAIRVFAIPPSFASIFLTKSTKLTCLVTDLTTYDSVTISWTRQNGEAVKTHTNISESHPNATFSAVGEASICEDDWNSGERFTCTVTHTDLPSPLKQTISRPKGVALHRPDVYLLPPAREQLNLRESATITCLVTGFSPADVFVQWMQRGQPLSPEKYVTSAPMPEPQAPGRYFAHSILTVSEEEWNTGETYTCVAHEALPNRVTERTVDKSTGKPTLYNVSLVMSDTAGTCY
five IgM binding units can form a complex with another small polypeptide chain (J-chain) to form an IgM antibody. Mature human J chain comprises the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 76. In the absence of J chains, IgM binding units typically assemble into hexamers. While not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the assembly of IgM binding units into pentameric or hexameric binding molecules involves the C μ 3 and C μ 4 domains. Thus, pentameric or hexameric binding molecules provided in the present disclosure typically comprise an IgM constant region comprising at least C μ 3 and C μ 4 domains. 76 is shown below:
QEDERIVLVDNKCKCARITSRIIRSSEDPNEDIVERNIRIIVPLNNRENISDPTSPLRTRFVYHLSDLCKKCDPTEVELDNQIVTATQSNICDEDSATETCYTYDRNKCYTAVVPLVYGGETKMVETALTPDACYPD
the IgM heavy chain constant region may further comprise a C μ 2 domain or fragment thereof, a C μ 1 domain or fragment thereof, and/or other IgM heavy chain domains. In certain aspects, a binding molecule provided herein can include an intact IgM heavy (μ) chain constant domain, e.g., SEQ ID NO:74, or a variant, derivative, or analog thereof.
Pentameric or hexameric anti-DR 5 binding molecules
The present disclosure provides a pentameric or hexameric binding molecule, i.e., a binding molecule having five or six "binding units" as defined herein, which can specifically bind DR 5. The binding molecules provided herein can have improved binding characteristics or biological activity compared to binding molecules consisting of a single binding unit (e.g., a bivalent IgG antibody). For example, a pentameric or hexameric binding molecule may more effectively cross-link three or more DR5 molecules on the surface of a cell (e.g., a tumor cell), thereby promoting apoptosis.
The binding molecules provided herein can also have unique characteristics as compared to multivalent binding molecules consisting of synthetic or chimeric structures. For example, the use of a human IgM constant region can result in reduced immunogenicity and thus improved safety relative to binding molecules comprising chimeric constant regions or synthetic structures. Furthermore, IgM-based binding molecules can consistently form hexamer or pentamer oligomers, resulting in more uniform expression products. Excellent complement fixation may also be a favorable effector function of IgM-based binding molecules.
In certain aspects, the present disclosure provides a pentameric or hexameric binding molecule comprising five or six bivalent binding units, respectively, wherein each binding unit comprises two IgM heavy chain constant regions or fragments thereof. In certain aspects, the two IgM heavy chain constant regions are human heavy chain constant regions.
Where the binding molecules provided herein are pentamers, the binding molecules can further comprise a J chain, or fragment thereof, or variant thereof.
The IgM heavy chain constant region may comprise one or more of a C μ 1 domain, a C μ 2 domain, a C μ 3 domain and/or a C μ 4 domain, provided that the constant region may serve a desired function in a binding molecule, e.g. associate with a second IgM constant region to form a binding domain, or associate with other binding units to form a hexamer or pentamer. In certain aspects, two IgM heavy chain constant regions or fragments thereof within a single binding unit each comprise a C μ 3 domain or fragment thereof, a C μ 4 domain or fragment thereof, a tail fragment (TP) or fragment thereof, or any combination of a C μ 3 domain C μ domain and a TP or fragment thereof. In certain aspects, each of the two IgM heavy chain constant regions or fragments thereof within a single binding unit further comprises a C μ 2 domain or fragment thereof, a C μ 1 domain or fragment thereof, or a C μ 1 domain or fragment thereof and a C μ 2 domain or fragment thereof.
In certain aspects, each of the two IgM heavy chain constant regions in a given binding unit is associated with an antigen binding domain, e.g., the Fv portion of an antibody, e.g., VH and VL of a human or murine antibody, wherein VL can be associated with a light chain constant region. In the binding molecules provided herein, the at least three antigen binding domains of the binding molecule are the DR5 binding domains, i.e. binding domains that can specifically bind DR5, e.g. human DR 5.
IgA binding molecules
IgA plays a key role in mucosal immunity and accounts for about 15% of the total immunoglobulins produced. IgA is a monomeric or dimeric molecule. IgA binding units comprise two light chains and two heavy chains. IgA comprises three heavy chain constant domains (C α 1, C α 2, and C α 3), and includes a C-terminal "tail segment". Human IgA has two subtypes, IgA1 and IgA 2. The human IgA1 constant region typically comprises the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 78. The human C.alpha.1 region ranges from about amino acid 6 to about amino acid 98 of SEQ ID NO. 78; the human C α 2 region ranges from about amino acid 125 to about amino acid 220 of SEQ ID NO. 78, the human C α 3 region ranges from about amino acid 228 to about amino acid 330 of SEQ ID NO. 78, and the tail segment ranges from about amino acid 331 to about amino acid 352 of SEQ ID NO. 78. The human IgA2 constant region typically comprises the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 79. The human C.alpha.1 region ranges from about amino acid 6 to about amino acid 98 of SEQ ID NO: 79; the human C α 2 region ranges from about amino acid 112 to about amino acid 207 of SEQ ID NO. 79, the human C α 3 region ranges from about amino acid 215 to about amino acid 317 of SEQ ID NO. 79, and the tail segment ranges from about amino acid 318 to about amino acid 340 of SEQ ID NO. 79. SEQ ID NOS 78 and 79 are shown below:
SEQ ID NO:78
ASPTSPKVFPLSLCSTQPDGNVVIACLVQGFFPQEPLSVTWSESGQGVTARNFPPSQDASGDLYTTSSQLTLPATQCLAGKSVTCHVKHYTNPSQDVTVPCPVPSTPPTPSPSTPPTPSPSCCHPRLSLHRPALEDLLLGSEANLTCTLTGLRDASGVTFTWTPSSGKSAVQGPPERDLCGCYSVSSVLPGCAEPWNHGKTFTCTAAYPESKTPLTATLSKSGNTFRPEVHLLPPPSEELALNELVTLTCLARGFSPKDVLVRWLQGSQELPREKYLTWASRQEPSQGTTTFAVTSILRVAAEDWKKGDTFSCMVGHEALPLAFTQKTIDRLAGKPTHVNVSVVMAEVDGTCY
SEQ ID NO:79
ASPTSPKVFPLSLDSTPQDGNVVVACLVQGFFPQEPLSVTWSESGQNVTARNFPPSQDASGDLYTTSSQLTLPATQCPDGKSVTCHVKHYTNPSQDVTVPCPVPPPPPCCHPRLSLHRPALEDLLLGSEANLTCTLTGLRDASGATFTWTPSSGKSAVQGPPERDLCGCYSVSSVLPGCAQPWNHGETFTCTAAHPELKTPLTANITKSGNTFRPEVHLLPPPSEELALNELVTLTCLARGFSPKDVLVRWLQGSQELPREKYLTWASRQEPSQGTTTFAVTSILRVAAEDWKKGDTFSCMVGHEALPLAFTQKTIDRMAGKPTHVNVSVVMAEVDGTCY
two IgA binding units can form complexes with two additional polypeptide chain J-chains (SEQ ID NO:76) and the secretory component (precursor, SEQ ID NO:80, mature, SEQ ID NO:81) to form secretory IgA (sIgA) antibodies. While not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that assembly of IgA binding units into dimeric sIgA binding molecules involves C α 3 and tail fragment domains. Accordingly, dimeric sIgA binding molecules provided in the present disclosure generally include an IgA constant region comprising at least C α 3 and a tail segment domain.
SEQ ID NO:80:
MLLFVLTCLLAVFPAISTKSPIFGPEEVNSVEGNSVSITCYYPPTSVNRHTRKYWCRQGARGGCITLISSEGYVSSKYAGRANLTNFPENGTFVVNIAQLSQDDSGRYKCGLGINSRGLSFDVSLEVSQGPGLLNDTKVYTVDLGRTVTINCPFKTENAQKRKSLYKQIGLYPVLVIDSSGYVNPNYTGRIRLDIQGTGQLLFSVVINQLRLSDAGQYLCQAGDDSNSNKKNADLQVLKPEPELVYEDLRGSVTFHCALGPEVANVAKFLCRQSSGENCDVVVNTLGKRAPAFEGRILLNPQDKDGSFSVVITGLRKEDAGRYLCGAHSDGQLQEGSPIQAWQLFVNEESTIPRSPTVVKGVAGGSVAVLCPYNRKESKSIKYWCLWEGAQNGRCPLLVDSEGWVKAQYEGRLSLLEEPGNGTFTVILNQLTSRDAGFYWCLTNGDTLWRTTVEIKIIEGEPNLKVPGNVTAVLGETLKVPCHFPCKFSSYEKYWCKWNNTGCQALPSQDEGPSKAFVNCDENSRLVSLTLNLVTRADEGWYWCGVKQGHFYGETAAVYVAVEERKAAGSRDVSLAKADAAPDEKVLDSGFREIENKAIQDPRLFAEEKAVADTRDQADGSRASVDSGSSEEQGGSSRALVSTLVPLGLVLAVGAVAVGVARARHRKNVDRVSIRSYRTDISMSDFENSREFGANDNMGASSITQETSLGGKEEFVATTESTTETKEPKKAKRSSKEEAEMAYKDFLLQSSTVAAEAQDGPQEA
SEQ ID NO:81:
KSPIFGPEEVNSVEGNSVSITCYYPPTSVNRHTRKYWCRQGARGGCITLISSEGYVSSKYAGRANLTNFPENGTFVVNIAQLSQDDSGRYKCGLGINSRGLSFDVSLEVSQGPGLLNDTKVYTVDLGRTVTINCPFKTENAQKRKSLYKQIGLYPVLVIDSSGYVNPNYTGRIRLDIQGTGQLLFSVVINQLRLSDAGQYLCQAGDDSNSNKKNADLQVLKPEPELVYEDLRGSVTFHCALGPEVANVAKFLCRQSSGENCDVVVNTLGKRAPAFEGRILLNPQDKDGSFSVVITGLRKEDAGRYLCGAHSDGQLQEGSPIQAWQLFVNEESTIPRSPTVVKGVAGGSVAVLCPYNRKESKSIKYWCLWEGAQNGRCPLLVDSEGWVKAQYEGRLSLLEEPGNGTFTVILNQLTSRDAGFYWCLTNGDTLWRTTVEIKIIEGEPNLKVPGNVTAVLGETLKVPCHFPCKFSSYEKYWCKWNNTGCQALPSQDEGPSKAFVNCDENSRLVSLTLNLVTRADEGWYWCGVKQGHFYGETAAVYVAVEERKAAGSRDVSLAKADAAPDEKVLDSGFREIENKAIQDPR
the IgA heavy chain constant region can further comprise a C α 2 domain or fragment thereof, a C α 1 domain or fragment thereof, and/or other IgA heavy chain domains. In certain aspects, the binding molecules provided herein can include an intact IgA heavy (α) chain constant domain (e.g., SEQ ID NO:78 or SEQ ID NO:79), or a variant, derivative, or analog thereof.
Dimeric DR5 binding molecules
The present disclosure provides a dimeric binding molecule, e.g., a binding molecule having two IgA "binding units" as defined herein, or fragments, variants or derivatives thereof, that can specifically bind DR 5. The binding molecules provided herein can have improved binding characteristics or biological activity compared to binding molecules consisting of a single binding unit (e.g., a bivalent IgG antibody). For example, IgA-binding molecules can more effectively cross-link three or more DR5 monomers on the surface of a cell (e.g., a tumor cell), thereby promoting apoptosis. In addition, IgA binding molecules can reach mucosal sites, thereby providing greater tissue distribution of the binding molecules provided herein. The use of IgA-based binding molecules can allow for greater tissue distribution of binding molecules such as provided herein. Mucosal distribution may be beneficial for certain cancers such as lung cancer, gastric cancer, ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer, or squamous cell carcinoma. Likewise, the dimeric binding molecules provided herein can have a binding characteristic or biological activity that is distinguishable from binding molecules comprising five or six binding units (e.g., hexameric or pentameric IgM antibodies). For example, the dimer binding molecules will be smaller and may, for example, achieve better tissue penetration in solid tumors.
In certain aspects, the present disclosure provides a dimeric binding molecule comprising two bivalent binding units, wherein each binding unit comprises two IgA heavy chain constant regions or fragments thereof. In certain aspects, the two IgA heavy chain constant regions are human heavy chain constant regions.
The dimeric IgA binding molecules provided herein can further comprise a J chain, or a fragment thereof, or a variant thereof. The dimeric IgA binding molecules provided herein can further comprise a secretory component, or a fragment thereof, or a variant thereof.
The IgA heavy chain constant region may comprise one or more of a C α 1 domain, a C α 2 domain, and/or a C α 3 domain, provided that the constant region can serve a desired function in a binding molecule, e.g., association with a light chain constant region to facilitate formation of an antigen binding domain, or association with another IgA binding unit to form a dimeric binding molecule. In certain aspects, two IgA heavy chain constant regions or fragments thereof within a single binding unit each comprise a C α 3 domain or fragment thereof, a tail fragment (TP) or fragment thereof, or any combination of C α 3 domains, TPs or fragments thereof. In certain aspects, each of the two IgA heavy chain constant regions or fragments thereof within a single binding unit further comprises a C α 2 domain or fragment thereof, a C α 1 domain or fragment thereof, or a C α 1 domain or fragment thereof and a C α 2 domain or fragment thereof.
In certain aspects, each of the two IgA heavy chain constant regions in a given binding unit is associated with an antigen binding domain, e.g., the Fv portion of an antibody, e.g., the VH and VL of a human or murine antibody, wherein VL can be associated with a light chain constant region. In the binding molecules provided herein, the at least three antigen binding domains of the binding molecule are the DR5 binding domains, i.e. binding domains that can specifically bind DR5, e.g. human DR 5.
Modified J chain
In certain aspects, the J chain of a dimeric or pentameric binding molecule provided herein can be modified, e.g., by the introduction of a heterologous moiety or two or more heterologous moieties, without interfering with the ability of the IgM or IgA binding molecule to assemble and bind to its binding target. See PCT publication nos. WO2015/153912, WO 2017/059387, and WO2017/059380, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Thus, the dimeric or pentameric binding molecules provided herein, including multispecific dimeric or pentameric binding molecules as described elsewhere herein, may comprise a modified J chain or functional fragment thereof comprising a heterologous moiety introduced into the J chain or fragment thereof. In certain aspects, the heterologous moiety can be a peptide or polypeptide sequence fused in-frame to the J chain or chemically conjugated to the J chain. In certain aspects, the heterologous moiety can be a chemical moiety conjugated to the J-chain. Heterologous moieties to be attached to the J chain can include, but are not limited to, binding moieties, e.g., antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof, e.g., single chain fv (scfv) molecules, stabilizing peptides that can increase the half-life of dimeric or pentameric binding molecules, or chemical moieties, such as polymers or cytotoxins.
In some embodiments, the modified J chain may comprise an antigen binding domain that may include, but is not limited to, a polypeptide (including a small peptide) capable of specifically binding a target antigen. In certain aspects, the antigen binding domain associated with the modified J chain can be an antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof, as described elsewhere herein. In certain aspects, the antigen binding domain may be, for example, a scFv binding domain or a single chain binding domain derived from a camelidae or cartilaginous fish antibody. The antigen binding domain may be introduced into the J chain at any position that allows the antigen binding domain to bind to its binding target without interfering with J chain function or the function of the associated IgM or IgA antibody. Insertion positions include, but are not limited to, internal positions accessible at or near the C-terminus, at or near the N-terminus, or based on the three-dimensional structure of the J-chain. In certain aspects, an antigen binding domain can be introduced into the human J chain of SEQ ID NO. 76 between cysteine residues 92 and 101 of SEQ ID NO. 76. In another aspect, the antigen binding domain can be introduced into the human J chain of SEQ ID NO:76 at or near the glycosylation site. In another aspect, the antigen binding domain can be introduced into the human J chain of SEQ ID NO. 76 within about 10 amino acid residues from the C-terminus.
DR5 binding domain
DR5 binding molecules provided herein, e.g., anti-DR 5 antibodies or fragments, variants, or derivatives thereof, can be dimers, pentamers, or hexamers comprising two, five, or six bivalent binding units, respectively. The binding unit may be full length or a variant or fragment thereof that retains the binding function.
Each binding unit comprises two IgA or IgM heavy chain constant regions or fragments thereof, each associated with an antigen binding domain. As mentioned above, an antigen binding domain is a region of a binding molecule that is necessary and sufficient for specific binding to an epitope. A "binding molecule" as described herein may comprise one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve or more "antigen binding domains".
The dimeric, pentameric or hexameric binding molecules provided herein can include at least three antigen binding domains that specifically and agonistically bind to DR 5. As mentioned above, DR5, upon activation, induces apoptosis of cells expressing the bound DR5 protein. As is currently understood, when multiple receptor proteins are bound together, receptor molecules are caused to cross-link, allowing signals to be transmitted across the cell membrane into the cytoplasm of DR 5-expressing cells, resulting in apoptosis.
The dimer, pentamer, or hexamer binding molecules provided herein can cross-link at least three DR5 monomers expressed on the surface of a cell. Due to the dimeric, pentameric, or hexameric nature of the DR5 binding molecules provided herein, the molecules can cross-link up to three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, or twelve DR5 monomers on a cell. The receptor proteins are then brought into spatial proximity to each other, thereby facilitating their cross-linking and activation. Cross-linking and activation of the receptor may occur when all five or all six bivalent binding unit DR5 binding molecules provided herein bind to the receptor, binding up to ten or twelve DR5 monomers, respectively, on a single cell.
Because each binding unit is divalent, each binding molecule can bind up to 10 (for pentameric binding molecules) or 12 (for hexameric binding molecules) DR5 monomers.
When the receptor is activated by binding of the dimeric, pentameric or hexameric binding molecules provided herein, the cell may undergo apoptosis as described above.
In certain aspects, a dimeric, pentameric, or hexameric binding molecule as presently disclosed may induce DR 5-mediated apoptosis in DR5 expressing cells with greater potency than an equivalent amount of a bivalent IgG antibody or fragment thereof that also specifically binds to and agonizes DR 5. Without wishing to be bound by theory, because the provided binding molecules are dimers, pentamers, or hexamers, and because each binding unit is divalent, such binding molecules can induce receptor-mediated functions previously characterized as DR5 with greater potency than any single binding unit alone (such as the equivalent IgG binding unit). The IgG binding unit is bivalent, containing two binding sites, but as shown in previous clinical studies, the binding of two DR5 receptors to a single IgG molecule may be ineffective without the addition of other components (such as cross-linking agents, etc.).
By "potency" or "improved binding profile" is meant the minimum amount of a given binding molecule required to achieve a given biological result (e.g., 20%, 50%, or 90% activation of DR5 monomers in a given assay (e.g., ELISA or Western blot-based cysteine protease assay, annexin-v staining as seen by FACS analysis, or other assay). Or decreased tumor growth rate or increased survival in an in vivo tumor assay.
Because the binding molecules provided herein are dimers, pentamers, or hexamers, they may contain up to 4, 10, or 12 antigen binding domains, respectively. Each of the antigen binding domains can specifically bind to and agonize DR 5. In addition, each antigen binding domain may be specific for a particular epitope of DR 5.
Thus, a single dimer, pentamer, or hexamer binding molecule may: a) simultaneously binding to a single epitope on DR5, or b) binding to a number of different epitopes on DR 5.
The binding units of the dimeric, pentameric or hexameric binding molecules provided herein can be human, humanized or chimeric immunoglobulin binding units. Methods for humanizing immunoglobulin sequences are well known in the art. Thus, the nucleotide sequence encoding the dimeric pentamer or hexamer binding molecule polypeptide may be directly from a human sequence, or may be humanized or chimeric, i.e., encoded by sequences from a number of different species.
The cell expressing DR5 can be any animal cell. For example, in one embodiment, the cell is a human cell. For example, the cells can be cells of any one or more of a primate, rodent, canine, equine, and the like. Furthermore, the cell expressing DR5 may be a cancer cell. That is, the cells may be malignant or benign tumor cells.
The dimeric, pentameric or hexameric binding molecules provided herein can be genetically engineered such that their antigen binding domains are encoded by sequences known to specifically bind DR 5. The sequences of the variable regions of monoclonal antibodies have been published by a number of groups, most antibodies being of the IgG isotype characterized and known to specifically bind DR 5. Table 2 and table 3 provide non-limiting immunoglobulin variable domain sequences known to specifically bind DR 5. One skilled in the art can engineer these disclosed sequences into immunoglobulin structures, such as IgG, IgA, IgM structures, or biologically active or functional multimeric fragment variants or derivatives thereof. Methods for genetically engineering cloned variable regions into immunoglobulin domains, and expressing and purifying such constructs are disclosed and are within the purview of one skilled in the art.
Thus, in certain aspects, DR5 binding domains provided herein comprise six immunoglobulin complementarity determining regions HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2 and LCDR3, or six immunoglobulin complementarity determining regions having one, two, three, four or five single amino acid substitutions in one or more CDRs of an anti-DR 5 mAb, said anti-DR 5 mAb comprising VH and VL amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs 1 and 2, respectively; 3 and 4; 5 and 6 SEQ ID NO; 7 and 8 SEQ ID NO; 9 and 10; 11 and 12; 13 and 14; 15 and 16 SEQ ID NO; 17 and 18; 19 and 20; 21 and 22; 23 and 24; 25 and 26 SEQ ID NO; 27 and 28; 29 and 30 SEQ ID NO; 31 and 32 SEQ ID NO; 33 and 34; 35 and 36; 37 and 38; 39 and 40 of SEQ ID NO; 41 and 42; 43 and 44; SEQ ID NO 45 and SEQ ID NO 46; 47 and 48; 49 and 50; 51 and 52; 53 and 54 SEQ ID NO; 55 and 56 SEQ ID NO; 82 and 83; 84 and 85; 86 and 87 SEQ ID NO; or SEQ ID NO 88 and SEQ ID NO 89; or ScFv amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO 57, SEQ ID NO 58, SEQ ID NO 59, SEQ ID NO 60, SEQ ID NO 61, SEQ ID NO 62, SEQ ID NO 63, SEQ ID NO 64, SEQ ID NO 65, SEQ ID NO 66, SEQ ID NO 67, SEQ ID NO 68, SEQ ID NO 69, SEQ ID NO 70, SEQ ID NO 71, SEQ ID NO 72 or SEQ ID NO 73.
Table 3: anti-DR 5 ScFv sequence
In certain aspects, the DR5 binding domain comprises antibodies VH and VL, wherein VH and VL comprise amino acid sequences at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or 100% identical to: 1 and 2 SEQ ID NO; 3 and 4; 5 and 6 SEQ ID NO; 7 and 8 SEQ ID NO; 9 and 10; 11 and 12; 13 and 14; 15 and 16; 17 and 18; 19 and 20; 21 and 22; SEQ ID NO. 23 and SEQ ID NO. 24; 25 and 26 SEQ ID NO; 27 and 28; 29 and 30 SEQ ID NO; 31 and 32 SEQ ID NO; 33 and 34 SEQ ID NO; 35 and 36; 37 and 38; 39 and 40 of SEQ ID NO; 41 and 42; 43 and 44; 45 and 46 SEQ ID NO; 47 and 48; 49 and 50; 51 and 52; 53 and 54 SEQ ID NO; 55 and 56; 82 and 83; 84 and 85; 86 and 87 SEQ ID NO; or SEQ ID NO 88 and SEQ ID NO 89; or wherein VH and VL are in an ScFv comprising an amino acid sequence at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95% or 100% identical to: 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72 or 73.
Although a variety of different dimeric, pentameric and hexameric binding molecules may be envisaged by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the present disclosure and are therefore encompassed by the present disclosure, in certain aspects, there are provided binding molecules as described above, wherein each binding unit comprises two IgA or IgM heavy chains each comprising a VH amino terminal to an IgA or IgM constant region or fragment thereof, and two immunoglobulin light chains each comprising a VL amino terminal to an immunoglobulin light chain constant region.
Further, in certain aspects, at least one binding unit of a binding molecule, or at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, or at least six binding units of a binding molecule, comprises two DR5 binding domains as described above. In certain aspects, at least one binding unit of a binding molecule, or two DR5 binding domains in at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, or at least six binding units of a binding molecule, can be different from each other, or they can be the same.
In certain aspects, at least one binding unit of the binding molecule, or two IgA or IgM heavy chains within at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, or at least six binding units of the binding molecule are identical. In certain aspects, two identical IgA or IgM heavy chains within at least one binding unit, or within at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, or at least six binding units of a binding molecule comprise a heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequence as disclosed in tables 2 and 3.
In certain aspects, at least one binding unit of the binding molecule, or two light chains within at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, or at least six binding units of the binding molecule are identical. In certain aspects, two identical light chains within at least one binding unit, or within at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, or at least six binding units of a binding molecule are kappa (kappa) light chains, e.g., human kappa (kappa) light chains, or lambda (lambda) light chains, e.g., human lambda (lambda) light chains. In certain aspects, two identical light chains within at least one binding unit, or within at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, or at least six binding units of a binding molecule each comprise a light chain variable domain amino acid sequence as disclosed in table 2 and table 3.
In certain aspects, at least one, at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, or at least six binding units of a dimeric, pentameric, or hexameric binding molecule provided by the present disclosure comprise, or each comprise, two identical IgA or IgM heavy chain constant regions each comprising the same heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequence as disclosed in tables 2 and 3; and two identical light chains each comprising the same heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequence as disclosed in table 2 and table 3. According to this aspect, the DR5 binding domains in at least one binding unit of the binding molecule, or at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, or at least six binding units of the binding molecule may be identical. Further according to this aspect, the dimeric, pentameric or hexameric binding molecules provided herein can comprise at least one, at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, at least six, at least seven, at least eight, at least nine, at least ten, at least eleven or at least twelve copies of the DR5 binding domain as described above. In certain aspects, at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, or at least six binding units can be identical, and in certain aspects, the binding units can comprise identical binding domains, e.g., at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, at least six, at least seven, at least eight, at least nine, at least ten, at least eleven, or at least twelve DR5 binding domains can be identical.
In certain aspects, the dimeric, pentameric, or hexameric DR5 binding molecules provided herein can have advantageous structural or functional properties compared to other binding molecules. For example, binding is relative to dimer, pentamer or hexamer DR5 of a corresponding bivalent binding molecule having the same antigen binding domain. Biological assays include, but are not limited to, ELISA and Westernblot cysteine protease assays, as well as FACS analysis using stains indicative of apoptotic cell death, such as annexin-v. In certain aspects, the dimer, pentamer, or hexamer binding molecules provided herein can trigger apoptosis of DR5 expressing cells with greater potency than an equivalent amount of a monospecific bivalent IgG1 antibody or fragment thereof that binds to the same DR5 epitope as DR5 binding domain. In certain aspects, the dimer, pentamer, or hexamer binding molecules provided herein can trigger apoptosis of DR5 expressing cells with greater potency than an equivalent amount of a monospecific bivalent anti-DR 5 monoclonal antibody or fragment thereof that binds to the same DR5 epitope as the DR5 binding domain.
Polynucleotides, vectors and host cells
The present disclosure also provides polynucleotides, e.g., isolated recombinant and/or non-naturally occurring polynucleotides, comprising nucleic acid sequences encoding polypeptide subunits of the dimer, pentamer, or hexamer binding molecules provided herein. "polypeptide subunit" means an independently translatable binding molecule, binding unit, or portion of a binding domain. Examples include, but are not limited to, an antibody VH, an antibody VL, a single chain Fv, an antibody heavy chain, an antibody light chain, an antibody heavy chain constant region, an antibody light chain constant region, and/or any fragment thereof.
The present disclosure also provides compositions comprising two or more polynucleotides, wherein the two or more polynucleotides together can encode a dimeric, pentameric, or hexameric binding molecule as described above. In certain aspects, a composition may comprise a polynucleotide encoding an IgA or IgM heavy chain or fragment thereof, e.g., a human IgA or IgM heavy chain as described above, wherein the IgA or IgM heavy chain comprises at least a VH of a DR5 binding domain; and polynucleotides encoding light chains or fragments thereof, e.g., human kappa (kappa) or lambda (lambda) light chains comprising at least the VL of the DR5 binding domain. The provided polynucleotide compositions can also include a polynucleotide encoding a J chain (e.g., a human J chain or fragment or variant thereof). In certain aspects, the polynucleotides comprising the compositions provided herein can be located on two or three separate vectors, e.g., expression vectors. Such vectors are provided by the present disclosure. In certain aspects, two or more polynucleotides comprising a composition provided herein can be located on a single vector, e.g., an expression vector. Such vectors are provided by the present disclosure.
The present disclosure also provides a host cell, e.g., a prokaryotic or eukaryotic host cell, comprising a polynucleotide or two or more polynucleotides or any subunits thereof encoding a dimeric, pentameric or hexameric DR5 binding molecule provided herein, a polynucleotide composition provided herein, or a vector or two, three or more vectors or any subunits thereof collectively encoding a dimeric, pentameric or hexameric DR5 binding molecule provided herein. In certain aspects, host cells provided by the present disclosure may express a dimeric, pentameric or hexameric DR5 binding molecule or subunit thereof provided by the present disclosure.
In a related aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of making a dimeric, pentameric or hexameric DR5 binding molecule as provided by the present disclosure, wherein the method comprises culturing a host cell as described above and recovering the binding molecule.
Application method
The present disclosure provides a method for inhibiting, delaying or reducing malignant cell growth in a subject having cancer by administering to the subject a combination therapy comprising an effective amount of dimeric IgA antibodies or hexameric or pentameric IgM antibodies or multimeric antigen-binding fragments thereof that specifically and agonize binding to DR5, wherein at least three antigen-binding domains of the IgA or IgM antibodies or fragments thereof are DR5 specific and agonistic, in combination with an effective amount of the following chemotherapeutic agents: for example, a DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor, e.g., irinotecan or topotecan and/or combinations thereof; nucleoside analogues, for example, gemcitabine, cytarabine (ara-C) or fluorouracil (5-FU). Exemplary anti-DR 5 IgA and IgM antibodies and exemplary chemotherapeutic agents are described in detail elsewhere herein. In certain aspects, administration of a combination therapy provided herein can partially or completely inhibit the growth of a tumor or malignant cell, can delay the progression of tumor and malignant cell growth in a subject, can prevent spread of metastases in a subject, can reduce the size of a tumor in a subject, e.g., to allow for more successful surgical resection, or can result in any combination of positive therapeutic responses in a subject. Exemplary therapeutic responses that can be achieved are described herein.
In certain aspects, administration of a combination therapy may result in enhanced therapeutic efficacy relative to administration of anti-DR 5 IgA and IgM antibodies or chemotherapeutic agents alone (e.g., DNA topoisomerase I inhibitors, nucleoside analogs, or pro-apoptotic agents, e.g., BCL-2 inhibitors). In certain aspects, the improved therapeutic effect may be greater than the additive efficacy of each individual agent. In certain aspects, the improved therapeutic effect relative to any one agent administered alone, e.g., as measured by increased Tumor Growth Delay (TGD), increased frequency of tumor regression (e.g., complete tumor regression), or increased survival rate, is at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 100%, at least 150%, at least 200%, at least 250%, at least 300%, at least 350%, at least 400%, at least 450%, at least 500%, at least 550%, at least 600%, at least 650%, at least 700%, at least 750%, at least 800%, at least 850%, at least 900%, at least 950%, or at least 1000%. In certain aspects, the improved therapeutic effect relative to the additive efficacy of the two agents administered separately, e.g., as measured by increased Tumor Growth Delay (TGD), increased tumor regression frequency (e.g., complete tumor regression), or increased survival rate, is at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 100%, at least 150%, at least 200%, at least 250%, at least 300%, at least 350%, at least 400%, at least 450%, at least 500%, at least 550%, at least 600%, at least 650%, at least 700%, at least 750%, at least 800%, at least 850%, at least 900%, at least 950%, or at least 1000%. In certain aspects, the improvement can be complete tumor regression and complete survival. Improved activity may, for example, allow for the use of reduced doses, or may result in more effective killing of cells that are resistant to killing by standard therapies. By "resistance" is meant any degree of reduced activity of the "standard of care" for a given tumor or cancer type.
In certain aspects, the combination therapy methods provided herein can facilitate cancer treatment, for example, by slowing tumor growth, stopping tumor growth, or reducing the size of an existing tumor, when administered at an effective dose to a subject in need of cancer treatment.
In certain aspects, the DR5 expressing cell is an immortalized cell line, e.g., a cancer cell. The terms "cancer," "tumor," "cancerous," and "malignant" refer to or describe the physiological condition of a mammal that is generally characterized by unregulated cell growth. Examples of cancer include, but are not limited to, carcinomas, including adenocarcinomas, lymphomas, blastomas, melanomas, sarcomas, and leukemias. More specific examples of such cancers include squamous cell cancer, small-cell lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, hodgkin lymphoma and non-hodgkin lymphoma, pancreatic cancer, glioblastoma, glioma, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, liver cancer (such as liver cancer (hepatoma) and liver cancer (hepatoma)), bladder cancer, breast cancer (including hormone-mediated breast cancer), see, for example, Innes et al, (2006) br.j.cancer 94:1057-, such as mucinous ovarian cancer, cholangiocarcinoma (liver) and renal papillary carcinoma. Mucosal distribution of IgA-based binding molecules, e.g., as provided herein, can be beneficial for certain cancers, e.g., lung, ovarian, colorectal, or squamous cell carcinoma.
The effective dosage of a composition for treating cancer varies depending on many different factors including the mode of administration, the target site, the physiological state of the patient, whether the patient is a human or an animal, other drugs being administered, and whether the treatment is prophylactic or therapeutic. In certain aspects, the methods of treatment provided herein can provide increased safety because the compositions exhibit greater cytotoxicity (e.g., induce apoptosis to a greater extent) to cancer cells than to non-cancer cells (e.g., normal human hepatocytes). Typically, the patient is a human, but non-human mammals, including transgenic mammals, can also be treated. Therapeutic doses can be titrated using routine methods known to those skilled in the art to optimize safety and efficacy.
The compositions of the present disclosure may be administered by any suitable method, for example, parenterally, intracerebroventricularly, orally, by inhalation nebulization, topically, rectally, nasally, buccally, vaginally, or via an implanted depot. The term "parenteral" as used herein includes subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, intraarticular, intrasynovial, intrasternal, intrathecal, intrahepatic, intralesional and intracranial injection or infusion techniques.
The subject to be treated can be any animal in need of treatment, e.g., a mammal, in certain aspects, the subject is a human subject.
In its simplest form, the formulation to be administered to a subject is a dimer, pentamer, or hexamer binding anti-DR 5 antibody, or antigen-binding multimeric fragment, variant, or derivative thereof, provided herein administered in a conventional dosage form in combination with a chemotherapeutic agent (e.g., irinotecan), wherein the agent can be combined with a pharmaceutical excipient, carrier, or diluent as described elsewhere herein.
The DR5 binding molecules provided herein or antigen-binding multimeric fragments, variants, or derivatives thereof can be administered by any suitable method described elsewhere herein, for example by IV infusion. In certain aspects, DR 5-binding molecules provided herein, or antigen-binding multimeric fragments, variants, or derivatives thereof, can be introduced into a tumor or in the vicinity of a tumor cell.
All types of tumors may be amenable to treatment by such methods, including but not limited to breast, lung, pancreatic, ovarian, renal, colon, and bladder cancers, as well as melanoma, sarcoma, and lymphoma. Mucosal distribution may be beneficial for certain cancers such as lung cancer, ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer, or squamous cell carcinoma.
Topoisomerase I inhibitors
Topoisomerase is a popular target for cancer chemotherapy and various inhibitors have been or are being developed. Compounds that inhibit type I topoisomerase are currently in use or are being developed as cancer chemotherapeutic agents. In particular, irinotecan (7-ethyl-10- [4- (1-piperidinyl) -1-piperidinyl ] carbonylcamptothecin, also known as CPT-11) and topotecan (9- [ (dimethylamino) methyl ] -10-hydroxy- (4S) -camptothecin), two derivatives of the natural type I topoisomerase inhibitor camptothecin, are currently commercially available for the treatment of various cancers. Irinotecan is part of the "FOLFIRI" regimen of calcium formyltetrahydrofolate (calcium folinate), 5-fluorouracil and irinotecan, which are widely used in the treatment of advanced and metastatic colorectal cancer.
Irinotecan has the formula:
topotecan has the formula:
nucleoside analogues for chemotherapy
Gemcitabine (2 ', 2 ' -difluoro-2 ' deoxycytidine or dFdC) is a nucleoside analog used as a chemotherapy. It is FDA approved for the treatment of, for example, breast, pancreatic, lung and ovarian cancers. The gemcitabine has the formula:
as pyrimidine analogues, the drug displaces one of the components of the nucleic acid (in this case cytidine) in rapidly growing tumor cells during DNA replication. The process prevents the growth of the tumor because the new nucleoside cannot be attached to the "defective" nucleoside, resulting in apoptosis (cellular "suicide"). Gemcitabine is used in a variety of cancers: non-small cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer, and breast cancer. Gemcitabine is the standard of care for many pancreatic cancers.
Other FDA approved nucleoside analogs for cancer treatment include cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C or cytarabine) for the treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL), Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML), and non-hodgkin lymphoma (www _ dot _ drugs _ dot _ com/monograph/cytarabine. html (visited on day 11/2018), and fluorouracil (5-FU) for the treatment of colon, esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, breast, basal cell, and cervical cancers (www _ dot _ drugs _ dot _ com/monograph/fluorograph. html (visited on
5-FU has the formula:
b-cell lymphoma 2(BCL-2) inhibitors
The BCL-2 protein family is involved in the regulation of apoptosis. Proteins in this family that are associated with increased cell survival include BCL-2, BCL-XLBCL-2-like 2(BCL-W), myeloid leukemia sequence 1(MCL-1) and BCL-2 related protein A1 (BFL-1). Many small molecule inhibitors of these anti-apoptotic proteins have been investigated as potential treatments for hematological cancers such as relapsed or refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) and Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML). See, e.g., Cang, S. et al, J.Hematol.Oncol.8: 129-. Some of the earliest small molecule BCL-2 inhibitors developed were broad-spectrum. As above. For example, ABT-737 and ABT-263(Navitoclax) inhibit BCL-2, BCL-XLAnd BCL-w activity. These drugs have not progressed in clinical development due to the lower solubility and bioavailability of the former and dose limiting side effects of the latter. ABT-737(4- {4- [ (4' -chloro-2-biphenyl) methyl group]-1-piperazinyl } -N- [ (4- { [ (2R) -4- (dimethylamino) -1- (phenylsulfamoyl) -2-butyl]Amino } -3-nitrophenyl) sulphonyl]Benzamide) has the following structure:
ABT-263 (Navitoclax; 4- (4- { [2- (4-chlorophenyl) -5, 5-dimethyl-1-cyclohexen-1-yl ] methyl } -1-piperazinyl) -N- [ (4- { [ (2R) -4- (4-morpholinyl) -1- (phenylsulfamoyl) -2-butyl ] amino } -3- [ (trifluoromethyl) phenyl) sulfonyl ] benzamide) has the following structure:
on the other hand, ventoclax (ABT-199; 4- {4- [ (4 '-chloro-5, 5-dimethyl [3,4,5, 6-tetrahydro [1, 1' -biphenyl ] ] -2-yl) methyl ] piperazin-1-yl } -N- (3-nitro-4- { [ (oxo-4-yl) methyl ] amino } benzene-1-sulfonyl) -2- [ (1H-pyrrolo [2,3-b ] pyridin-5-yl) oxy ] benzamide) selectively inhibits BCL-2 protein only and is currently indicated for the treatment of CLL. Venetocalax has the following structure:
these drugs act to promote apoptosis of cancer cells (e.g., hematological malignancies). As above.
Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of administration
In view of this disclosure, methods of making and administering the dimeric, pentameric, or hexameric TNF receptor binding molecules provided herein to a subject in need thereof are well known or readily determined by those of skill in the art. The route of administration of the TNF receptor binding molecule may be, for example, oral, parenteral, by inhalation, or topical. The term "parenteral" as used herein includes, for example, intravenous, intraarterial, intraperitoneal, intramuscular, subcutaneous, rectal, or vaginal administration. Although these administration forms are considered to be suitable forms, another example of an administration form is a solution for injection, in particular for intravenous or intra-arterial injection or instillation. Suitable pharmaceutical compositions may comprise buffers (e.g., acetate, phosphate, or citrate buffers), surfactants (e.g., polysorbates), optional stabilizers (e.g., human albumin), and the like.
As discussed herein, the dimeric, pentameric, or hexameric DR5 binding molecules provided herein can be administered in a pharmaceutically effective amount to treat DR5 expressing cancers in vivo. In this regard, it is understood that the disclosed binding molecules can be formulated to aid in administration and to promote stability of the active agent. Thus, the pharmaceutical composition may comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic sterile carrier such as physiological saline, non-toxic buffers, preservatives and the like. A pharmaceutically effective amount of a dimeric, pentameric, or hexameric TNF receptor binding molecule provided herein refers to an amount sufficient to achieve effective binding to a target and obtain a therapeutic benefit. Suitable formulations are described in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences (Mack Publishing Co., 16 th edition, (1980)).
Certain pharmaceutical compositions may be administered orally in acceptable dosage forms, including, for example, capsules, tablets, aqueous suspensions or solutions. Certain pharmaceutical compositions may also be administered by nasal spray or inhalation. Such compositions are prepared as solutions in physiological saline using benzyl alcohol or other suitable preservatives, absorption promoters to enhance bioavailability, and/or other conventional solubilizing or dispersing agents.
The amount of dimeric, pentameric or hexameric DR5 binding molecules that can be combined with the carrier material to produce a single dosage form will vary depending on, for example, the subject being treated and the particular mode of administration. The composition may be administered in a single dose, multiple doses, or over a defined period of infusion. Dosage regimens may also be adjusted to provide the best desired response (e.g., a therapeutic or prophylactic response).
Within the scope of the present disclosure, the dimeric, pentameric or hexameric DR5 binding molecules provided herein can be administered to a subject in need of treatment in an amount sufficient to produce a therapeutic effect. The dimeric, pentameric or hexameric DR5 binding molecules provided herein can be administered to a subject in conventional dosage forms prepared by combining an antibody or antigen-binding fragment, variant or derivative thereof of the present disclosure with conventional pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or diluents according to known techniques. The form and characteristics of the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent may be determined by the amount of active ingredient combined therewith, the route of administration, and other well-known variables.
By "therapeutically effective dose or amount" or "effective amount" is meant the amount of dimeric, pentameric or hexameric DR5 binding molecule that, when administered, produces a positive therapeutic response relative to treatment of a subject having a DR5 expressing cancer.
The therapeutically effective dose of the compositions disclosed herein for treating cancer may vary depending on a number of different factors, including the mode of administration, the target site, the physiological state of the patient, whether the patient is a human or an animal, other drugs being administered, and whether the treatment is prophylactic or therapeutic. In certain aspects, the subject or patient is a human, but non-human mammals, including transgenic mammals, can also be treated. Therapeutic doses can be titrated using routine methods known to those skilled in the art to optimize safety and efficacy.
Given the present disclosure, one of ordinary skill in the art can readily determine, without undue experimentation, the amount of dimeric, pentameric, or hexameric DR5 binding molecules to be administered. Factors that influence the mode of administration and the respective amounts of dimeric, pentameric or hexameric DR5 binding molecules include, but are not limited to, the severity of the disease, the medical history of the disease, and the age, height, weight, health and physical condition of the individual receiving treatment. Similarly, the amount of dimeric, pentameric or hexameric TNF receptor binding molecule to be administered will depend on the mode of administration and whether the subject will receive a single dose or multiple doses of this agent.
The present disclosure also provides for the use of a dimeric, pentameric or hexameric DR5 binding molecule in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment, prevention or prophylaxis of cancer, wherein the cancer expresses DR 5.
Unless otherwise indicated, the present disclosure employs conventional techniques of cell biology, cell culture, molecular biology, transgenic biology, microbiology, recombinant DNA, and immunology, which are within the skill of the art. Such techniques are well described in the literature. See, e.g., Green and Sambrook, eds (2012) Molecular Cloning A Laboratory Manual (4 th edition; Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press); sambrook et al, eds. (1992) molecular cloning A Laboratory Manual, (Cold Springs Harbor Laboratory, NY); glover and b.d. hames, eds. (1995) DNA Cloning, 2 nd edition (IRL Press), volumes 1-4; gait, eds. (1990) Oligonucleotide Synthesis (IRL Press); mullis et al, U.S. patent nos. 4,683,195; hames and Higgins, eds (1985) Nucleic Acid Hybridization (IRL Press); hames And Higgins, eds (1984) transformation And transformation (IRL Press); freshney (2016) Culture Of animal cells, 7 th edition (Wiley-Blackwell); woodward, j., Immobilized Cells And Enzymes (irlpres) (1985); perbal (1988) A Practical Guide To Molecular Cloning; 2 nd edition (Wiley-Interscience); miller and Calos eds (1987) Gene Transfer Vectors For Mammarian Cells, (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory); makrides (2003) Gene Transfer and expression in Mammalian Cells (Elsevier Science); methods in Enzymology, Vol.151-; mayer and Walker, eds (1987) biochemical method Cell and Molecular Biology (Academic Press, London); weir and Blackwell, eds; and Ausubel et al, (1995) Current Protocols in Molecular Biology (John Wiley and sons).
General principles of Antibody Engineering are set forth in, for example, Strohl, w.r. and l.m.strohl (2012), Therapeutic Antibody Engineering (Woodhead Publishing). The general principles of Protein Engineering are proposed, for example, in Park and Cochran, eds (2009), Protein Engineering and Design (CDC Press). The general principles of immunology are presented, for example, in: abbas and Lichtman (2017) Cellular and molecular immunology 9 th edition (Elsevier). Furthermore, standard methods of Immunology known in the art can be followed, for example, Current Protocols in Immunology (Wiley Online Library); wild, d. (2013), the immunological Handbook, 4 th edition (Elsevier Science); greenfield, eds (2013), Antibodies, aLaboratory Manual, 2 nd edition (Cold Spring Harbor Press); and Ossipow and Fischer, eds. (2014), Monoclonal Antibodies: Methods and Protocols (Humana Press).
All references cited above and all references cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
The following examples are provided for illustration and not limitation.