Preclinical PET imaging of bispecific antibody ERY974 targeting CD3 and glypican 3 reveals that tumor uptake correlates to T cell infiltrate

Stijn Jh Waaijer, Danique Giesen, Takahiro Ishiguro, Yuji Sano, Naofumi Sugaya, Carolina P Schröder, Elisabeth Ge de Vries, Marjolijn N Lub-de Hooge*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Bispecific antibodies redirecting T cells to the tumor obtain increasing interest as potential cancer immunotherapy. ERY974, a full-length bispecific antibody targeting CD3ε on T cells and glypican 3 (GPC3) on tumors, has been in clinical development However, information on the influence of T cells on biodistribution of bispecific antibodies, like ERY974, is scarce. Here, we report the biodistribution and tumor targeting of zirconium-89 (89Zr) labeled ERY974 in mouse models using immuno-positron emission tomography (PET) imaging.

METHODS: To study both the role of GPC3 and CD3 on the biodistribution of [89Zr]Zr-N-suc-Df-ERY974, 89Zr-labeled control antibodies targeting CD3 and non-mammalian protein keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) or KLH only were used. GPC3 dependent tumor targeting of [89Zr]Zr-N-suc-Df-ERY974 was tested in xenograft models with different levels of GPC3 expression. In addition, CD3 influence on biodistribution of [89Zr]Zr-N-suc-Df-ERY974 was evaluated by comparing biodistribution between tumor-bearing immunodeficient mice and mice reconstituted with human immune cells using microPET imaging and ex vivo biodistribution. Ex vivo autoradiography was used to study deep tissue distribution.

RESULTS: In tumor-bearing immunodeficient mice, [89Zr]Zr-N-suc-Df-ERY974 tumor uptake was GPC3 dependent and specific over [89Zr]Zr-N-suc-Df-KLH/CD3 and [89Zr]Zr-N-suc-Df-KLH/KLH. In mice engrafted with human immune cells, [89Zr]Zr-N-suc-Df-ERY974 specific tumor uptake was higher than in immunodeficient mice. Ex vivo autoradiography demonstrated a preferential distribution of [89Zr]Zr-N-suc-Df-ERY974 to T cell rich tumor tissue. Next to tumor, highest specific [89Zr]Zr-N-suc-Df-ERY974 uptake was observed in spleen and lymph nodes.

CONCLUSION: [89Zr]Zr-N-suc-Df-ERY974 can potentially be used to study ERY974 biodistribution in patients to support drug development.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere000548
Number of pages10
JournalJournal for immunotherapy of cancer
Volume8
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

Keywords

  • antibodies
  • neoplasm
  • immunotherapy
  • lymphocyte activation
  • translational medical research
  • T-lymphocytes
  • BIODISTRIBUTION

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