Q1 · CROSS-FIELD
ArticleOA
Author: Tapia-Galisteo, Antonio ; Martínez-Torrecuadrada, Jorge ; Lykkemark, Simon ; Harwood, Seandean Lykke ; Mikkelsen, Kasper ; Blanco, Francisco J ; Caleiras, Eduardo ; Cuesta, Angel M ; Navarro, Rocio ; Aznar, M Angela ; Melero, Ignacio ; Zapata, Juan M ; Alvarez-Vallina, Luis ; Compte, Marta ; Zonca, Manuela ; Erce-Llamazares, Ainhoa ; Nuñez-Prado, Natalia ; Bernardino de la Serna, Jorge ; Merino, Nekane ; Sanz, Laura ; Perez-Chacon, Gema ; Muñoz, Ines G
AbstractThe costimulation of immune cells using first-generation anti-4-1BB monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) has demonstrated anti-tumor activity in human trials. Further clinical development, however, is restricted by significant off-tumor toxicities associated with FcγR interactions. Here, we have designed an Fc-free tumor-targeted 4-1BB-agonistic trimerbody, 1D8N/CEGa1, consisting of three anti-4-1BB single-chain variable fragments and three anti-EGFR single-domain antibodies positioned in an extended hexagonal conformation around the collagen XVIII homotrimerization domain. The1D8N/CEGa1 trimerbody demonstrated high-avidity binding to 4-1BB and EGFR and a potent in vitro costimulatory capacity in the presence of EGFR. The trimerbody rapidly accumulates in EGFR-positive tumors and exhibits anti-tumor activity similar to IgG-based 4-1BB-agonistic mAbs. Importantly, treatment with 1D8N/CEGa1 does not induce systemic inflammatory cytokine production or hepatotoxicity associated with IgG-based 4-1BB agonists. These results implicate FcγR interactions in the 4-1BB-agonist-associated immune abnormalities, and promote the use of the non-canonical antibody presented in this work for safe and effective costimulatory strategies in cancer immunotherapy.