Gene therapy for cancer: regulatory considerations for approval.

The rapidly changing field of gene therapy promises a number of innovative treatments for cancer patients. Advances in genetic modification of cancer and immune cells and the use of oncolytic viruses and bacteria have led to numerous clinical trials for cancer therapy, with several progressing to late-stage product development. At the time of this writing, no gene therapy product has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Some of the key scientific and regulatory issues include understanding of gene transfer vector biology, safety of vectors in vitro and in animal models, optimum gene transfer, long-term persistence or integration in the host, shedding of a virus and ability to maintain transgene expression in vivo for a desired period of time. Because of the biological complexity of these products, the FDA encourages a flexible, data-driven approach for preclinical safety testing programs. The clinical trial design should be based on the unique features of gene therapy products, and should ensure the safety of enrolled subjects. This article focuses on regulatory considerations for gene therapy product development and also discusses guidance documents that have been published by the FDA.

Potent antitumor activity of IL-13 cytotoxin in human pancreatic tumors engineered to express IL-13 receptor alpha2 chain in vivo.

Interleukin-13 receptor (IL-13R) alpha2 chain plays a key role in ligand binding and internalization. We have recently demonstrated that this cytokine receptor chain has unique characteristics in tumor biology: it inhibits tumorigenicity of breast and pancreatic cancer in animal models. In this study, we have exploited IL-13Ralpha2 chain and established a novel approach for pancreatic cancer therapy. For this, a plasmid encoding the IL-13Ralpha2 chain gene was mixed with liposomes and injected into subcutaneously or orthotopically xenografted human pancreatic tumors in immunodeficient mice, followed by systemic or local therapy by a recombinant IL-13 cytotoxin. Only tumors forced to express IL-13Ralpha2 chain acquired extreme susceptibility to the antitumor effect of IL-13 cytotoxin. There was a dominant infiltration of cells including macrophages and natural killer cells in the regressing tumors. Since macrophages were found to produce nitric oxide, IL-13Ralpha2-targeted cancer therapy involved not only a direct tumor cell killing by IL-13 cytotoxin but also activation of innate immune response at the tumor site. Therefore, this approach may be a new powerful tool for pancreatic cancer or other localized cancer therapy.

In vivo overexpression of IL-13 receptor alpha2 chain inhibits tumorigenicity of human breast and pancreatic tumors in immunodeficient mice.

Interleukin 13 receptor alpha2 (IL-13R(alpha)2) chain is highly expressed on some tumor cell lines and primary cell cultures. This receptor chain plays an important role in ligand binding and internalization. To determine the functional significance of overexpression of this chain, we stably transfected IL-13R(alpha)2 chain in human breast (MDA-MB-231) and pancreatic (PANC-1) cancer cell lines that naturally do not express this chain. There was no difference in growth between vector only transfected and IL-13R(alpha)2 chain transfected cells in vitro. However, surprisingly, in immunodeficient mice, tumorigenicity was profoundly inhibited in IL-13R(alpha)2 chain overexpressing tumors. Because breast tumors that grew later showed loss of IL-13R(alpha)2 gene expression, lack of tumorigenicity correlated positively with IL-13R(alpha)2 chain expression. Inflammatory cells including neutrophils and macrophages were identified in IL-13R(alpha)2 overexpressing regressing tumors and neutrophils were found to produce IL-13. IL-13 showed a modest antitumor activity to IL-13R(alpha)2 chain overexpressing tumors in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, IL-13R(alpha)2 chain overexpressing tumors constitutively produced IL-8 that has been shown to have antitumor effect. These results establish a novel function of a cytokine receptor chain and further suggest that the presence of this chain on tumor cells by itself may play a key role in tumorigenicity.

Interleukin-13 receptor as a unique target for anti-glioblastoma therapy.

Surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy have minimally altered survival of glioblastoma patients. We explored a specific approach for glioblastoma therapy in which cellular interleukin-13 (IL-13) receptors were targeted by an IL-13 cytotoxin. A wide array of human glioblastoma cell lines expressing the receptor for IL-13 were effectively killed by an IL-13 cytotoxin, a chimeric protein composed of human IL-13 and a mutated form of Pseudomonas exotoxin (termed IL13-PE38QQR or IL-13 toxin). Daily (qd) intratumoral injections of IL-13 toxin (50 and 100 microg/kg/day) for 5 consecutive days into subcutaneous human U251 glioblastoma tumors (approx. 30 mm(2)) in nude mice resulted in complete regression of tumors in 4/5 and 5/5 mice, respectively. Tumor regression persisted for at least 221 days postimplantation. Three alternate day injections (qod) of IL-13 toxin (250 microg/kg/day) into other subcutaneous U87 glioblastoma tumors also produced durable complete responses (CR) in all 5 mice. Twice daily (bid) intraperitoneal injections of IL-13 toxin at 25 or 50 microg/kg/dose for 5 days (total doses = 10) regressed U251 tumors by 45% and 58% with 1/5 and 2/5 CRs, respectively, on day 54. Intraperitoneal administration of IL-13 toxin with an identical schedule at a dose of 50 microg/kg injected into mice bearing U87 xenografts reduced tumor burden by one-half on day 36. Similar doses (25 or 50 microg/kg) with a daily schedule (qd x 5) by the intravenous route also suppressed growth of U251 subcutaneous tumors by 75% and 81% with 1/6 CR in either group by day 34. All mice tolerated therapy well without any visible signs of toxicity. On the basis of these studies, we have initiated a Phase I clinical trial using IL13-PE38QQR in patients with recurrent glioblastoma. Published 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Gene transfer of interleukin 13 receptor alpha2 chain dramatically enhances the antitumor effect of IL-13 receptor-targeted cytotoxin in human prostate cancer xenografts.

IL-13Ralpha2 chain, the primary interleukin-13 (IL-13) binding protein, plays an important role in IL-13 binding and internalization. Based on these findings, in our previous study we transiently transfected four cancer cell lines that do not express IL-13Ralpha2 chain and demonstrated that these cells acquired increased sensitivity to IL-13 receptor-targeted recombinant cytotoxin, IL13-PE38QQR, which is composed of IL-13 and a mutated form of a Pseudomonas exotoxin. Although some prostate cancer cell lines express functional IL-13R, they are not highly sensitive to IL-13 cytotoxin. Here we investigated whether human prostate cancer and normal prostate epithelial cell lines express IL-13Ralpha2 chain and whether they can be sensitized to the cytotoxic effect of IL-13 cytotoxin after transient or stable gene transfer of IL-13Ralpha2 chain. Gene transfer of IL-13Ralpha2 chain improved binding activity of IL-13 and sensitivity to IL-13 cytotoxin in vitro. In vivo experiments demonstrated that gene transfer of IL-13Ralpha2 chain dramatically enhanced the antitumor activity of IL-13 cytotoxin in human prostate cancer xenograft models. These results suggest that IL-13R-targeted cytotoxin therapy of prostate cancer may be dramatically enhanced by gene transfer of IL-13Ralpha2 chain and this strategy, the combination of gene therapy and cytotoxin therapy, may be utilized in the treatment of localized prostate cancer.

Human breast carcinoma cells express type II IL-4 receptors and are sensitive to antitumor activity of a chimeric IL-4-Pseudomonas exotoxin fusion protein in vitro and in vivo.

BACKGROUND: Human breast carcinoma cell lines express high-affinity interleukin-4 receptors (IL-4R). We examined the expression and structure of these receptors on primary and cultured breast carcinoma cell lines and normal breast epithelial cells. We also tested the antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo of a fusion protein comprised of circular permuted IL-4 and truncated Pseudomonas exotoxin, termed IL-4(38-37)-PE38KDEL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight different primary cell cultures and cell lines of human breast carcinomas were examined for the expression of IL-4R by radiolabeled binding, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Northern analyses, and subunit structure by crosslinking studies. The antitumor activity of IL-4 toxin was tested in vitro by cytotoxicity assays and in vivo in a xenograft model in immunodeficient animals. RESULTS: 125I-IL-4 specifically bound to primary cell cultures and cell lines with a Kd ranging between 0.2 and 1 nM. Breast tumor cells were found to express IL-4R beta and IL-13R alpha' chains, but not IL-2R gamma c chain. These cells were highly sensitive to the cytotoxic effect of IL-4(38-37)-PE38KDEL. The IC50 (concentration inhibiting protein synthesis by 50%) ranged between approximately 0.005-1.5 nM. A normal breast epithelial cell culture was not sensitive to the cytotoxic activity of IL-4(38-37)-PE38KDEL. MDA-MB231 human breast carcinoma cell line formed a rapidly growing tumor in nude mice. Intratumor and intraperitoneal administration of IL-4(38-37)-PE38KDEL caused a dose dependent regression of established tumors. A control toxin, anti-Tac(Fv)-PE38KDEL, targeted to the IL-2 receptor alpha chain did not cause regression of these tumors. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that IL-4(38-37)-PE38KDEL may be a useful agent for targeting of IL-4 receptor positive human breast carcinomas and further studies should be performed to explore fully its potential.

Interleukin-13 fusion cytotoxin as a potent targeted agent for AIDS-Kaposi's sarcoma xenograft.

Clinically advanced and rapidly progressive AIDS-associated Kaposi sarcoma (AIDS-KS) tumors require an aggressive tumor-directed therapy. We have observed that AIDS-KS cells express high levels of receptors for immune regulatory cytokine, interleukin-13 (IL-13). Two tumorigenic AIDS-KS cell lines, KS Y-1 and KS-imm, expressed 4560 and 9480 IL-13 binding sites per cell with an affinity (kd) of approximately 0.9 and 3.7 nmol/L, respectively. IL-13 cytotoxin IL13-PE38QQR, consisting of human IL-13 and a derivative of Pseudomonas exotoxin, is specifically cytotoxic to KS tumor cells. Systemic and loco regional administration of IL13-PE38QQR in immunodeficient mice with established human KS tumors produced remarkable antitumor activity. Three intratumoral (IT) injections of IL-13 toxin (250 microg/kg per dose) on alternate days (qod) or 5 daily (qd) IT injections with lower doses (50 or 100 microg/kg per dose) resulted in a complete regression of established subcutaneous tumors in most animals. Daily IT treatment with 250 microg/kg of IL-13 toxin in another KS-derived cell line also produced complete responses. Twice daily intraperitoneal injections of IL13-PE38QQR (25 or 50 microg/kg per dose) for 10 days (total injections = 20) also completely eradicated KS Y-1 tumors. Intravenous administration of IL13-PE38QQR also suppressed tumor growth; however, complete responses were not observed. All animals tolerated the therapeutic doses of IL-13 toxin without any visible signs of toxicity. The efficacy of receptor-directed IL13-PE38QQR therapy in mice warrants further exploration of this drug for AIDS-KS treatment.

Preclinical studies with IL-13PE38QQR for therapy of malignant glioma.

To develop novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of brain tumors, we have been investigating the expression of unique tumor-associated receptors or antigens on the tumor cell surface. About six years ago, we discovered that human solid tumor cell lines, including human malignant glioma, express high- to intermediate-affinity receptors (R) for a Th2 cell-derived cytokine, interleukin-13 (IL-13). Analysis of the subunit composition of IL-13R in primary explants of malignant glioma cells has demonstrated that IL-13R is composed of three different chains (IL-13R alpha 1, IL-13R alpha 2 and IL-4R alpha, also known as IL-13R alpha', alpha and IL-4R beta, respectively) and that IL-13R alpha 2 chain is overexpressed on these cells. Normal brain tissues express IL-13R alpha 1 and IL-4R alpha chains, but show only marginal expression of IL-13R alpha 2 chain. Thus IL-13R alpha 2 chain appears to be overexpressed on glioma cells and may serve as a novel tumor biomarker or a target for receptor-directed therapeutic agents for brain tumors. To target IL-13 receptors, we have produced a recombinant fusion protein composed of IL-13 and a mutated form of Pseudomonas exotoxin (PE). This cytotoxin, termed IL-13PE38QQR or IL-13 cytotoxin, is highly and specifically cytotoxic to a spectrum of human glioma cell lines. In preclinical models of human glioblastoma tumors growing subcutaneously in immunodeficient mice, IL-13 cytotoxin has been found to have remarkable antitumor activity. The data that emerged from these studies reveal that localized or systemic administration of IL-13 cytotoxin can produce nontoxic drug levels and that IL-13 cytotoxin is potently effective against established glioblastoma tumors. On the basis of these and other preclinical studies, we have begun a phase I clinical trial using IL-13PE38QQR for therapy of recurrent malignant glioma.

Interleukin-4 receptor-directed cytotoxin therapy of AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma tumors in xenograft model.

The elusive and enigmatic origin of AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma (AIDS-KS) makes it a complex tumor and therefore difficult to treat. Here we demonstrate that AIDS-KS cells express surface interleukin-4 (IL-4) receptors, and that IL-4 toxin (IL-4(38-37)-PE38KDEL) is specifically cytotoxic to these cells. Intratumoral, intraperitoneal and intravenous administration of IL-4 toxin in nude mice with established subcutaneous AIDS-KS tumors caused considerable anti-tumor activity in a dose-dependent manner, with highest dose producing durable complete responses. Metabolic changes, including cachexia and lymphopenia, induced by KS tumors were prevented by IL-4 toxin treatment. This report establishes IL-4(38-37)-PE38KDEL as an experimental therapeutic agent for the treatment of AIDS-KS.

Two different IL-13 receptor chains are expressed in normal human skin fibroblasts, and IL-4 and IL-13 mediate signal transduction through a common pathway.

IL-13 and IL-4, pleiotropic immune regulatory cytokines, have been shown to mediate similar prominent effects in human fibroblast cell lines. However, molecular mechanisms for their redundant effects are not known. Here, we have investigated the structure of IL-13 receptors (IL-13R) and molecular mechanisms of signal transduction through IL-13 and IL-4 receptors in non-transformed normal skin fibroblast cell lines. We demonstrate that high-affinity IL-13R is expressed in normal skin fibroblast cell lines. Upon [125I]1L-13 cross-linking, a approximately 60-70 kDa band was observed in sk559 and sk574 fibroblast cell lines. By RT-PCR analysis, mRNA for IL-13R alpha, IL-13R alpha' and IL-4Rbeta chains were expressed; however, the IL-2Rgamma chain, shown to participate and modulate IL-4 and IL-13 binding, was not expressed in any of the cell lines examined. The Janus kinase (JAK)2 and Tyk2 were phosphorylated in response to IL-4 or IL-13 in sk559 and sk574 cell lines. JAK1 was also phosphorylated in one of two cell lines while JAK3 was present but not phosphorylated in any of the cell lines studied. A signal transduction and activator of transcription (STAT)6 was also activated in response to both IL. An insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 was constitutively phosphorylated and its phosphorylation level was augmented in response to both IL. These results suggest that the mechanism of signal transduction through IL-13 and IL-4 receptors in human fibroblast cell lines is similar, and this may, at least in part, be responsible for the redundant effects of these two cytokines. In addition, JAK2 tyrosine kinase instead of JAK3 appears to play a major role in IL-4- and IL-13-induced signal transduction in human fibroblasts.

Complete regression of established human glioblastoma tumor xenograft by interleukin-4 toxin therapy.

No curative therapy is available for malignant gliomas. We have discovered that human glioblastoma cells express high affinity interleukin-4 receptor (IL-4R), which is an attractive target for receptor-directed IL-4 toxin therapy. The IL-4 toxin, IL-4(38-37)-PE38KDEL, is a fusion protein containing translocation and enzymatic domains of Pseudomonas exotoxin and a circularly permuted human IL-4. The IL-4 toxin binds specifically to the IL-4R and is highly cytotoxic to glioblastoma cells, as determined by clonogenic and protein synthesis inhibition assays. Intratumoral administration of the IL-4 toxin given on alternate days for 3-4 doses into U251 glioblastoma flank tumors in nude mice, showed a complete remission of small (approximately 13 mm3) and large (approximately 60 mm3) tumors in all animals, without any evidence of toxicity. A significant antitumor activity was also observed when the IL-4 toxin was administered via i.p. and i.v. routes. These results demonstrate that the IL-4 toxin may be a new therapeutic drug for the treatment of human glioblastoma. Therefore, we have begun a Phase I clinical trial with IL-4(38-37)-PE38KDEL for treatment of human glioblastoma.

Head and neck cancers, but not benign lesions, express interleukin-4 receptors in situ.

We have previously reported on the expression of interleukin-4 receptor (IL-4R) on many solid cancer cell lines. In the present study, we have examined the expression of IL-4R on head and neck cancers in situ by immunohistochemistry. Seven primary squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck region were stained by a monoclonal antibody to human IL-4Rp140 protein (M-57). We report that all squamous cell carcinoma samples were positively stained although at variable intensity with anti-IL-4R antibody. Tumors stained with IgG control did not show any staining. On the other hand, six benign lesions from the same anatomical area showed faint or no staining at all. Three uterine endometrium samples were also negative for the IL-4R expression. In contrast to published contrary results, we did not observe any effect of IL-4 on the proliferation of four squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN) cell lines examined. These results demonstrate that human squamous carcinoma of the head and neck express IL-4R, which could be targeted for diagnosis and therapy by anti-IL-4 receptor antibody fused to toxins or radionuclides or alternatively by IL-4 toxins.

Interleukin-4 receptor expression on AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma cells and their targeting by a chimeric protein comprised of circularly permuted interleukin-4 and Pseudomonas exotoxin.

BACKGROUND: AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma (AIDS-KS) represents one of the most common malignancies associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection. To target effective therapeutic agents to AIDS-KS, we have identified a new target in the form of interleukin-4 receptors (IL-4R). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression of IL-4R on AIDS-KS cells and their subunit structure was determined by radioligand receptor binding, cross-linking and Northern and RT-PCR analyses. The in vitro effect of IL-4 and recombinant fusion protein made up of circularly permuted IL-4 and a mutated form of Pseudomonas exotoxin, IL-4(38-37)-PE38KDEL, was examined by clonogenic and protein synthesis inhibition assays. RESULTS: Five AIDS-KS cell lines expressed high-affinity IL-4R with a Kd of 23.5-219 pM. IL-4 appeared to cross-link to one major protein corresponding to 140 kDa and a broad band corresponding to 60-70 kDa. Both cross-linked proteins were immunoprecipitated with an antibody to human IL-4R beta chain. AIDS-KS cells exhibited IL-4R beta-specific mRNA. IL-4 caused a modest inhibition (31-34%) of colony formation in two AIDS-KS cell lines tested. IL-4(38-37)-PE38KDEL was found to be highly effective in inhibiting the protein synthesis in all five AIDS-KS examined. The IC50 ranged from 32 to 1225 pM. The cytotoxic action of IL-4 toxin was blocked by an excess of IL-4, exhibiting the specificity of IL-4(38-37)-PE38KDEL. The cytotoxicity of IL-4 toxin observed by a clonogenic assay corroborated well with the IC50 obtained by protein synthesis inhibition assay. Normal human endothelial cells expressed a negligible number of IL-4R (< 50 sites/cell) and were less sensitive or not sensitive to IL-4(38-37)-PE38KDEL. CONCLUSION: The presence of a new plasma membrane protein in the form of IL-4R on AIDS-KS cells may be targeted by IL-4(38-37)-PE38KDEL for its potential implication in the treatment of AIDS-KS.

Receptor for interleukin 13 on AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma cells serves as a new target for a potent Pseudomonas exotoxin-based chimeric toxin protein.

AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma (AIDS-KS), the most common malignant complication of human immunodeficiency virus infection, is characterized by neoplastic proliferation of mesenchymal cells. AIDS-KS cells release and respond to an array of cytokines through specific plasma membrane receptors. Specific targeting of potent cytotoxic agents to cell surface receptors/antigens on Kaposi's sarcoma cells may provide effective therapy for this malignancy. We have identified a new target in the form of an interleukin 13 (IL-13) receptor that is overexpressed in the five AIDS-KS cell lines examined. Radiolabeled IL-13 cross-linked to a single protein of about Mr 70,000 in AIDS-KS cells. We utilized a chimeric cytotoxic protein composed of IL-13 and a truncated Pseudomonas exotoxin (IL13-PE38QQR), which was found to be specifically and highly cytotoxic to AIDS-KS cells, as determined by protein synthesis inhibition and clonogenic assays. IL13-PE38QQR demonstrated significant antitumor activity in a human epidermoid carcinoma xenograft model. Normal human umbilical vein-derived endothelial, lymphoid, and bone marrow precursor cells expressed low levels of IL-13 receptors, and IL-13 toxin was not cytotoxic to them. Thus, IL-13 receptor on AIDS-KS cells may represent a novel plasma membrane protein(s) that could be utilized to target therapeutic agents.

Interleukin-4 receptor expression in vivo on human AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma.

We have investigated the expression of interleukin-4 receptors (IL-4R) in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS) in situ by immunohistochemistry. Frozen and fixed sections from five patch stage and two nodular stage KS lesions were stained with anti-IL-4R monoclonal antibody with similar results. Skin biopsies from the clinically apparent lesions and adjacent clinically uninvolved skin were also examined. We observed that individual KS cells lining the irregular vascular spaces were stained with anti-IL-4R antibody, although the degree of staining was variable. The epithelioid and oval cells appear to stain more than the spindle cells in plaque stages or nodular lesions. The sections from nonclinically involved skin also contained a few cells with features of KS, singly or in clusters that also stained for IL-4R. Skin sections from four normal donors did not stain with IL-4R antibody except for hair follicles, sweat glands, and faint staining of blood vessels. KS sections were also stained with antibodies to basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF), S100, fibronectin, and von Willebrand factor. KS lesions from clinically involved and uninvolved skin sections were positive for all four antibodies. Thus, the differences between KS lesion and clinically uninvolved skin adjacent to a KS lesion may be more quantitative than qualitative. The IL-4 receptors on KS cells were functional as IL-4 modulated intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) on these cells. Taken together, our results suggest that AIDS-KS cells express elevated levels of IL-4R compared to normal endothelial and skin cells and, thus, the receptors for IL-4 on KS may serve as an attractive target for anticancer therapy.

Interleukin 13 inhibits growth of human renal cell carcinoma cells independently of the p140 interleukin 4 receptor chain.

Interleukin-13 (IL-13) is a cytokine produced primarily by activated T lymphocytes. It exerts a variety of effects on different cell types, including monocytes, B lymphocytes, mast cells, and keratinocytes. The effects of IL-13 on target cells are often similar to the effects of IL-4, which is another cytokine product of activated T lymphocytes. We recently described the expression of intermediate- to high-affinity receptors for IL-13 (IL-13R) on renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cells. In the present study, we examined the effect of IL-13 on the growth of RCC cells as measured by [3H]thymidine uptake and a clonogenic assay. In addition, we used an IL-4R-specific antibody to examine the specificity of IL-4R and IL-13R binding and function. We observed that IL-13 inhibited RCC cell proliferation by up to 50% and colony formation by up to 32% when compared with cells cultured in medium alone. A combination of IL-4 and IL-13 did not have an additive or synergistic effect on the growth of RCC cells. These cells expressed mRNA for IL-13 and secreted immunoreactive IL-13 protein in culture. The growth-inhibitory effects of IL-13 were specific, because they were not affected by antibodies to IL-4 or to the 140-kilodalton subunit of IL-4R. Furthermore, polyclonal antibodies to IL-4R failed to inhibit the binding of 125I-IL-13 to RCC cells. These results indicate that IL-13 has significant antiproliferative effects on human RCC cells, and the inhibition of IL-13 effects by anti-IL-4R antibody previously reported in lymphoid cells does not occur in RCC cells.

Transcriptional up-regulation of interleukin 4 receptors by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 tat gene.

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) regulatory gene, tat, encodes an early transactivator protein (Tat) necessary for virus replication. We have reported that the HIV-1 tat gene can up-regulate interleukin 4 receptors (IL-4R) however, the mechanism of this up-regulation is not understood. We now show that in Raji cells, 125I-labeled IL-4 cross-linked to three proteins of 140, 70, and 63 kDa, which were immunoprecipitated with an antibody to the human IL-4R. Although this level of all three IL-4 binding proteins increased in tat-transfected cells, the binding characteristics of IL-4R on control or mock transfected control and tat-transfected cells remained similar. The exogenous recombinant Tat protein or supernatant of tat transfected Raji cells also up-regulated the expression of the IL-4R on two renal cell carcinoma cell lines in a concentration-dependent manner. The actinomycin D chase experiments revealed that the half-lives of the IL-4R protein (t1/2 3.5 hr) and mRNA transcripts (t1/2 2.5 hr) were similar in both control and tat-transfected cells. In contrast, nuclear run-on experiments revealed that the rate of the IL-4R mRNA transcription increased 3- to 5-fold in Raji-tat compared to Raji cells. These data indicate that the HIV-1 tat gene up-regulates IL-4R expression by increasing the transcription rate rather than posttranscriptional stabilization of either the mRNA or the protein. HIV-tat inducible exogenous tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) did not up-regulate IL-4R and IL-4R inducible activation of signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT-6) was not observed by Tat even though IL-4R were up-regulated. These results allow us to speculate that HIV-1 tat may interact directly with the IL-4R gene and up-regulate IL-4R transcription.

An improved circularly permuted interleukin 4-toxin is highly cytotoxic to human renal cell carcinoma cells. Introduction of gamma c chain in RCC cells does not improve sensitivity.

We have previously demonstrated that a chimeric protein composed of human IL-4 and Pseudomonas exotoxin, termed IL4-PE4E, is cytotoxic to primary cells derived from human renal cell carcinoma (RCC). To improve the cytotoxicity of IL4-toxins such as IL4-PE4E and IL4-PE38KDEL to IL-4 receptor (IL-4R) positive tumor cells, a circularly permuted chimeric toxin was prepared by fusing a truncated PE gene encoding PE38KDEL 3' to a circularly permuted IL-4 mutant gene encoding IL4 amino acids 38-129, the linker GGNGG, and IL4 amino acids 1-37. The resulting chimeric protein, termed IL4(38-37)-PE38KDEL, was tested on five RCC cell lines and its cytotoxicity was compared to that of the native IL4-toxins IL4-PE4E and IL4-PE38KDEL. IL4(38-37)-PE38KDEL was found to be 5 to 10 times more cytotoxic to all cell cultures tested compared to either native IL4-toxin. The cytotoxic activity of IL4(38-37)-PE38KDEL was competible by excess IL-4 and was confirmed by clonogenic assay. IL4(38-37)-PE38KDEL bound to IL-4R on RCC cells with 6- to 12-fold higher affinity than IL4-PE38KDEL or IL4-PE4E. RCC tumor cells were found to lack the common gamma chain (gamma c) of the IL-4R reported to be present on immune cells. The stable transfection of RCC cells with the gamma c chain gene did not significantly change their sensitivity to IL4(38-37)-PE38KDEL. Taken together, our results indicate that the CPIL4-toxin IL4(38-37)-PE38KDEL is highly cytotoxic to human RCC cells due to increased binding affinity to IL-4R while it is not cytotoxic or slightly cytotoxic to T and B cells, monocytic cell lines, and fresh resting or activated bone marrow-derived cells. The gamma c does not seem to increase the internalization rate and/or processing of IL4-toxins in RCC cells. CPIL4-toxin may be a useful agent for the treatment of human RCC.

An improved method of encapsulation of doxorubicin in liposomes: pharmacological, toxicological and therapeutic evaluation.

We describe here an improved method of encapsulating doxorubicin in liposomes using phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol and synthetic tetramyristoyl cardiolipin. With this new composition of lipids the entrapment of doxorubicin was found to be > 90%. Cytotoxicity studies using vincristine-resistant HL-60/VCR leukaemia cells showed that liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin reverses multidrug resistance 5-fold compared with conventional doxorubicin and at levels equivalent to that obtained using liposomes with natural cardiolipin. In normal mice, liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin was much less toxic than the conventional drug. A dose of 25 mg kg-1 i.v. of conventional doxorubicin produced 100% mortality in mice by day 14, whereas liposomal doxorubicin exhibited only 10% mortality by day 60. Liposomal doxorubicin demonstrated enhanced anti-tumour activity against murine ascitic L1210 leukaemia compared with conventional doxorubicin. At a dose of 15 mg kg-1, liposomal doxorubicin increased the median life span with 12 of 18 long-term (60 days) survivors compared with only 3 of 18 with conventional drug. Mice injected i.v. with liposomal doxorubicin had plasma levels 44-fold higher than conventional doxorubicin, producing significantly higher (P < 0.02) area under the plasma concentration curve. An altered tissue distribution was also observed with liposomal doxorubicin; cardiac tissue demonstrating at least 2-fold lower levels with liposomal doxorubicin probably accounting for its lower toxicity. This altered pharmacokinetics of liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin, providing enhanced therapeutic advantage and the ability to modulate multidrug resistance, could be useful in a clinical setting.

Targeting of interleukin-13 receptor on human renal cell carcinoma cells by a recombinant chimeric protein composed of interleukin-13 and a truncated form of Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PE38QQR).

We have previously shown that human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cells express large numbers of interleukin-13 receptors (IL-13R), a newly described hemopoietic growth factor receptor. To target tumor cells that express IL-13R, we have produced a chimeric protein composed of human IL-13 and a derivative of Pseudomonas exotoxin A, termed PE38QQR. We report here that IL13-PE38QQR is highly cytotoxic to many human RCC cell lines. IL-13R-negative cell lines or cell lines expressing low numbers of IL-13R ( < 300 sites/cell) that include human bone marrow-derived cells were not susceptible to the cytotoxic effect of IL 13-PE38QQR. The sensitivity of RCC cells to IL13-PE38QQR correlated positively with the density of IL-13R. The cytotoxic activity of IL13-PE38QQR was competed by an excess of IL-13 in a protein synthesis inhibition assay and confirmed by a clonogenic assay. Even though IL-13 and IL-4 are homologues and IL-4R and IL-13R have been proposed to share a receptor subunit, IL-4 did not compete for the cytotoxicity mediated by IL13-toxin on RCC. IL13-PE38QQR competes for [125I]-IL-13 binding sites on RCC cells, although at a lower affinity than the wild-type recombinant cytokine. Human T-cell, B-cell, and monocytic cell lines are unresponsive to the cytotoxic action of IL13-PE38QQR. Thus, our results indicate that IL13-PE38QQR is highly cytotoxic to human RCC cells, although it is not cytotoxic to a variety of normal hematopoietic cells. IL13-PE38QQR should be further investigated preclinically for the treatment of human RCCs.