Probing the conformational and dynamical effects of O-glycosylation within the immunodominant region of a MUC1 peptide tumor antigen.

MUC1 mucin is a large transmembrane glycoprotein, the extracellular domain of which is formed by a repeating 20 amino acid sequence, GVTSAPDTRPAPGSTAPPAH. In normal breast epithelial cells, the extracellular domain is densely covered with highly branched complex carbohydrate structures. However, in neoplastic breast tissue, the extracellular domain is under-glycosylated, resulting in the exposure of a highly immunogenic core peptide epitope (PDTRP in bold above), as well as in the exposure of normally cryptic core Tn (GalNAc), STn (sialyl alpha2-6 GalNAc) and TF (Gal beta1-3 GalNAc) carbohydrates. Here, we report the results of 1H NMR structural studies, natural abundance 13C NMR relaxation measurements and distance-restrained MD simulations designed to probe the structural and dynamical effects of Tn-glycosylation within the PDTRP core peptide epitope. Two synthetic peptides were studied: a nine-residue MUC1 peptide of the sequence, Thr1-Ser2-Ala3-Pro4-Asp5-Thr6-Arg7-Pro8-Ala9, and a Tn-glycosylated version of this peptide, Thr1-Ser2-Ala3-Pro4-Asp5-Thr6(alphaGalNAc)-Arg7-Pro8-Ala9. The results of these studies show that a type I beta-turn conformation is adopted by residues PDTR within the PDTRP region of the unglycosylated MUC1 sequence. The existence of a similar beta-turn within the PDTRP core peptide epitope of the under-glycosylated cancer-associated MUC1 mucin protein might explain the immunodominance of this region in vivo, as the presence of defined secondary structure within peptide epitope regions has been correlated with increased immunogenicity in other systems. Our results have also shown that Tn glycosylation at the central threonine within the PDTRP core epitope region shifts the conformational equilibrium away from the type I beta-turn conformation and toward a more rigid and extended state. The significance of these results are discussed in relation to the possible roles that peptide epitope secondary structure and glycosylation state may play in MUC1 tumor immunogenicity.

Glycosylations versus conformational preferences of cancer associated mucin core.

Synthetic oligosaccharide vaccines based on core STn (sialyl alpha2-6 GalNAc) carbohydrate epitopes are being evaluated by a number of biopharmaceutical firms as potential immunotherapeutics in the treatment of mucin-expressing adenocarcinomas. The STn carbohydrate epitopes exist as discontinuous clusters, O-linked to proximal serine and threonine residues within the mucin sequence. In an effort to probe the structure and dynamics of STn carbohydrate clusters as they may exist on the cancer-associated mucin, we have used NMR spectroscopy and MD simulations to study the effect of O-glycosylation of adjacent serine residues in a repeating (Ser)n sequence. Three model peptides/glyco-peptides were studied: a serine trimer containing no carbohydrate groups ((Ser)3 trimer); a serine trimer containing three Tn (GalNAc) carbohydrates alpha-linked to the hydroxyls of adjacent serine sidechains ((Ser.Tn)3 trimer); and a serine trimer containing three STn carbohydrates alpha-linked to the hydroxyls of adjacent serine sidechains ((Ser.STn)3 trimer). Our results demonstrate that clustering of carbohydrates shifts the conformational equilibrium of the underlying peptide backbone into a more extended and rigid state, an arrangement that could function to optimally present the clustered carbohydrate antigen to the immune system. Steric effects appear to drive these changes since an increase in the size of the attached carbohydrate (STn versus Tn) is accompanied by a stronger shift in the equilibrium toward the extended state. In addition, NMR evidence points to the formation of hydrogen bonds between the peptide backbone NH protons and the proximal GalNAc groups in the (Ser.Tn)3 and (Ser.STn)3 trimers. The putative peptide-sugar hydrogen bonds may also play a role in influencing the conformation of the underlying peptide backbone, as well as the orientation of the O-linked carbohydrate. The significance of these results will be discussed within the framework of developing clustered STn-based vaccines, capable of targeting the clustered STn epitopes on the cancer-associated mucin.

Vaccines prepared with sialyl-Tn and sialyl-Tn trimers using the 4-(4-maleimidomethyl)cyclohexane-1-carboxyl hydrazide linker group result in optimal antibody titers against ovine submaxillary mucin and sialyl-Tn-positive tumor cells.

Sialyl-Tn (STn) is an O-serine- or O-threonine-linked disaccharide [NeuAcalpha(2-->6)GalNAcalpha-O-Ser/Thr) expressed on mucins of most types of adenocarcinoma as single STn or clustered STn [STn(c)] epitopes. Though STn is expressed on some normal tissues it is relatively tumor-specific, especially in the clustered conformation. Clinical trials with STn-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) conjugate vaccines, prepared using reductive amination with a two-carbon linker group, have resulted in high titers against STn but lower titers against natural forms of STn (ovine submaxillary mucin, or tumor cells). To obtain antibodies of more appropriate specificity, we attempted to prepare STn(c)-KLH conjugates to establish their immunogenicity in mice in preparation for clinical trials; however, conjugation efficiency was poor when the same two-carbon linker was used, presumably because of steric hindrance. STn-KLH and STn(c)-KLH conjugates were prepared using the regular two-carbon or the recently developed more efficient longer heterobifunctional 4-(4-maleimidomethyl)cyclohexane-1-carboxyl hydrazide (MMCCH) linkers, and the resulting immunogenicities in mice were compared. The highest titers against STn were seen with the STn-KLH conjugate with the two-carbon linker, and the highest titers against STn(c) were seen with STn(c)-KLH with the MMCCH linker. Conjugation with MMCCH resulted in the highest conjugation efficiency (yield) and the highest titers against ovine submaxillary mucin and STn-positive tumor cells, and is the method of choice for the preparation of STn(c) vaccine for clinical trials.

The anti-MUC1 monoclonal antibody BCP8 can be used to isolate and identify putative major histocompatibility complex class I associated amino acid sequences.

MHC class I molecules were isolated from the MUC1-positive human breast adenocarcinoma cell line MCF-7 by immunoaffinity using the panreactive anti-class I monoclonal antibodies (MAb) W6/32. Acid-eluted peptides from the class I molecules were separated twice by high-performance liquid chromatography and tested for reactivity with the MAb BCP8, which reacts with the minimal MUC1 core peptide sequence PDTRPA. A peak with strong and specific BCP8 reactivity was found in fractions eluting at 16.5-17.5 min. The protocol used for the MUC1+ pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line CAPAN-1 (HLA.A2) was to perform sequential affinity purifications of class I molecules using MAb W6/32, followed by affinity purification of HLA.A2 molecules by the HLA.A2.1-specific MAb, MA2.1, and high-performance liquid chromatography fractionation of the acid-eluted material. A single peak with MAb BCP8 reactivity was noted at 18-19 min. The protocol for the MUC1+ breast adenocarcinoma cell line SKBr-3 (HLA.A11,B40), which used A11- and B40-specific MAbs, also resulted in the detection of BCP8-specific peaks at approximately 18-19 min. A preliminary mass spectral analysis of BCP8 affinity-purified class I associated material surprisingly revealed the presence of two 3-mer MUC1 amino acid sequences and one 6-mer sequence. A synthetic 9-mer MUC1 peptide, TSAPDTRPA, containing the isolated fragments was found to cause strong class I up-regulation in T2 cells as well as to serve as an epitope for CTL generated in a primary in vitro immune response. These studies suggest that MUC1-derived peptides are processed and presented in the context of MHC class I molecules on the surface of tumor cells and support the use of MAb BCP8 to further define MHC class I associated MUC1 motifs.

Liposomal formulations of synthetic MUC1 peptides: effects of encapsulation versus surface display of peptides on immune responses.

Synthetic human MUC1 peptides are important candidates for therapeutic cancer vaccines. To explore whether a human MUC1 peptide BP25 (STAPPAHGVTSAPDTRPAPGSTAPP) can be rendered immunogenic by incorporation in liposomes, the effects of physical association of the peptide with liposomes on immune responses were investigated. Lipid conjugated and nonconjugated MUC1 peptides were incorporated in liposomes with a composition of distearoylphosphatidylcholine/cholesterol/dimyristoylphosphatidylglyc erol (3:1:0.25, molar ratio) containing monophosphoryl lipid A (1% w/w of the total lipids). Liposomes were characterized for peptide retention by HPLC and for surface peptide display of MUC1 epitopes by flow cytometry. C57BL/6 mice were immunized with lipopeptide alone, peptide mixed with peptide-free liposomes, and peptide associated with liposomes in entrapped or surface-exposed forms. T cell proliferative responses, cytokine patterns, and antibody isotypes were studied. Results showed that immune responses were profoundly influenced by the liposome formulations. Physically associated, either encapsulated or surface-exposed, peptide liposomes elicited strong antigen-specific T cell responses, but not lipopeptide alone or peptide mixed with peptide-free liposomes. Analysis of the cytokines secreted by the proliferating T cells showed a high level of IFN-gamma and undetectable levels of IL-4, indicating a T helper type 1 response. Thus, physical association of the peptide with liposomes was required for T cell proliferative responses, but the mode of association was not critical. On the other hand, the nature of the association significantly affected humoral immune responses. Only the surface-exposed peptide liposomes induced MUC1-specific antibodies. A domination of anti-MUC1 IgG2b over IgG1 (94 versus 6%) was observed. Our results support the hypothesis that different immune pathways are stimulated by different liposome formulations. This study demonstrated that a liposome delivery system could be tailored to induce either a preferential cellular or humoral immune response.

Anti-MUC1 class I restricted CTLs in metastatic breast cancer patients immunized with a synthetic MUC1 peptide.

Sixteen metastatic breast cancer patients were immunized with a low dose (5 micrograms) of a 16 amino acid MUC1 peptide (GVTSAPDTRPAPGSTA) conjugated to KLH (BP16-KLH) plus DETOX adjuvant and evaluated for antibody titers against MUC1 peptide and KLH and for cytotoxic lymphocyte (CTL) activity using class 1 HLA-matched MUC1-positive tumor targets. All patients generated strong anti-KLH IgG responses. Only 3 patients developed an anti-MUC1 IgG response, which was weak in magnitude. As it is controversial whether human cancer patients generate class-1-restricted CTL against MUC1, we examined anti-MUC1 CTL activity of PBLs following 4 immunizations with BP16-KLH. The generation of MUC1-specific CTLs required only a 6-day in vitro stimulation of patients' T-cells with synthetic MUC1-peptide-pulsed autologous APCs. The assay for CTL activity was a 4 hour 51Cr release from labeled adenocarcinoma target cells. Eleven of the 16 immunized patients were tested for CTL activity using class-1-matched adenocarcinoma target cell lines. Evidence for class-1-restricted killing of MUC1-expressing tumor cell lines was obtained in 7 of these 11 patients.

A novel and efficient method for synthetic carbohydrate conjugate vaccine preparation: synthesis of sialyl Tn-KLH conjugate using a 4-(4-N-maleimidomethyl) cyclohexane-1-carboxyl hydrazide (MMCCH) linker arm.

STn (NeuAcalpha2 --> 6GalNAc alpha-O-Ser/Thr) is a carbohydrate epitope overexpressed in various human carcinomas. Clinical trials are underway using synthetic STn or STn trimeric glycopeptides [STn, cluster; STn(c)] conjugated with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) as active specific immunotherapy for these cancers. These vaccines have been prepared by conjugating a crotyl ethyl amide derivative of STn or STn(c) to KLH by direct reductive amination after ozonolysis. In the case of STn(c) the conjugation efficiency and the resulting epitope ratios were low. This may be due to steric hinderance of the short spacer arm. To overcome these difficulties, without resynthesis, the STn(c) glycopeptide was modified by attachment of an MMCCH (4-(4-N-maieimidomethyl) cyclohexane-1-carboxyl hydrazide) spacer arm to the aldehyde derivative, and then conjugated with thiolated KLH. This method gave a higher epitope ratio and yield than the direct method. The STn(c)-MMCCH-KLH conjugate induced high titer antibodies in mice against STn(c). This method may be generally applicable for large synthetic oligosaccharides.

Immunogenicity and antitumor activity of a liposomal MUC1 peptide-based vaccine.

A human MUC1-transfected mouse mammary adenocarcinoma cell line (GZHI) was used to develop both subcutaneous and intravenous tumor models. A vaccine formulation comprised of a 24 mer (human MUC1) synthetic peptide encapsulated with monophosphoryl lipid A adjuvant (MPLA) in multilamellar liposomes was tested for immunogenicity and anti-tumor activity. A low dose of the human MUC1 peptide (5 microg) administered in liposomes provided excellent protection of mice in both tumor challenge models. The protective antitumor activity mediated by the liposome formulation correlated with anti-MUC1-specific T-cell proliferation, gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) production and IgG2a anti-MUC1 antibodies, suggesting a type 1 (T1) T-cell response. In contrast, lack of protection in mice immunized with negative control vaccines correlated with IgG1 anti-MUCI antibody formation, low or no anti-MUC1 IgG2a and low antigen-specific T-cell proliferation, consistent with a type 2 (T2) T-cell response to the tumor.

Summary report on the ISOBM TD-4 Workshop: analysis of 56 monoclonal antibodies against the MUC1 mucin. San Diego, Calif., November 17-23, 1996.

Sixteen research groups participated in the ISOBM TD-4 Workshop in which the reactivity and specificity of 56 monoclonal antibodies against the MUC1 mucin was investigated using a diverse panel of target antigens and MUC1 mucin-related synthetic peptides and glycopeptides. The majority of antibodies (34/56) defined epitopes located within the 20-amino acid tandem repeat sequence of the MUC1 mucin protein core. Of the remaining 22 antibodies, there was evidence for the involvement of carbohydrate residues in the epitopes for 16 antibodies. There was no obvious relationship between the type of immunogen and the specificity of each antibody. Synthetic peptides and glycopeptides were analyzed for their reactivity with each antibody either by assay of direct binding (e.g. by ELISA or BiaCore) or by determining the capacity of synthetic ligands to inhibit antibody binding interactions. There was good concordance between the research groups in identifying antibodies reactive with peptide epitopes within the MUC1 protein core. Epitope mapping tests were performed using the Pepscan analysis for antibody reactivity against overlapping synthetic peptides, and results were largely consistent between research groups. The dominant feature of epitopes within the MUC1 protein core was the presence, in full or part, of the hydrophilic sequence of PDTRAPAP. Carbohydrate epitopes were less easily characterized and the most useful reagents in this respect were defined oligosaccharides, rather than purified mucin preparations enriched in particular carbohydrate moieties. It was evident that carbohydrate residues were involved in many epitopes, by regulating epitope accessibility or masking determinants, or by stabilizing preferred conformations of peptide epitopes within the MUC1 protein core. Overall, the studies, highlight concordance between groups rather than exposing inconsistencies which gives added confidence to the results of analyses of the specificity of antimucin monoclonal antibodies.

Analysis of the role of type 1 core O-glycans in the binding of anti-MUC1 antibodies by cytofluorometry and synthetic peptide/glycopeptide binding inhibition studies.

A panel of 56 MAbs submitted to the ISOBM TD-4 (MUC1) Workshop were analysed in two systems. These systems were designed to screen for peptide type 1 core O-glycan-related reactivities. Using synthetic MUC1 mucin-related peptides and glycopeptides, the panel of MAbs were tested for relative binding affinities to type 1 core O-glycan-substituted MUC1 structures. These studies utilized a competitive binding format with a native human adenocarcinoma-derived mucin as a solid phase. This system allows for analysis of the type 1 core glycoform subspecificity of each MAb. The second approach taken in parallel, utilized MCF-7 (BrCa) and OVCAR (OVCa) cell lines which were grown in the presence or absence of phenyl-N-acetylgalactosaminide (p-gal), a blocker of mucin O-linked glycosylation. These cells were analysed by FACS to examine the role these same glycan substitutions play with regard to either the diagnostic or therapeutic application of these MAbs. By FACS analysis there was a consistent increased 'epitope exposure' for peptide-specific MAbs binding in the presence of p-gal. In addition, a single MAb (TD-4 #150) is interpreted to react with a type 1 core O-glycan, probably with Tn, TF or STn specificity.

Specificities of anti-sialyl-Tn and anti-Tn monoclonal antibodies generated using novel clustered synthetic glycopeptide epitopes.

The fine specificities of MAbs generated using novel synthetic clustered STn and Tn glycopeptides as immunogens were compared with the anti-TAG-72 antibodies B72.3 and CC49. Hapten inhibition experiments demonstrated the specificity of several of the MAbs for STn and Tn expressed on ovine submaxillary mucin and tumor derived MUC-1 mucin. Amongst the STn specific MAbs only the B195.3 MAb shows absolute dependence on the presence of sialic acid and specificity to the simple disaccharide NANAA alpha2-6-GalNAc. Identification of tumor associated carbohydrate epitopes in cluster and monomer configurations are possible using MAbs detecting the defined structure specificities described herein.

Antibodies against mucin-associated sialyl-Tn epitopes correlate with survival of metastatic adenocarcinoma patients undergoing active specific immunotherapy with synthetic STn vaccine.

The humoral immune response of 85 metastatic breast, ovarian, and colorectal cancer patients was analyzed after immunization with THERATOPE STn-KLH (KLH, keyhole limpet hemocyanin) cancer vaccine emulsified in DETOX adjuvant. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) antibody titers against the synthetic sialyl-Tn (STn) epitope were estimated by using solid phase STn-HSA and compared with antibody titers generated to the more biologically relevant natural mucin STn epitopes by using ovine submaxillary mucin (OSM) as a solid phase. Anti-KLH antibody titers were compared with anti-STn antibody titers as a specificity control. All but two patients generated increased anti-OSM antibody titers after immunization with STn-KLH. Breast and colorectal cancer patients who had the highest anti-OSM antibody titers, determined 4 weeks after the fourth immunization with STn-KLH (post-4 ASI), survived longer than the patients who had lower post-4 active specific immunotherapy (ASI) anti-OSM antibody titers. In contrast, there was no correlation of anti-KLH antibody titers with survival, demonstrating the specificity of the association of anti-OSM antibodies with survival. Cox multivariate survival analysis models were used to attempt to determine whether the induction of high-titer antibodies after immunization is a prognostic indicator independent of age, level of various tumor markers, extent of disease, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, and route of administration of low-dose cyclophosphamide before ASI. Increased pre-ASI CA-125 serum levels in the ovarian cancer patients were predictors of poor survival, independent of all of the other prognostic factors. The postimmunization increase in anti-OSM immunoglobulin M (IgM) titer was independently associated with longer survival of the colorectal cancer patients. Increased anti-OSM IgG titers were associated with a marked increased survival of the breast cancer patients, which was independent of all other prognostic factors except the size of measurable metastatic lesions at trial entry and the route of administration of cyclophosphamide. In a randomized trial design, breast cancer patients who received low-dose intravenous cyclophosphamide just before ASI showed longer survival and generated higher anti-OSM antibody titers than did patients who received low-dose oral cyclophosphamide before ASI.

Structurally defined synthetic cancer vaccines: analysis of structure, glycosylation and recognition of cancer associated mucin, MUC-1 derived peptides.

Translation of an immune response into therapy is probably the toughest task in designing vaccines for cancer due to the heterogeneity of the cell surface antigens which display tremendous variations in glycoforms. Consequently, a small segment (antigen) of cancer-associated mucin, in spite of generating antigen-specific immune responses, may be limited in therapeutic value. It is important that the synthetic segment resembles the native cancer-associated mucin in both structure and conformation. Synthetic cancer associated mucin derived 16 amino acid peptide GVTSAPDTRPAPGSTA and its partially glycosylated forms have demonstrated specific binding to two monoclonal antibodies, B27.29 and BCP8, raised against the native cancer associated mucin, MUC-1 and a MUC-1 derived synthetic peptide, respectively. In spite of the structural similarities at the core peptide level of both glycosylated and unglycosylated peptides, it appears that partial glycosylation does not inhibit and even slightly enhances binding to the MAb B27.29 indicating that the glycosylated synthetic peptide more closely resembles the native mucin epitope recognized by MAb B27.29. From molecular dynamic simulations using NMR derived distance constraints, both glycosylated and unglycosylated peptides have shown a type 1 beta turn involving the same amino acids in both glycosylated and unglycosylated peptides. The alpha GalNAc attached to the threonine (T3) and serine (S4) in the 16 amino acid sequence has not imposed any conformational changes to the peptide backbone nor has offered severe steric resistance to the binding of either antibody to the glycopeptides as indicated by hapten inhibition studies. Nevertheless, all peptides have displayed glycosylation dependent specificities in binding to these antibodies, i.e. the glycosylated peptides demonstrated relative higher affinities to the native mucin antibody B27.29 while the unglycosylated peptide is more specific to the MAb BCP8. Immune responses generated by these synthetic glycopeptides are highly specific in recognizing the native cancer associated mucin.

Immune sera and monoclonal antibodies define two configurations for the sialyl Tn tumor antigen.

Sialyl Tn (sTn) is a mucin-associated carbohydrate antigen expressed in most types of human adenocarcinoma. Defining the configuration of tumor cell surface sTn recognized by antibodies is important for understanding the basis for the cancer cell specificity of sTn-reactive mAbs, for the development of more effective mAbs, and for designing cancer vaccines against sTn. In this study, we compared the immunogenicity of synthetic single sTn disaccharide epitopes and clusters [sTn(C)] of 3 sTn epitopes covalently linked via serine to keyhole limpet hemocyanin [KLH; sTn-KLH and sTn(C)-KLH, respectively]. The cell surface sTn configurations were analyzed with the use of sera from mice immunized with these neoglycoproteins and a panel of sTn-reactive mAb. Sera from mice immunized with sTn-KLH reacted in direct and inhibition assays with sTn-human serum albumin (HSA) but only weakly with sTn(C)-HSA, whereas sera from mice immunized with sTn(C)-KLH reacted with sTn(C)-HSA but not with sTn-HSA. Both anti-sTn and anti-sTn(C) sera reacted with ovine submaxillary mucin (a natural source of sTn) and with sTn-positive human tumor cell line LS-C but not with sTn-negative LS-B cells. With regard to the sTn-reactive mAbs, B72.3 reacted exclusively with clustered sTn, whereas mAb B195.3R11 reacted preferentially with unclustered sTn. Results with mAbs TKH2, B239.1, and CC49 were less clear, although all reacted more strongly with clustered sTn than with unclustered sTn. These results suggest that sTn is recognized at the tumor cell surface in at least two quite distinct configurations, as clustered and nonclustered arrays.

Preparation and biological evaluation of radiolabelled antibodies with selected carbohydrate modifications.

Two carbohydrates, N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) and galactose-beta-1,3-GalNAc have been attached to human IgG (hIgG) by a novel linking reagent, hexafluoroglutaric acid dimethyl ester. Fluorine-19 NMR signals were used for the determination of the conjugation ratio. A third carbohydrate, sialic acid, was conjugated via reductive amination and the conjugation ratio determined by a resorcinol assay. The biological behaviour of these radioiodinated antibodies with carbohydrate modifications in normal mice indicates an enhanced liver uptake at 15 min post-injection with an associated change in circulating blood levels occurs for the galactose-based hIgG preparations. However, no significant differences in the biodistribution were observed for the sialic acid conjugate. These studies confirm the potential of carbohydrate-antibody conjugation for modifying the behaviour of antibodies in immunoscintigraphy and radioimmunotherapy.

Immunization of breast cancer patients using a synthetic sialyl-Tn glycoconjugate plus Detox adjuvant.

We have synthesized various formulations that have potential for active specific immunotherapy (ASI) of human cancers. Sialyl-Tn (STn) is a potentially important target structure for ASI because its expression on mucins is a strong, independent predictor of poor prognosis, suggesting that it may have functional significance in the metastatic process. In this first pilot study of synthetic sialyl-Tn hapten conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (STn-KLH), with Detox adjuvant, toxicity and humoral immunogenicity were assessed in 12 patients with metastatic breast cancer. Toxicity was minimal, restricted to local cutaneous reactions (apart from transient nausea and vomiting following single low-dose cyclophosphamide treatment). Using STn-conjugated human serum albumin in a solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, it was shown that all patients developed IgM and IgG specific for the synthetic STn hapten. Following immunization, most patients were shown to develop increased titres of complement-mediated cytotoxic antibodies, partially inhibited by synthetic STn hapten, but not by the related TF hapten. We also detected IgM and IgG antibodies reactive with natural STn determinants expressed on ovine submaxillary mucin, the STn specificity of this reactivity being confirmed by hapten inhibition. Evaluation of clinical efficacy in a small pilot study is difficult. Five patients are alive 12 or more months after entry, and another 4 patients are alive 6 or more months after entry into the study. All 3 patients with known widespread bulky disease progressed despite ASI, 2 having died from widespread cancer. Two patients had partial responses, each lasting 6 months. While several patients had disease stability for 3-10 months, 1 patient with pulmonary metastases remains stable 15 months after entry into the program.

Active specific immunotherapy of a murine mammary adenocarcinoma using a synthetic tumor-associated glycoconjugate.

A synthetic tumor-associated glycoconjugate (S-TAG) "vaccine" formulation was developed for active specific immunotherapy of a murine mammary adenocarcinoma (TA3-Ha). An S-TAG composed of the Thomsen Freidenreich hapten coupled to a conventional carrier protein (keyhole limpet hemocyanin) and emulsified in Ribi adjuvant, when administered s.c. (in four doses at 3 to 6 days apart) into hosts bearing TA3-Ha tumors, provided 25% long-term survival. When administration of this synthetic glycoconjugate was preceded by treatment with cyclophosphamide (100 mg/kg i.v.), 50% long-term survival was observed for hosts in which the tumor had been established for 5 days and up to 90% long-term survival for groups of mice with tumors established for 1 to 2 days. In contrast, a significantly (P less than 0.025) lower level of survival was observed when cyclophosphamide treatment was preceded by active immunizations with the S-TAG tumor vaccine. Surviving tumor-challenged mice that had been treated with cyclophosphamide and the S-TAG vaccine had relatively good IgG antibody and delayed-type hypersensitivity responsiveness to the synthetic Thomsen Friedenreich determinants. About 30% of these animals were also able to resist and sustain long-term survival when rechallenged with a high dose (1 x 10(4] of TA3-Ha tumor cells. Lymph node cells obtained from surviving animals were highly inhibitory to tumor growth in a Winn-type assay.

Reaction of 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) with guanosine: evidence for a new mechanism of DNA modification.

When guanosine reacts with 1,3-bis(2-chloro-2,2-dideuteroethyl)-1-nitrosourea in a mixture of pH 7.1 buffer and DMSO, the 7-chloroethylguanosine which is isolated contains two deuterium atoms located next to the guanine ring and beta to the chlorine atom as shown by electron impact mass spectrometry. It is proposed that initial attack by DNA bases occurs on the number 2 carbon of the haloethylnitrosourea with displacement of the chloride ion. In accordance with this proposed mechanism, 7-bromoethylguanosine is isolated as a major product when BCNU is reacted with guanosine in the presence of high concentrations of KBr. These results suggest that the antitumor activity of various haloethylating antitumor agents may be determined by structural changes which affect their mechanisms of reaction with DNA.

Mechanism of interstrand cross-linking of DNA by anticancer 2-haloethylnitrosoureas.

E and Z-2-haloethyldiazotates, which have been postulated as the ultimate electrophiles responsible for the biological activity of 2-haloethylnitrosoureas (HENUs), have been synthesized and characterized by 15N-nmr. Their stability and solubility in organic solvents are increased by forming crown ether complexes. While E and Z forms are configurationally stable in solution the Z form cyclizes at greater than or equal to -20 degrees C to a 1,2,3-oxadiazoline. The E isomers cross-link DNA, in contrast to the Z isomers. However, both E and Z (2'chloroethyl)thioethyldiazotates (neither of which may cyclize) cross-link DNA extremely efficiently. The cross-linking by these agents is a two-step process and increases with the (G + C) content of the DNA. E-2-chloroethyldiazotate exhibits activity against P388 leukaemia in vivo, lending credence to the suggestion that it is the ultimate electrophile from HENUs. Ab initio calculations predicted the optimized geometry, LUMO energies and atom contributions and the net atomic charges for the diazohydroxides and the HOMO energies and atom contributions for the alternative DNA base sites. An analysis based on Frontier Orbital methods invoking the Hard and Soft Acids and Bases theory permitted an interpretation of the formation of a cross-link site and several modified bases isolated from the reaction of HENUs with DNA.

Isolation and characterization of electrophiles from 2-haloethylnitrosoureas forming cytotoxic DNA cross-links and cyclic nucleotide adducts and the analysis of base site-selectivity by ab initio calculations.

E- and Z-2-haloethyldiazotates--electrophilic species hitherto suggested as intermediates in the reactions of 2-haloethylnitrosoureas (HENUs) under physiological conditions--were synthesized and characterized by 1H-, 15N- and 13C-NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance). They were stabilized and solubilized in organic solvents as their 18-crown-6 ether complexes. Characterization of the Z-2-fluoroethyldiazotate by 19F- and 13C-NMR, and comparison with the Z-2-chloroethyl compound, confirmed facile cyclization to the 1,2,3-oxadiazoline and subsequent decomposition to nitrogen and ethylene oxide. The E-2-haloethyldiazotates form DNA interstrand cross-links at a rate, and to an extent, and with a DNA base dependence, which parallels the behaviour of the parent HENUs, while the Z isomers alkylate DNA but show minimal cross-linking. Both E-and Z-(2'-chloroethyl)thioethyldiazotates, neither of which can undergo cyclization, cross-link DNA efficiently. Self-consistent-field (SCF) ab initio calculations provided optimized geometries, atomic charges and LUMO (Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital) atom contributions for the E- and Z-2-haloethyldiazohydroxides. The HSAB (Hard and Soft Acids and Bases) theory, in conjunction with HOMO (Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital) values on key DNA base sites, accounted for the observed site-selectivity in the formation of identified cross-links produced by 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea. Independent chemical studies on cytosine derivatives corroborated the predicted site selectivity of attack by electrophiles and the formation of ethanocytidine cyclic adducts.