Photoactive immunoconjugates for targeted photodynamic therapy of cancer.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been used as an alternative or as a complement of conventional approaches for cancer treatment. In PDT, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced from the interaction between the photosensitizer (PS), visible light and molecular oxygen, kill malignant cells by triggering a cascade of cytotoxic reactions. In this process, the PS plays an extremely important role in the effectiveness of the therapy. In the present work, a new photoimmunoconjugate (PIC), based on cetuximab and the known third generation PS-glycophthalocyanine ZnPcGal4, was synthesized via reductive amination. The rationale behind this was the simultaneous cancer-associated specific targeting of PIC and photosensitization of targeted receptor positive cells. Varied reaction parameters and photodynamic conditions, such as PS concentrations and both type and intensities of light, were optimized. ZnPcGal4 showed significant photoactivity against EGFR expressing A431, EGFR-transfected HCT116 and HT29 cells when irradiated with white light of stronger intensity (38 mW/cm2). Similarly, the synthesized PICs-T1 and T2 also demonstrated photoactivity with high intensity white light. The best optimized PIC: sample 28 showed no precipitation and aggregation when inspected visually and analyzed through SE-HPLC. Fluorescence excitation of sample 28 and 125I-sample 28 radioconjugate (125I-PIC, 125I-radiolabeling yield ≥95%, determined with ITLC) at 660 nm showed presence of appended ZnPcGal4. In addition, simultaneous fluorescence and radioactivity detection of the 125I-PIC in serum and PBS (pH 7.4) for the longest incubated time point of 72 h, respectively, and superimposed signals thereof demonstrated ≥99% of loading and/or labeling yield, assuring overall stability of the PIC and corresponding PIC-radioconjugate w.r.t. both the appended ZnPcGal4 and bound-125I. Moreover, real-time binding analyses on EGFR-transfected HCT116 cells showed specific binding of 125I-PIC, suggesting no alternation in the binding kinetics of the mAb after appending it with ZnPcGal4. These results suggest dual potential applications of synthesized PICs both for PDT and radio-immunotherapy of cancer.

p53-Mediated Radiosensitization of 177Lu-DOTATATE in Neuroblastoma Tumor Spheroids.

p53 is involved in DNA damage response and is an exciting target for radiosensitization in cancer. Targeted radionuclide therapy against somatostatin receptors with 177Lu-DOTATATE is currently being explored as a treatment for neuroblastoma. The aim of this study was to investigate the novel p53-stabilizing peptide VIP116 in neuroblastoma, both as monotherapy and together with 177Lu-DOTATATE. Five neuroblastoma cell lines, including two patient-derived xenograft (PDX) lines, were characterized in monolayer cultures. Four out of five were positive for 177Lu-DOTATATE uptake. IC50 values after VIP116 treatments correlated with p53 status, ranging between 2.8-238.2 µM. IMR-32 and PDX lines LU-NB-1 and LU-NB-2 were then cultured as multicellular tumor spheroids and treated with 177Lu-DOTATATE and/or VIP116. Spheroid growth was inhibited in all spheroid models for all treatment modalities. The most pronounced effects were observed for combination treatments, mediating synergistic effects in the IMR-32 model. VIP116 and combination treatment increased p53 levels with subsequent induction of p21, Bax and cleaved caspase 3. Combination treatment resulted in a 14-fold and 1.6-fold induction of MDM2 in LU-NB-2 and IMR-32 spheroids, respectively. This, together with differential MYCN signaling, may explain the varying degree of synergy. In conclusion, VIP116 inhibited neuroblastoma cell growth, potentiated 177Lu-DOTATATE treatment and could, therefore, be a feasible treatment option for neuroblastoma.

A Patient-Derived Cell Atlas Informs Precision Targeting of Glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a malignant brain tumor with few therapeutic options. The disease presents with a complex spectrum of genomic aberrations, but the pharmacological consequences of these aberrations are partly unknown. Here, we report an integrated pharmacogenomic analysis of 100 patient-derived GBM cell cultures from the human glioma cell culture (HGCC) cohort. Exploring 1,544 drugs, we find that GBM has two main pharmacological subgroups, marked by differential response to proteasome inhibitors and mutually exclusive aberrations in TP53 and CDKN2A/B. We confirm this trend in cell and in xenotransplantation models, and identify both Bcl-2 family inhibitors and p53 activators as potentiators of proteasome inhibitors in GBM cells. We can further predict the responses of individual cell cultures to several existing drug classes, presenting opportunities for drug repurposing and design of stratified trials. Our functionally profiled biobank provides a valuable resource for the discovery of new treatments for GBM.

Tumor-Targeted Delivery of the p53-Activating Peptide VIP116 with PEG-Stabilized Lipodisks.

Stapled peptides targeting the interaction between p53 and its negative regulators MDM2 and MDM4 have exhibited great potential as anti-cancer drugs, albeit with room for improvement in formulation and tumor specificity. Lipid bilayer disks (lipodisks) have emerged as promising drug nanocarriers and can by attachment of targeting moieties be directed selectively towards tumor cells. Tumor-targeted delivery of stapled peptides by use of lipodisks may therefore increase the uptake in the tumors and limit toxicity in healthy tissue. Here, we utilized epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted lipodisks to deliver p53-activating stapled peptide VIP116 to EGFR-expressing tumor cells. We demonstrate that VIP116 can be stably formulated in lipodisks (maximum peptide/lipid molar ratio 0.11). In vitro cell studies verify specific binding of EGF-decorated lipodisks to tumor cells and confirm that targeted delivery of VIP116 significantly decreases tumor cell viability.

The HSP90 inhibitor Onalespib exerts synergistic anti-cancer effects when combined with radiotherapy: an in vitro and in vivo approach.

Oncogenic client-proteins of the chaperone Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) insure unlimited tumor growth and are involved in resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy. The HSP90 inhibitor Onalespib initiates the degradation of oncoproteins, and might also act as a radiosensitizer. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the efficacy of Onalespib in combination with external beam radiotherapy in an in vitro and in vivo approach. Onalespib downregulated client proteins, lead to increased apoptosis and caused DNA-double-strands. Monotherapy and combination with radiotherapy reduced colony formation, proliferation and migration assessed in radiosensitive HCT116 and radioresistant A431 cells. In vivo, a minimal treatment regimen for 3 consecutive days of Onalespib (3 × 10 mg/kg) doubled survival, whereas Onalespib with radiotherapy (3 × 2 Gy) caused a substantial delay in tumor growth and prolonged the survival by a factor of 3 compared to the HCT116 xenografted control group. Our results demonstrate that Onalespib exerts synergistic anti-cancer effects when combined with radiotherapy, most prominent in the radiosensitive cell models. We speculate that the depletion and downregulation of client proteins involved in signalling, migration and DNA repair mechanisms is the cause. Thus, individually, or in combination with radiotherapy Onalespib inhibits tumor growth and has the potential to improve radiotherapy outcomes, prolonging the overall survival of cancer patients.

The radiosensitizer Onalespib increases complete remission in 177Lu-DOTATATE-treated mice bearing neuroendocrine tumor xenografts.

PURPOSE: 177Lu-DOTATATE targeting the somatostatin receptor (SSTR) is utilized for treatment of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Onalespib, a heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) inhibitor, has demonstrated radiosensitizing properties and may thus enhance the effect of 177Lu-DOTATATE. Consequently, the aim of this study was to assess the potential of Onalespib in combination with 177Lu-DOTATATE in vivo and to examine the toxicity profiles of the treatments. METHODS: 177Lu-DOTATATE selectivity and distribution in NET xenografts were studied using biodistribution and autoradiography. Therapeutic effects of Onalespib in combination with 177Lu-DOTATATE were studied in NET xenografts. Histological analyses were used to assess molecular effects from treatment and to establish toxicity profiles. RESULTS: Biodistribution and autoradiography confirmed the SSTR-selective tumor uptake of 177Lu-DOTATATE, which was unaffected by Onalespib treatment. Immunohistochemistry verified molecular responses to Onalespib therapy in the tumors. While Onalespib and 177Lu-DOTATATE monotherapies resulted in a 10% and 33% delay in tumor doubling time compared with control, the combination treatment resulted in a 73% delayed tumor doubling time. Moreover, combination treatment increased complete remissions threefold from 177Lu-DOTATATE monotherapy, resulting in 29% complete remissions. In addition, histological analyses demonstrated radiation-induced glomerular injury in the 177Lu-DOTATATE monotherapy group. The damage was decreased tenfold in the combination group, potentially due to Onalespib-induced HSP70 upregulation in the kidneys. CONCLUSION: Treatment with Onalespib potentiated 177Lu-DOTATATE therapy of NET xenografts with a favorable toxicity profile. Utilizing Onalespib's radiosensitizing properties with 177Lu-DOTATATE may lead to better therapeutic results in the future and may reduce unwanted side effects in dose-limiting organs.

The HSP90 inhibitor onalespib potentiates 177Lu­DOTATATE therapy in neuroendocrine tumor cells.

177Lu­DOTATATE was recently approved for the treatment of somatostatin receptor (SSTR)­positive neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). However, despite impressive response rates, complete responses are rare. Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) inhibitors have been suggested as suitable therapeutic agents for NETs, as well as a potential radiosensitizers. Consequently, the aim of this study was to investigate whether the HSP90­inhibitor onalespib could reduce NET cell growth and act as a radiosensitizer when used in combination with 177Lu­DOTATATE. The NET cell lines BON, NCI­H727 and NCI­H460, were first characterized with regards to 177Lu­DOTATATE uptake and sensitivity to onalespib treatment in monolayer cell assays. The growth inhibitory effects of the monotherapies and combination treatments were then examined in three­dimensional multicellular tumor spheroids. Lastly, the molecular effects of the treatments were assessed. 177Lu­DOTATATE uptake was observed in the BON and NCI­H727 cells, while the NCI­H460 cells exhibited no detectable uptake. Accordingly, 177Lu­DOTATATE reduced the growth of BON and NCI­H727 spheroids, while no effect was observed in the NCI­H460 spheroids. Onalespib reduced cell viability and spheroid growth in all three cell lines. Furthermore, the combination of onalespib and 177Lu­DOTATATE exerted synergistic therapeutic effects on the BON and NCI­H727 spheroids. Western blot analysis of BON spheroids revealed the downregulation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the upregulation of γ H2A histone family member X (γH2AX) following combined treatment with onalespib and 177Lu­DOTATATE. Moreover, flow cytometric analyses revealed a two­fold increase in caspase 3/7 activity in the combination group. In conclusion, the findings of this study demonstrate that onalespib exerts antitumorigenic effects on NET cells and may thus be a feasible treatment option for NETs. Furthermore, onalespib was able to synergistically potentiate 177Lu­DOTATATE treatment in a SSTR­specific manner. The radiosensitizing mechanisms of onalespib involved the downregulation of EGFR expression and the induction of apoptosis. Consequently, the combination of onalespib and 177Lu­DOTATATE may prove to be a promising strategy with which to improve therapeutic responses in patients with NETs. Further studies investigating this strategy in vivo regarding the therapeutic effects and potential toxicities are warranted to expand these promising findings.

The MDM2/MDMX-p53 Antagonist PM2 Radiosensitizes Wild-Type p53 Tumors.

Radiotherapy amplifies p53 expression in cancer cells with wild-type (wt) p53. Blocking the negative regulators MDM2 and MDMX stabilizes p53 and may therefore potentiate radiotherapy outcomes. In this study, we investigate the efficacy of the novel anti-MDM2/X stapled peptide PM2 alone and in combination with external gamma radiation in vitro and in vivo PM2 therapy combined with radiotherapy elicited synergistic therapeutic effects compared with monotherapy in cells with wt p53 in both in vitro and in vivo assays, whereas these effects did not manifest in p53 -/- cells. Biodistribution and autoradiography of 125I-PM2 revealed high and retained uptake homogenously distributed throughout the tumor. In mice carrying wt p53 tumors, PM2 combined with radiotherapy significantly prolonged the median survival by 50%, whereas effects of PM2 therapy on mutant and p53 -/- tumors were negligible. PM2-dependent stabilization of p53 was confirmed with ex vivo immunohistochemistry. These data demonstrate the potential of the stapled peptide PM2 as a radiotherapy potentiator in vivo and suggest that clinical application of PM2 with radiotherapy in wt p53 cancers might improve tumor control.Significance: These findings contribute advances to cancer radiotherapy by using novel p53-reactivating stapled peptides as radiosensitizers in wild-type p53 cancers. Cancer Res; 78(17); 5084-93. ©2018 AACR.