US20210198359A1

US20210198359A1 - Anti-cd45-based lymphodepletion methods and uses thereof in conjction with act-based cancer therapies

Info

Publication number: US20210198359A1
Application number: US16/755,590
Authority: US
Inventors: Mark Berger; Keisha Thomas; Sandesh Seth; Dale Lincoln Ludwig
Original assignee: Actinium Pharmaceuticals Inc
Current assignee: Actinium Pharmaceuticals Inc
Priority date: 2017-10-25
Filing date: 2018-10-25
Publication date: 2021-07-01
Also published as: US20200255520A1; WO2019084240A1; WO2019084258A1; US20200308280A1; CN111132701A; US11912780B2; WO2019084273A1; CA3078963A1; EP3700581A1; EP3700581A4; EP3700582A4; CN111542341A; WO2019084248A1; EP3700582A1

Abstract

This invention provides a method for depleting a subject's immune cells, where the method includes administering to the subject an effective amount of a radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody. This invention also provides a method for treating a subject afflicted with cancer, where the method includes (i) administering to the subject an amount of a radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody effective to deplete the subject's lymphocytes, and (ii) after a suitable time period, performing adoptive cell therapy on the subject to treat the subject's cancer. Finally, this invention provides an article of manufacture including (a) a radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody, and (b) a label instructing the user to administer to a subject an amount of the antibody effective to deplete the subject's immune cells.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a 371 National Stage filing of PCT/US2018/057521 filed Oct. 25, 2018, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of prior U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/576,879, titled “Methods for Cancer Treatment Using Anti-CD45 Immunoglobin and Adoptive Cell Therapies,” filed Oct. 25, 2017; U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/675,417, titled “Anti-CD45-Based Lymphodepletion Methods and Uses Thereof in Conjunction with Act-Based Cancer Therapies,” filed May 23, 2018; U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/693,517, titled “Anti-CD45-Based Conditioning Methods and Uses Thereof in Conjunction with Gene-Edited Cell-Based Therapies,” filed Jul. 3, 2018; and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/700,978, titled “Anti-CD45-Based Lymphodepletion Methods and Uses Thereof in Conjunction with Act-Based Cancer Therapies,” filed Jul. 20, 2018, the contents of which are each incorporated by reference here into this application.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody-based methods for lymphodepleting a subject. When these methods precede certain cell-based therapies like CAR T-cell therapy, they can safely and effectively enhance the performance of such therapies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Adoptive Cell Transfer
Adoptive cell transfer (ACT) methods are a powerful new tool for treating cancer. These methods redirect a patient's own cells to recognize and control cancer growth. Importantly, ACTs include CAR T-cell therapy (also referred to as “CAR T therapy”).
CAR T-cell therapy involves genetically modifying autologous or allogenic T-cells to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that target tumor cell antigens. CARs are antigen receptors that typically employ the single chain fraction variable region of a monoclonal antibody designed to recognize a cell surface antigen in a human leukocyte antigen-independent manner. CARs directed against CD19 found on normal B cells and over-expressed on certain forms of lymphoma have recently been found to dramatically improve patient response rates and, in some patients, provide a durable response. CARs are also being developed for other blood cancers, targeting tumor-expressed antigens including BCMA, CD33, CD22 and CD20. More recently, CAR-Ts have been engineered to target antigens found on solid tumors, including EGFR, EGFRvIII, Erb-B2, CEA, PSMA, MUC1, IL13-Rα2 and GD2 (D'Aloia, et al., 2018, Cell Death and Disease. 9:282-293).
ACTs can also include recombinant T-cell receptor (TCR) therapy. TCRs on lymphocytes can recognize tumor-specific proteins typically found on the inside of cells. They do so by specifically recognizing processed peptides (derived from those proteins) that are complexed to major histocompatibility (MHC) antigens. In TCR CAR-T therapy, a TCR is selected for specific recognition of a tumor-expressed neoantigen and engineered for expression on a patient's T-cells. In some cases, the TCR or the CAR may be directed to the endogenous TCR locus. For example, the TRAC locus (T-cell receptor gene) may be targeted via gene editing (e.g., CRISPR/cas9 technology, TALEN, or ZFN), effectively replacing the endogenous TCR with the recombinant TCR gene.
In addition to autologous cells, allogeneic donor lymphocytes may also be used for generating CAR-Ts using engineered CARs or TCRs. In this case, the endogenous TCR on the donor cells must be deleted to reduce the potential for graft-versus-host disease. Gene editing technologies are an effective way to introduce mutations to silence or ablate the endogenous TCR. Finally, ACT methods further include administering tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs).
Gene Editing Technologies
Gene editing technologies have advanced substantially with the advent of site-specific editing methods such as TALEN, CRISPR/cas9 and zinc finger nuclease (ZFN) methods. These methods have therapeutic potential for patients afflicted with malignant hereditary diseases and for those afflicted with non-malignant hereditary diseases.
Gene editing precisely and permanently alters a sequence of genomic DNA that remains under endogenous genetic regulation and control for proper and appropriate expression of the modified genetic element. There are presently four major classes of nucleases for human genome gene editing: zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs); transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs); meganucleases (MNs); and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR/Cas9). Each of these can recognize and bind a specific target sequence of DNA. Depending on the approach, the target DNA can be cleaved on one or both strands. To correct a mutation, a correction template is used for homology-directed repair of the introduced break at the site of the targeted lesion. This technology can also be exploited to silence or ablate a particular gene by incorporating a mutational insertion or deletion. Further, gene-editing technology can also be utilized to functionally replace one gene with another, such as within the T-cell receptor alpha constant locus (TRAC), and thereby change the specificity of the T-cells (Eyquem, et. al., 2017, Nature. 543:113-117).
Lymphodepletion Generally
Before administering a dose of engineered immune cells to a patient, it is common to lymphodeplete the patient. The lymphodepletion process is considered important, indeed essential, to the success of ACT methods. The process creates sufficient space in the immune microenvironment (e.g., bone marrow) to allow the transferred cells to engraft. It also creates a favorable immune homeostatic environment for the successful engraftment, proliferation, and persistence of the transferred cells by eliciting a favorable cytokine profile. It elicits this cytokine profile particularly in the peripheral immune niches (e.g., bone marrow, spleen and lymph nodes) for the establishment and proliferation of the engineered cells. (see, e.g., Maine, et al., 2002, J. Clin. Invest, 110:157-159; Muranski, et al., 2006, Nat. Clin. Pract. Oncol., 3(12):668-681; Klebanoff, et al., 2005, Trends Immunol., 26(2): 111-117)
Chemotherapy-Based Lymphodepletion
It is common to use a combination of highly cytotoxic chemotherapy agents, especially cyclophosphamide and fludarabine, to lymphodeplete patients prior to ACT methods like CAR T-cell therapy. These agents reduce lymphoid cell number. However, they are highly toxic. They not only deplete the immune system in a non-targeted manner but may also damage other normal cells and tissues. Not all patients can tolerate them. Further, particularly in CAR T-cell therapy, durable response rates are typically less than 50%. Many patients eventually relapse after receiving CAR T-cell therapy and require further therapeutic intervention or a stem cell transplant (e.g., a bone marrow transplant).
Antibody-Based Lymphodepletion
Antibodies have greater cell-targeting specificity than chemotherapeutics. Antibodies to immune cell-specific antigens are therefore of interest as potential substitutes for chemotherapeutics as lymphodepletion agents. CD45 is an immune cell-specific antigen. In general, all cells of hematopoietic origin, with the exception of mature erythrocytes and platelets, express CD45. High expression of CD45 is also seen on most acute lymphoid and myeloid leukemias. For example, CD45 is expressed at a density of approximately 200,000 to 300,000 sites per cell on circulating leukocytes and malignant B cells.
Anti-CD45 antibody-based lymphodepletion is known (see, e.g., Louis, et al., 2009, Blood, 113:2442-2450). However, this approach too has shortcomings. For example, in the Louis, et al. study, eight patients were lymphodepleted with anti-CD45 antibody and showed an increase in peripheral blood frequency of desired T-cells after infusion. However, only three patients had clinical benefits, and only one had a complete response.
An Unmet Need
There is an unmet need for a better way to lymphodeplete a subject prior to a cell-based therapy like CAR T-cell therapy and TCR cell therapy. That is, there is a need for a lymphodepletion method that (i) employs an agent that is more specific than a chemotherapeutic, (ii) is potent enough to be effective at a low dose, and (iii) spares at least some types of lymphocytes from significant depletion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a method for depleting a subject's immune cells comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody in a single dose, subject's immune cells comprise lymphocytes, regulatory T cells, myeloid derived suppressor cells, tumor associated macrophages, activated macrophages, and combinations thereof.
This invention also provides a method for depleting a human subject's immune cells comprising administering to the subject from 25 mCi to 200 mCi (e.g., 50 mCi, 100 mCi or 150 mCi) of ¹³¹I-BC8. This invention also provides a method for depleting a human subject's immune cells comprising administering to the subject from 0.05 μCi/kg of subject weight to 5.0 μCi/kg of subject weight of ²²⁵AC-BC8.
This invention further provides a method for treating a subject afflicted with cancer comprising (i) administering to the subject an amount of a radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody effective to deplete the subject's lymphocytes, and (ii) after a suitable time period, performing adoptive cell therapy on the subject to treat the subject's cancer.
This invention still further provides a method for treating a human subject afflicted with cancer, comprising (i) administering to the subject from 25 mCi to 200 mCi (e.g., 50 mCi, 100 mCi or 150 mCi) of ¹³¹I-BC8, or 0.05 μCi/kg of subject weight to 5.0 μCi/kg of subject weight of ²²⁵AC-BC8; and (ii) after 6, 7 or 8 days, performing adoptive cell therapy on the subject to treat the subject's cancer.
This invention provides an article of manufacture comprising (a) a radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody, and (b) a label instructing the user to administer to a subject an amount of the antibody effective to deplete the subject's lymphocytes.
Finally, this invention provides an article of manufacture comprising (a) ¹³¹I-BC8, and (b) a label instructing the user to administer to a human subject from 25 mCi to 200 mCi (e.g., 50 mCi, 100 mCi or 150 mCi) of the ¹³¹I-BC8. This invention also provides an article of manufacture comprising (a) ²²⁵AC-BC8, and (b) a label instructing the user to administer to a human subject from 0.05 μCi/kg of subject weight to 5.0 μCi/kg of subject weight of ²²⁵AC-BC8.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A depicts a method for lymphodepleting a subject prior to performing adoptive cell therapy according to certain aspects of the presently disclosed invention.

FIG. 1B depicts pharmo-kinetic data demonstrating exemplary clearance and dosing times for a lymphodepletion protocol according to the presently disclosed invention.

FIG. 2 shows the median change in absolute neutrophil count following dosing with ¹³¹I-BC8.

FIGS. 3A-3E shows results of immune cell analysis following ¹³¹I-CD45 antibody targeted lymphodepletion in a mouse model using surrogate antibody 30F11.

FIGS. 4A-4D show results from immunophenotyping of lymphocyte populations following ¹³¹I-anti-CD45 antibody targeted lymphodepletion in mice.

FIG. 5A shows depletion of splenic T-reg cells, FIG. 5B shows depletion of myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC), and FIG. 5C shows depletion of bone marrow HSC after targeted lymphodepletion with ¹³¹I-anti-CD45 antibody in mice.

FIG. 6 shows selected published trials of autologous anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy for patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).

FIG. 7 shows a schematic of preclinical studies of the effects in mice of low dose ¹³¹I-anti-CD45 radioimmunotherapy (surrogate 30F11) investigating the lymphodepletive response on particular immune cell types. Controls include chemotherapeutic lymphodepletive treatments, cyclophosphamide (Cy) or cyclophosphamide/fludarabine (Flu/Cy), and no lymphodepletive treatment.

FIG. 8 shows a preclinical model of adoptive T-cell transfer following anti-CD45 radioimmunotherapy-mediated conditioning/lymphodepletion in mice. In this model, E.G7 lymphoma tumor-bearing mice will be conditioned by a single selected dose of ¹³¹I-anti-CD45 radioimmunotherapy prior to adoptive cell transfer of OVA-specific CD8+ T-cells, and monitored for engraftment of the transferred cells and resulting anti-tumor response.

FIG. 9 shows clinical data from a low dose ¹³¹I-BC8 study demonstrating lymphodepletion.

FIG. 10 shows pharmo-kinetic data demonstrating clearance rate (<25 cGy) of ¹³¹I-BC8.

FIG. 11 shows pharmo-kinetic data demonstrating cumulative dose to spleen of ¹³¹I-BC8 after administration of 100 mCi.

FIG. 12 shows blood clearance of ¹³¹I-BC8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody-based methods for lymphodepleting a subject, and related methods and articles of manufacture. When these methods precede certain cell-based therapies, the methods are able to enhance the outcome of the cell-based therapies while minimizing adverse effects.

Definitions

In this application, certain terms are used which shall have the meanings set forth as follows.
The singular forms “a,” “an,” “the” and the like include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “an” antibody includes both a single antibody and a plurality of different antibodies.
The term “about” when used before a numerical designation, e.g., temperature, time, amount, and concentration, including a range, indicates approximations which may vary by ±10%, ±5%, or ±1%.
As used herein, “administer”, with respect to an antibody, means to deliver the antibody to a subject's body via any known method suitable for antibody delivery. Specific modes of administration include, without limitation, intravenous, transdermal, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, intrathecal and intra-tumoral administration. Exemplary administration methods for antibodies may be as substantially described in International Publication No. WO 2016/187514, incorporated by reference herein.
In addition, in this invention, antibodies can be formulated using one or more routinely used pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. Such carriers are well known to those skilled in the art. For example, injectable drug delivery systems include solutions, suspensions, gels, microspheres and polymeric injectables, and can comprise excipients such as solubility-altering agents (e.g., ethanol, propylene glycol and sucrose) and polymers (e.g., polycaprylactones and PLGA's).
As used herein, the term “antibody” includes, without limitation, (a) an immunoglobulin molecule comprising two heavy chains and two light chains and which recognizes an antigen; (b) polyclonal and monoclonal immunoglobulin molecules; (c) monovalent and divalent fragments thereof (e.g., di-Fab), and (d) bi-specific forms thereof. Immunoglobulin molecules may derive from any of the commonly known classes, including but not limited to IgA, secretory IgA, IgG and IgM. IgG subclasses are also well known to those in the art and include, but are not limited to, human IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4. Antibodies can be both naturally occurring and non-naturally occurring (e.g., IgG-Fc-silent). Furthermore, antibodies include chimeric antibodies, wholly synthetic antibodies, single chain antibodies, and fragments thereof. Antibodies may be human, humanized or nonhuman.
As used herein, an “anti-CD45 antibody” is an antibody that binds to any available epitope of CD45. According to certain aspects, the anti-CD45 antibody binds to the epitope recognized by the monoclonal antibody “BC8.” BC8 is known, as are methods of making it. Likewise, methods of labeling BC8 with ¹³¹I or ²²⁵Ac are known. These methods are described, for example, in International Publication No. WO 2017/155937. As used herein, “cancer” includes, without limitation, a solid cancer (e.g., a tumor) and a hematologic malignancy.
As used herein, “depleting”, with respect to a subject's lymphocytes, shall mean to lower the population of at least one type of the subject's lymphocytes (e.g., at least one type of the subject's peripheral blood lymphocytes or at least one type of the subject's bone marrow lymphocytes). According to certain preferred aspects of this invention, a subject's lymphocyte decrease is determined by measuring the subject's peripheral blood lymphocyte level. As such, and by way of example, a subject's lymphocyte population is depleted if the population of at least one type of the subject's peripheral blood lymphocytes is lowered by no more than 99%. For example, a subject's lymphocytes are depleted if the subject's peripheral blood T-cell level is lowered by 50%, the subject's peripheral blood NK cell level is lowered by 40%, and/or the subject's peripheral blood B cell level is lowered by 30%. In this example, the subject's lymphocytes are depleted even if the level of another immune cell type, such as neutrophils, is not lowered. According to certain aspects, depleting a subject's lymphocytes is reflected by a peripheral blood lymphocyte population reduction of at least 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% or 99%.
Methods for measuring peripheral blood lymphocyte populations are routine. They include, for example, flow cytometry on whole blood samples to determine lymphocyte counts based on labeling with a fluorescent antibody directed against a specific a cell surface marker such as CD45, CD4 or CD8. Methods for measuring peripheral blood neutrophil populations are also routine. They include, for example, flow cytometry on whole blood samples to determine neutrophil counts based on labeling with a fluorescent antibody directed against a specific a cell surface marker such as Ly6G.
As used herein, an amount of a radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody, when administered, is “effective” if the subject's peripheral blood lymphocytes are depleted. An amount of radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody, when administered, is “effective” if the subject's peripheral blood lymphocytes are depleted without depletion of the subject's neutrophils, or with less than 10% or 20% reduction in the subject's neutrophils. An “effective” amount of radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody is an amount that will deplete the subject's regulatory T cells, myeloid derived suppressor cells, tumor associated macrophages, activated macrophages secreting IL-1 and/or IL-6, and combinations thereof.
According to certain aspects, when the radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody is ¹³¹I-BC8, the effective amount is below, for example, 300 mCi (i.e., where the amount of ¹³¹I-BC8 administered to the subject delivers a total body radiation dose of below 300 mCi). According to certain aspects, when the antibody is ¹³¹I-BC8, the effective amount is below 250 mCi, below 200 mCi, below 150 mCi, below 100 mCi, below 50 mCi, below 40 mCi, below 30 mCi, below 20 mCi or below 10 mCi. According to certain aspects, when the antibody is ¹³¹I-BC8, the effective amount is from 1 mCi to 10 mCi, from 1 mCi to 200 mCi, from 10 mCi to 20 mCi, from 10 mCi to 30 mCi, from 10 mCi to 40 mCi, from 10 mCi to 50 mCi, from 10 mCi to 100 mCi, from 10 mCi to 150 mCi, from 10 mCi to 200 mCi, from 20 mCi to 30 mCi, from 30 mCi to 40 mCi, from 40 mCi to 50 mCi, from 50 mCi to 100 mCi, from 50 mCi to 150 mCi, from 50 mCi to 200 mCi, from 60 mCi to 140 mCi, from 70 mCi to 130 mCi, from 80 mCi to 120 mCi, from 90 mCi to 110 mCi, from 100 mCi to 150 mCi, from 150 mCi to 200 mCi, or from 200 mCi to 250 mCi. According to certain aspects, when the antibody is ¹³¹I-BC8, the effective amount is from 10 mCi to 120 mCi, from 20 mCi to 110 mCi, from 25 mCi to 100 mCi, from 30 mCi to 100 mCi, from 40 mCi to 100 mCi, or from 75 mCi to 100 mCi. According to certain aspects, when the antibody is ¹³¹I-BC8, the effective amount is 1 mCi, 10 mCi, 20 mCi, 30 mCi, 40 mCi, 50 mCi, 60 mCi, 70 mCi, 80 mCi, 90 mCi, 100 mCi, 110 mCi, 120 mCi, 130 mCi, 140 mCi, 150 mCi, or 200 mCi.
According to certain aspects, when the radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody is ²²⁵Ac-BC8, the effective amount is below, for example, 5.0 μCi/kg (i.e., where the amount of ²²⁵Ac-BC8 administered to the subject delivers a radiation dose of below 5.0 μCi per kilogram of subject's body weight). According to certain aspects, when the antibody is ²²⁵Ac-BC8, the effective amount is below 4.5 μCi/kg, 4.0 μCi/kg, 3.5 μCi/kg, 3.0 μCi/kg, 2.5 μCi/kg, 2.0 μCi/kg, 1.5 μCi/kg, 1.0 μCi/kg, 0.9 μCi/kg, 0.8 μCi/kg, 0.7 μCi/kg, 0.6 μCi/kg, 0.5 μCi/kg, 0.4 μCi/kg, 0.3 μCi/kg, 0.2 μCi/kg, 0.1 μCi/kg or 0.05 μCi/kg. According to certain aspects, when the antibody is ²²⁵Ac-BC8, the effective amount is from 0.05 μCi/kg to 0.1 μCi/kg, from 0.1 μCi/kg to 0.2 μCi/kg, from 0.2 μCi/kg to 0.3 μCi/kg, from 0.3 μCi/kg to 0.4 μCi/kg, from 0.4 μCi/kg to 0.5 μCi/kg, from 0.5 μCi/kg to 0.6 μCi/kg, from 0.6 μCi/kg to 0.7 μCi/kg, from 0.7 μCi/kg to 0.8 μCi/kg, from 0.8 μCi/kg to 0.9 μCi/kg, from 0.9 μCi/kg to 1.0 μCi/kg, from 1.0 μCi/kg to 1.5 μCi/kg, from 1.5 μCi/kg to 2.0 μCi/kg, from 2.0 μCi/kg to 2.5 μCi/kg, from 2.5 μCi/kg to 3.0 μCi/kg, from 3.0 μCi/kg to 3.5 μCi/kg, from 3.5 μCi/kg to 4.0 μCi/kg, from 4.0 μCi/kg to 4.5 μCi/kg, or from 4.5 μCi/kg to 5.0 μCi/kg. According to certain aspects, when the antibody is ²²⁵Ac-BC8, the effective amount is 0.05 μCi/kg, 0.1 μCi/kg, 0.2 μCi/kg, 0.3 μCi/kg, 0.4 μCi/kg, 0.5 μCi/kg, 0.6 μCi/kg, 0.7 μCi/kg, 0.8 μCi/kg, 0.9 μCi/kg, 1.0 μCi/kg, 1.5 μCi/kg, 2.0 μCi/kg, 2.5 μCi/kg, 3.0 μCi/kg, 3.5 μCi/kg, 4.0 μCi/kg or 4.5 μCi/kg.
For an antibody labeled with a radioisotope, the majority of the drug administered to a subject typically consists of non-labeled antibody, with the minority being the labeled antibody. The ratio of labeled to non-labeled antibody can be adjusted using known methods. Thus, accordingly to certain aspects of the present invention, the anti-CD45 antibody may be provided in a total protein amount of up to 60 mg, such as 5 mg to 45 mg, or a total protein amount of between 0.1 mg/kg patient weight to 1.0 mg/kg patient weight, such as between 0.2 mg/kg patient weight to 0.6 mg/kg patient weight.
According to certain aspects of the present invention, the radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody may comprise a labeled fraction and an unlabeled fraction, wherein the ratio of labeled:unlabeled may be from about 0.01:10 to 1:1, such as 0.1:10 to 1:1 labeled:unlabeled. Moreover, the radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody may be provided as a single dose composition tailored to a specific patient, wherein the amount of labeled and unlabeled anti-CD45 antibody in the composition may depend on at least a patient weight, age, and/or disease state or health status.
The adoptive cell therapy may include administration of cells expressing a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), or a T-cell receptor (TCR), or may include tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL). The population of cells expressing the CAR/TCR may comprise a population of activated T-cells or natural killer (NK) cells or dendritic cells expressing the CAR/TCR which recognize an antigen. Dendritic cells are capable of antigen presentation, as well as direct killing of tumors. The population of cells expressing the CAR/TCR may comprise a population of gene-edited cells.
As used herein, the term “gene-edited” CAR T-cell is synonymous with the terms “genetically engineered” CAR T-cell and “engineered” CAR T-cell. A gene-edited CAR T-cell that “fails to properly express” a checkpoint receptor (e.g., PD1, Lag3 or TIM3) does not express the full-length, functional checkpoint receptor. For example, a gene-edited CAR T-cell that fails to properly express PD1 may fail to do so because, without limitation, (i) the cell's PD1 gene has been ablated, or (ii) the cell's PD1 gene has been otherwise altered so as not to yield a fully or even partially functional PD1 product. In other words, according to certain aspects, a gene-edited CAR T-cell that fails to properly express PD1 may fail to do so because the cell's PD1 gene has been altered to diminish PD1 expression. Similarly, a gene-edited CAR T-cell that “fails to properly express” a T-cell receptor does not express the full-length, functional T-cell receptor.
According to certain aspects, the functional endogenous T-cell receptor is replaced through editing by a “knock-in” to the native TCR locus of an exogenously transduced CAR or recombinant TCR. The gene-edited CAR T-cells may include, without limitation, the following: (i) allogenic gene-edited CAR T-cells that fail to properly express PD1 but do properly express all other checkpoint receptors and T-cell receptors; (ii) allogenic gene-edited CAR T-cells that fail to properly express a particular T-cell receptor but do properly express all checkpoint receptors and all other T-cell receptors; and (iii) allogenic gene-edited CAR T-cells that fail to properly express PD1 and fail to properly express a particular T-cell receptor, but do properly express all other checkpoint receptors and all other T-cell receptors.
Examples of T-cell gene editing to generate allogeneic, universal CAR T-cells include the work of Eyquem and colleagues (Eyquem, et. al., 2017, Nature. 543:113-117). In that study, the endogenous T-cell receptor alpha constant locus (TRAC) was effectively replaced by a recombinant CAR gene construct. By this method, the recombinant CAR was placed effectively under the control of the cell's native TCR regulatory signals. By this same strategy, CARs or recombinant TCRs may be effectively inserted by knock-in into the T-cell receptor beta constant gene locus (TRBC) or into the beta-2 microglobulin (B2M) MHC-I-related gene locus, known to be expressed in all T-cells. Another example includes the work of Ren and colleagues (Ren, et. al., 2017, Clin. Cancer Res 23:2255-2266). Recognizing that checkpoint receptors are immune-suppressive and may blunt the stimulation of exogenous autologous or allogeneic CAR T-cells, this group exploited CRISPR/cas9 technology to ablate the endogenous TCR α and β loci (TRAC and TRBC) and the B2M gene, while also silencing the endogenous PD1 gene. With this approach, the engineered cells did not elicit graft-versus-host disease, but did resist immune checkpoint receptor suppression.
A “hematologic malignancy”, also known as a blood cancer, is a cancer that originates in blood-forming tissue, such as the bone marrow or other cells of the immune system. Hematologic malignancies include, without limitation, leukemias (such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute promyelocytic leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute mixed lineage leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), hairy cell leukemia and large granular lymphocytic leukemia), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), myeloproliferative disorders (polycythemia vera, essential thrombocytosis, primary myelofibrosis and chronic myeloid leukemia), lymphomas, multiple myeloma, MGUS and similar disorders, Hodgkin's lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, transformed follicular lymphoma, splenic marginal zone lymphoma, lymphocytic lymphoma, T-cell lymphoma, and other B-cell malignancies.
As used herein, a subject's “peripheral blood lymphocytes” shall mean the mature lymphocytes circulating in the subject's blood. Examples of peripheral blood lymphocytes include, without limitation, peripheral blood T-cells, peripheral blood NK cells and peripheral blood B cells. A subject's peripheral blood lymphocyte population is readily measurable. Thus, by measuring a decrease in the level of at least one type of peripheral blood lymphocyte following a depleting event (e.g., the administration of a low ¹³¹I-BC8 dose), one can easily determine that lymphodepletion has occurred in a subject.
“Solid cancers” include, without limitation, bone cancer, pancreatic cancer, skin cancer, cancer of the head or neck, cutaneous or intraocular malignant melanoma, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, rectal cancer, cancer of the anal region, stomach cancer, testicular cancer, uterine cancer, carcinoma of the fallopian tubes, carcinoma of the endometrium, carcinoma of the cervix, carcinoma of the vagina, carcinoma of the vulva, cancer of the esophagus, cancer of the small intestine, cancer of the endocrine system, cancer of the thyroid gland, cancer of the parathyroid gland, cancer of the adrenal gland, sarcoma of soft tissue, cancer of the urethra, cancer of the penis, pediatric tumors, cancer of the bladder, cancer of the kidney or ureter, carcinoma of the renal pelvis, neoplasm of the central nervous system (CNS), primary CNS lymphoma, tumor angiogenesis, spinal axis tumor, brain stem glioma, pituitary adenoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, epidermoid cancer, squamous cell cancer, environmentally-induced cancers including those induced by asbestos.
As used herein, the term “subject” includes, without limitation, a mammal such as a human, a non-human primate, a dog, a cat, a horse, a sheep, a goat, a cow, a rabbit, a pig, a rat and a mouse. Where the subject is human, the subject can be of any age. For example, the subject can be 60 years or older, 65 or older, 70 or older, 75 or older, 80 or older, 85 or older, or 90 or older. Alternatively, the subject can be 50 years or younger, 45 or younger, 40 or younger, 35 or younger, 30 or younger, 25 or younger, or 20 or younger. For a human subject afflicted with cancer, the subject can be newly diagnosed, or relapsed and/or refractory, or in remission.
As used herein, a “suitable time period” after administering a radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody to a subject and before performing adoptive cell therapy on the subject is a time period sufficient to permit the administered antibody to deplete the subject's lymphocytes and/or for the subject's lymphocytes to remain depleted. According to certain aspects, the suitable time period is fewer than 10 days, fewer than 9 days, fewer than 8 days, fewer than 7 days, fewer than 6 days, fewer than 5 days, fewer than 4 days, or fewer than 3 days. According to certain aspects, the suitable time period is 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6 days, 7 days, 8 days, 9 days, 10 days, 11 days, 12 days, 13 days, 14 days, 15 days, or greater than 15 days.
As used herein, a “radioisotope” can be an alpha-emitting isotope, a beta-emitting isotope, and/or a gamma-emitting isotope. Examples of radioisotopes include the following: ¹³¹I, ¹²⁵I, ¹²³I, ⁹⁰Y, ¹⁷⁷Lu, ¹⁸⁶Re, ¹⁸⁸Re, ⁸⁹Sr, ¹⁵³Sm, ³²P, ²²⁵Ac, ²¹³Bi, ²¹³Po, ²¹¹At, ²¹²Bi, ²¹³Bi, ²²³Ra, ²²⁷Th, ¹⁴⁹Tb, ¹³⁷Cs, ²¹²Pb and ¹⁰³Pd. Methods for affixing a radioisotope to an antibody (i.e., “labeling” an antibody with a radioisotope) are well known.
As used herein, “treating” a subject afflicted with a cancer shall include, without limitation, (i) slowing, stopping or reversing the cancer's progression, (ii) slowing, stopping or reversing the progression of the cancer's symptoms, (iii) reducing the likelihood of the cancer's recurrence, and/or (iv) reducing the likelihood that the cancer's symptoms will recur. According to certain preferred aspects, treating a subject afflicted with a cancer means (i) reversing the cancer's progression, ideally to the point of eliminating the cancer, and/or (ii) reversing the progression of the cancer's symptoms, ideally to the point of eliminating the symptoms, and/or (iii) reducing or eliminating the likelihood of relapse (i.e., consolidation, which ideally results in the destruction of any remaining cancer cells).
Throughout this application, various publications are cited. The disclosure of these publications is hereby incorporated by reference into this application to describe more fully the state of the art to which this invention pertains. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing described herein, suitable methods and materials are described below.

Aspects of the Invention

This invention solves an unmet need in the art by providing an unexpectedly superior way to lymphodeplete a subject, ideally prior to a cell-based therapy like CAR T-cell therapy or TCR cell therapy. This invention employs a radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody such as ¹³¹I-BC8 to lymphodeplete the subject. The antibody can lymphodeplete the subject at surprisingly low doses. This approach avoids certain adverse effects caused by less specific agents like chemotherapeutics. Also, using this approach, at least some types of CD45+ immune cells, such as neutrophils, surprisingly avoid significant depletion.
Specifically, this invention provides a method for depleting a subject's lymphocytes comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody. Preferably, the subject is human.
This lymphodepletion method is useful, for example, for improving the outcome of a subsequent therapy wherein the depletion of lymphocytes is desirable. According to certain preferred aspects of this method, the subject is afflicted with cancer and is about to undergo adoptive cell therapy to treat the cancer. Adoptive cell therapies are known, and include, for example, CAR T-cell therapy (e.g., autologous cell therapy and allogenic cell therapy). Preferred are CAR T-cell therapies for treating hematologic malignancies such as ALL, AML and CLL. Examples of approved CAR T-cell therapies include, without limitation, KYMIRIAH® (tisagenlecleucel) for treating NHL and DLBCL, and YESCARTA® (axicabtagene ciloleucel) for treating NHL.
These presently disclosed methods may improve treatment outcomes for hematological disorders including solid tumors, and/or may lessen side effects associated with the adoptive cell therapies, such as the CAR T-cell therapies KYMRIAH® and/or YESCARTA®. For example, side effects of adoptive cell therapies include neurotoxicity, cytokine release syndrome (CRS), hypogammaglobulinemia, cytopenias, capillary leak syndrome (CLS), macrophage activation syndrome (MAS), tumor lysis syndrome (TLS), and combinations thereof. Moreover, the presently disclosed methods may prolong persistence of the population of cells expressing the CAR/TCR or the TIL when compared to a method absent administration of the radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody.
The present invention may lessen some of the side effects of CAT-T therapy, and/or may improve the therapeutic outcome for CAR-T therapies by providing methods for targeted lymphodepletion of immune suppressor cells such as regulatory T (T-reg) cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC). Both cells types (i.e., T-regs and MDSC) can dampen the activation and efficacy of CAR T-cell therapies. Moreover, the present invention also provides methods for targeted lymphodepletion of immune suppressor cells such as monocytes and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) that have been implicated in cytokine release contributing to toxicities such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurotoxicity associated with CAR T-cells.
Tumors, both solid and liquid have evolved methods to hijack and/or evade the immune system as a means to perpetuate and thrive. This has been called the hostile tumor immune microenvironment (TME). A classical and relevant example is the up-regulated expression of the ligand PD-L1 on the tumor cell surface to bind PD1 on the surface of T cells, leading to down-modulation of immune cell activation. Interestingly, although blockade of this mechanism has led to remarkable response rates and durable survival in several different types of cancer, most patients do not respond to this form of therapy (i.e., anti-PD1/PD-L1), implying that immune evasion in the tumor microenvironment is multi-faceted and complex. To this end, the tumor, in part through oncogenic expression, signaling, and cytokine production, can confer challenges on the immune system, hindering the mounting of an effective anti-tumor response. This can lead to an environment characterized by oxidative stress, nutrient depletion, an acidic pH, and hypoxia. Further, the presence of these suppressive immune cells (T-regs and MDSC), and tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) can effectively blunt immune cell activation through direct contact or release of suppressive soluble factors and cytokines.
While a patient's endogenous immune system may encounter such an environment and lead to a compromised anti-tumor immune response, adoptive cell therapies such as CAR T-cell therapy may also be susceptible to these immune suppressive mechanisms, restricting the ability of these novel cell therapies to mount an effective response to the tumor.
CAR T therapies, and adoptive cell therapy (ACT) in general, represents one of the most promising anti-cancer strategies emerging from clinical research. Response rates have been extraordinary, on the range of 80% across these tumors, although durable responses have only ranged around 40-50% (see, for example, studies listed in FIG. 6). Nevertheless, these results represent a significant improvement in outcomes for these patients. It is unclear why some patients respond, and others do not, though the tumor immune microenvironment is a likely contributor to modulate the response to cell therapy.
To this end, preclinical and clinical studies have shown that regulatory T cells (T-regs) have an impact on the response to ACT in mice and in patients suffering from melanoma (Gattinoni, et al., 2005, JEM, 202:907; Yao, et al., 2012, Blood, 119:5688). In these studies, depletion of T-regs, whether by intentional depletion or via conditioning with external beam radiation, had a favorable impact on the anti-tumor response to ACT. Interestingly, these and other studies suggest that T-reg depletion is more sustained following treatment with radiation as opposed to chemotherapy-induced conditioning, where a rapid rebound of T-regs was seen with the latter chemotherapy conditioning and poorer outcomes.
MDSCs and TAMs are other cell types implicated in creating a poor tumor immune microenvironment. Through upregulation of metabolic gene expression, such as Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), adenosine A2A receptor, and CD73, tumors can effectively create a nutrient deprivation in the tumor environment which can blunt T-cell activation. For example, tryptophan metabolism by IDO from tumors and MDSCs leads to T-cell anergy and death, as well as T-reg accumulation at the tumor site. Further, these immune suppressive cells may secrete immune modulatory cytokines such as TGF-β which can also exert a negative effect on T-cell activation.
The negative impact of the hostile tumor immune microenvironment may exist for both liquid and solid tumors, though may be even more pronounced in solid tumors. To this end, early clinical results suggest that the robust response to CAR-T therapy in liquid tumors such as lymphoma, has not been observed in solid tumors, suggesting that factors or conditions exist in solid tumors that may present physical or metabolic barriers to mounting an effective CAR-T-mediated immune response (Newick, et al., 2016, Mol. Ther. —Oncolytics, 3:16006; D'Aloia, et al., 2018, Cell Death and Disease. 9:282-293).
The tumor immune microenvironment has also been implicated in the two primary adverse events associated with CAR-T administration, namely cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurotoxicity. Recent preclinical studies have shown that cytokine release leading to CRS or neurotoxicity is due to activated macrophages following recruitment to the site of CAR-T and tumor cells. Mouse study result (Giavadris, et al., 2018, Nat. Med., 24:731) documented that macrophages secrete IL-1 or IL-6 following recruitment and activation by CAR-T cells at the tumor site.
Conditioning has been shown to improve the immune homeostatic environment to enable successful ACT or CAR-T engraftment and expansion in vivo following infusion. However, the use of cytotoxic non-specific chemotherapy can elicit off-target toxicities and has been identified as a risk factor in CRS and neurotoxicity following CAR-T administration (Hay, et al., 2016). Interestingly, most CAR-T programs exploit the use of the combination of fludarabine and cyclophosphamide (flu/cy) as a conditioning regimen prior to CAR-T. These drugs are often administered 2-7 days prior to ACT infusion, using 2-5 day course of therapy.
The targeted therapy for conditioning of the present invention offers a much improved strategy for enhancing outcomes with CAR-T. In the invention described herein, not only may lymphocytes be targeted for depletion, but also those immune cell types implicated in mediating a hostile tumor immune microenvironment, and those implicated in CAR-T adverse events such as CRS and neurotoxicity. The present invention targets normal immune cells including T-regs, MDSCs, TAMs, and activated macrophages secreting IL-1 and/or IL-6. In doing so, the invention may have a dramatic improvement in CAR-T outcomes and safety.
Furthermore, the invention will target, primarily in hematopoietic tumors, patient cancer cells to reduce tumor burden and increase the probability of CAR-T anti-tumor response. More specifically, the invention provides a therapeutic strategy targeting the CD45 antigen, which is found on all normal nucleated immune cells with the exception of red blood cells and platelets. CD45 is also expressed on most lymphoid and leukemic tumor cells. While naked antibodies have shown some impact on reducing immune cell populations, the radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody of the present invention will effect a more pronounced and sustained suppression of immune cells implicated in modulating CAR-T responses, consistent with, but in a targeted manner, to external beam radiation. In this way, the radiation is targeted and impactful on the CD45 cell populations while sparing normal tissues. More specifically, the radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody may be provided as a single dose at a level sufficiently effective to deplete circulating immune cells within the spleen, lymph nodes, and peripheral blood, but limited in impact on hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow. Importantly, in addition to lymphocyte depletion, macrophages, MDSCs and T-regs will be depleted to improve the activation and response to CAR-T therapy and mitigate adverse events CRS and neurotoxicity.
According to certain aspects, the CAR T-cell can be engineered to target a tumor antigen of interest by way of engineering a desired antigen binding domain that specifically binds to an antigen on a tumor cell. In the context of the present invention, “tumor antigen” or “proliferative disorder antigen” or “antigen associated with a proliferative disorder,” refers to antigens that are common to specific proliferative disorders such as cancer. The antigens discussed herein are merely included by way of example and are not intended to be exclusive, and further examples will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art.
According to certain aspects, the CAR T-cell therapy employs CAR T-cells that target CD19, CD20, CD22, CD30, CD33, CD38, CD123, CD138, CS-1, B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA), MAGEA3, MAGEA3/A6, KRAS, CLL1, MUC-1, HER2, EpCam, GD2, GPA7, PSCA, EGFR, EGFRvIII, ROR1, mesothelin, CD33/IL3Ra, c-Met, CD37 PSMA, Glycolipid F77, GD-2, gp100, NY-ESO-1 TCR, FRalpha, CD24, CD44, CD133, CD166, CA-125, HE4, Oval, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, uPA, PAI-1, MICA, MICB, ULBP1, ULBP2, ULBP3, ULBP4, ULBP5 or ULBP6, or a combination thereof (e.g., both CD33 and CD123). It is envisioned in this invention that, according to certain aspects, the subject afflicted with cancer is a patient with a higher burden of disease (≥5% bone marrow blasts) with a greater incidence of adverse events such as cytokine release syndrome and shorter long-term survival after CAR T.
According to certain aspects of this method, the radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody is radiolabeled BC8. Radiolabeled antibodies envisioned in this invention include, without limitation, ¹³¹I-BC8, ¹²⁵I-BC8, ¹²³1-BC8, ⁹⁰Y-BC8, ¹⁷⁷Lu-BC8, ¹⁸⁶Re-BC8, ¹⁸⁸Re-BC8, ⁸⁹Sr-BC8, ¹⁵³Sm-BC8, ³²P-BC8, ²²⁵Ac-BC8, ²¹³Bi-BC8, ²¹³Po-BC8, ²¹¹At-BC8, ²¹²Bi-BC8, ²¹³Bi-BC8, ²²³Ra-BC8, ²²⁷Th-BC8, ¹⁴⁹Tb-BC8, ¹³¹I-BC8, ¹³⁷Cs-BC8, ²¹²Pb-BC8 and ¹⁰³Pd-BC8. Preferably, the radiolabeled BC8 is ¹³¹I-BC8 or ²²⁵Ac-BC8.
According to certain aspects of this method, the effective amount of ¹³¹I-BC8 is from 10 mCi to 200 mCi. Examples of effective amounts include, without limitation, from 50 mCi to 100 mCi, from 50 mCi to 150 mCi, from 50 mCi to 200 mCi, from 60 mCi to 140 mCi, from 70 mCi to 130 mCi, from 80 mCi to 120 mCi, from 90 mCi to 110 mCi, from 100 mCi to 150 mCi, 50 mCi, 60 mCi, 70 mCi, 80 mCi, 90 mCi, 100 mCi, 110 mCi, 120 mCi, 130 mCi, 140 mCi, 150 mCi, or 200 mCi. These low lymphodepletive doses of ¹³¹I-BC8 are surprising over the known myeloablative doses of ¹³¹I-BC8, such as 300 mCi to 1,200 mCi. For example, it was unexpected that these lower doses would yield a drop in lymphocyte levels. Moreover, these lower doses permit the patient to go home immediately after the ¹³¹I-BC8 is administered. This would not be possible for a patient receiving, say, a 1,200 mCi dose due to the radiation risk posed to others in close physical proximity to the patient.
This invention also provides a method for depleting a human subject's lymphocytes comprising administering to the subject from 10 mCi to 200 mCi (e.g., 25 mCi, 50 mCi, 100 mCi or 150 mCi) of ¹³¹I-BC8.
According to certain aspects of this method, the effective amount of ²²⁵Ac-BC8, is from 0.05 μCi/kg to 5.0 μCi/kg of subject's body weight. Examples of effective amounts include, without limitation, from 0.05 μCi/kg to 5.0 μCi/kg, such as from 0.1 μCi/kg to 0.2 μCi/kg, from 0.2 μCi/kg to 0.3 μCi/kg, from 0.3 μCi/kg to 0.4 μCi/kg, from 0.4 μCi/kg to 0.5 μCi/kg, from 0.5 μCi/kg to 0.6 μCi/kg, from 0.6 μCi/kg to 0.7 μCi/kg, from 0.7 μCi/kg to 0.8 μCi/kg, from 0.8 μCi/kg to 0.9 μCi/kg, from 0.9 μCi/kg to 1.0 μCi/kg, from 1.0 μCi/kg to 1.5 μCi/kg, from 1.5 μCi/kg to 2.0 μCi/kg, from 2.0 μCi/kg to 2.5 μCi/kg, from 2.5 μCi/kg to 3.0 μCi/kg, from 3.0 μCi/kg to 3.5 μCi/kg, from 3.5 μCi/kg to 4.0 μCi/kg, from 4.0 μCi/kg to 4.5 μCi/kg, or from 4.5 μCi/kg to 5.0 μCi/kg.
This invention further provides a method for treating a subject afflicted with cancer comprising (i) administering to the subject an amount of a radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody effective to deplete the subject's lymphocytes, and (ii) after a suitable time period, performing adoptive cell therapy on the subject to treat the subject's cancer. Preferably, the subject is human.
According to certain aspects of this method, the subject is afflicted with cancer and is about to undergo adoptive cell therapy to treat the cancer. Adoptive cell therapy is known, and includes, for example, CAR T-cell therapy (e.g., autologous cell therapy and allogeneic cell therapy). Adoptive cell therapies provide a method of promoting regression of a cancer in a subject, and generally comprise (i) collecting autologous T-cells (leukapheresis); (ii) expanding the T-cells (culturing); (iii) administering to the subject nonmyeloablative lymphodepleting chemotherapy; and (iv) after administering nonmyeloablative lymphodepleting chemotherapy, administering to the subject the expanded T-cells. The methods of the presently disclosed invention include using a radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody in lieu of the lymphodepleting chemotherapy, and/or after administration of the expanded cells (e.g., T-cell, NK-cells, dendritic cells, etc.). This later administration of the anti-CD45 antibody (i.e., after administration of the expanded cells) may be used in preparation for transplantation of autologous stem cells (HSCT), or administration of a second effective amount of expanded cells.
Accordingly, and with reference to FIG. 1A, the present invention provides methods for the treatment of a proliferative disease, such as a hematological malignancy, which include administration of a radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody and an adoptive cell therapy. The adoptive cell therapy may generally include apheresis of autologous cells which may be gene edited prior to reinfusion (adoptive cell therapy such as CAR T-cell therapy) after lymphodepletion by the radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody. Alternatively, allogeneic cells may be reinfused after lymphodepletion to provide the adoptive cell therapy. According to methods of the present invention, the radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody may be provided as a single dose 3 to 9 days, such as 6 to 8 days, prior to the adoptive cell therapy, as shown in FIG. 1B.
According to certain aspects of this method, the radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody is radiolabeled BC8 as described hereinabove, provided at the doses as described hereinabove, wherein the dose generally depends on the specific radionuclide label (e.g., ¹³¹I-BC8, ²²⁵Ac-BC8, etc.). According to certain aspects of this method, the suitable time period after administering the radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody is 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6 days, 7 days, 8 days or 9 days, such as preferably 6, 7 or 8 days.
According to certain aspects, the method for treating a subject afflicted with cancer consists of (i) administering to the subject a single dose of a radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody effective to deplete the subject's lymphocytes, and (ii) after a suitable time period (e.g., 6, 7 or 8 days), performing adoptive cell therapy on the subject to treat the subject's cancer. According to certain aspects, the method for treating a subject afflicted with cancer consists of (i) administering to the subject a single dose of a radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody effective to deplete the subject's lymphocytes, and (ii) after a suitable time period (e.g., 6, 7 or 8 days), performing adoptive cell therapy on the subject to treat the subject's cancer.
This invention still further provides a method for treating a human subject afflicted with cancer, comprising (i) administering to the subject from 10 mCi to 200 mCi (e.g., 50 mCi, 100 mCi or 150 mCi) of ¹³¹I-BC8, and (ii) after 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 days, performing adoptive cell therapy on the subject to treat the subject's cancer. According to certain aspects, about 100 mCi of ¹³¹I-BC8 may be administered, and the adoptive cell therapy may be performed 5, 6, or 7 days later; or about 50 mCi of ¹³¹I-BC8 may be administered, and the adoptive cell therapy may be performed 4, 5, or 6 days later. The amount of radiolabeled BC8 may dictate the time of administration of the ACT (i.e., administration of ACT is only after the radiation level from the radiolabeled BC8 does not have a significant negative impact on the viability of the transferred cells of the ACT).
According to certain aspects of this method, the effective amount of ²²⁵Ac-BC8 is from 0.05 μCi/kg to 5.0 μCi/kg of subject's body weight.
This invention further provides an article of manufacture comprising (a) a radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody, and (b) a label instructing the user to administer to a subject an amount of the antibody effective to deplete the subject's lymphocytes. Preferably, the subject is human.
The radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody may be ¹³¹I-BC8, and the label may instruct the user to administer to a human subject from 10 mCi to 200 mCi (e.g., 50 mCi, 100 mCi or 150 mCi) of the ¹³¹I-BC8. The radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody may be ²²⁵Ac-BC8, and the label may instruct the user to administer to a human subject from 0.05 μCi/kg to 5.0 μCi/kg of subject's body weight of the ²²⁵Ac-BC8.
This invention will be better understood by reference to the examples which follow, but those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the specific examples detailed are only illustrative of the invention as described more fully in the claims which follow thereafter.

EXAMPLES

Example 1—¹³¹I-BC8 (Iomab-B)

The Iomab-B drug product is a radio-iodinated anti-CD45 murine monoclonal antibody (mAb) (¹³¹I-BC8). It is specific for the hematopoietic CD45 antigen. The Iomab-B drug product is supplied as a sterile formulation contained in a container closure system consisting of depyrogenated Type 1 50 mL glass vial, sterilized grey chlorobutyl rubber stopper, and open top style aluminum seal. Each dose vial also contains a drug product fill volume of 45 mL in a 50 mL vial. Similarly, it is provided as a single use dose for complete infusion during intravenous administration, and contains patient-specific radioactivity from 1 mCi to 200 mCi (e.g., 100 mCi or 150 mCi) of ¹³¹I and 6.66-45 mg of BC8. BC8 antibody dose is determined according to the ideal body weight at a level of 0.5 mg/kg. The drug product is co-administered in-line with 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection USP (normal saline solution) to the patients at a ratio of 1:9 of drug product to saline solution. The total drug product and saline infusion volume of approximately 430-450 mL is administered over varied durations, since the infusion rate depends on the amount of BC8 antibody in the 45 mL drug product fill volume.
International Publication No. WO 2017/155937 teaches the full structure of BC8, and methods for making ¹³¹I-BC8.

Example 2—²²⁵Ac-BC8

Conjugation of Anti-CD45 BC8 with DOTA and Subsequent Labeling with ²²⁵Ac: The antibody BC8 (2 mg) was equilibrated with conjugation buffer (Na carbonate buffer with 1 mM EDTA, pH=8.5-9.0) by four ultrafiltration spins using a Centricon filter with a MW cutoff of 50,000, or a Vivaspin ultrafiltration tube with a MW cutoff of 50,000. 1.5 ml of conjugation buffer per spin was used. For each spin, the antibody was spun for 5-20 minutes, at 53,000 RPM and at 4° C. to a residual retentate volume of 100-200 μl. The antibody was incubated at 4° C. for 30 minutes following the 2^ndand 3^rdspins to allow for equilibration. For DOTA conjugation, a solution of S-2-(4-Isothiocyanatobenzyl)-1,4,7,10 tetraazacyclododecanetetraacetic acid (p-SCN-Bz-DOTA; MW=687) at 3 mg/ml in 0.15M NH₄OAc was prepared by dissolution and vortexing. DOTA-Bz-pSCN and BC8 antibody (at >5 mg/ml) was mixed together at a 7.5 molar ratio (DOTA:antibody) in an Eppendorf tube and incubated for 15 hours at room temperature. For purification of the DOTA-antibody conjugate, unreacted DOTA-Bz-pSCN was removed by seven rounds of ultrafiltration with 1.5 ml of 0.15M NH₄OAc buffer, pH=6.5 to a volume of approximately 100 μl. After the final wash, 0.15 M NH₄OAc buffer was added to bring the material to a final concentration of approximately 1 mg/ml. The final concentration of the DOTA-BC8 conjugate was measured and the number of DOTA molecules conjugated to the antibody was determined to be 1.2-1.5 DOTA to antibody.
Radiolabeling of DOTA-Antibody Conjugates with ²²⁵Ac: To label the DOTA-BC8 conjugate with ²²⁵Ac, 15 μL 0.15M NH₄OAc buffer, pH=6.5, was mixed with 2 μL (10μg) DOTA-BC8 (5 mg/ml) in an Eppendorf reaction tube. Four μL of ²²⁵Ac (10 μCi) in 0.05 M HCl were subsequently added, the contents of the tube were mixed with a pipette tip, and the reaction mixture was incubated at 37° C. for 90 minutes with shaking at 100 rpm. At the end of the incubation period, 3 μL of 1 mM DTPA solution was added to the reaction mixture and incubated at room temperature for 20 minutes to bind un-complexed ²²⁵Ac. Instant thin layer chromatography (ITLC) was performed with a 10 cm silica gel strip and a 10 mM EDTA/normal saline mobile phase to determine the radiochemical purity of ²²⁵Ac-BC8, separating Ac-labeled BC8 from ²²⁵Ac-DTPA and counting sections in a gamma counter equipped with a multichannel analyzer. The radiolabeling efficiency over several runs was determined to be greater than 80%.

Example 3—Change in Absolute Neutrophil Count

CD45 is a cell surface protein expressed on most immune cell types, including both lymphocytes and neutrophils. Iomab-B (¹³¹I-BC8) radioimmunotherapy targets and delivers its beta-emitting payload to CD45-positive cells. It would have been expected that all CD45-positive cell types would be equally susceptible to depletion following dosing with ¹³¹I-BC8. FIG. 2 depicts the relative absolute neutrophil counts at various time points following a 10 mCi dose of ¹³¹I-BC8, presented as fold-increase or decrease. While absolute lymphocyte counts were significantly reduced and exhibited sustained depletion over time, median absolute neutrophil counts exhibited a minimal decrease following ¹³¹I-BC8 dosing, with rapid recovery. This is a surprising finding. The limited impact of ¹³¹I-BC8 on neutrophils and their rapid rebound would be expected to benefit patients by preventing infections that might otherwise occur.

Example 4—Clinical Data Demonstrating Lymphodepletion and Clearance

Clinical data obtained from patients given low dose levels of ¹³¹I-BC8 show consistent peripheral lymphocyte reduction. Pharmacokinetic data show fast clearance of ¹³¹I-BC8. This clearance limits interaction with CAR T products. Increased disease control and prolonged lymphodepletion allow for a flexible window of time between ¹³¹I-anti-CD45 antibody administration and CAR T infusion, which in turn prevents toxicity. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3A-3F, immune cell analysis following ¹³¹I-anti-CD45 antibody targeted lymphodepletion using a surrogate CD45 antibody (30F11) shows a selective depletion of WBC (FIG. 3A) in peripheral blood and splenic immune cell populations (FIG. 3B), with minimal impact on bone marrow compartment (FIG. 3C) and sparing of RBCs and platelets (FIGS. 3D and 3E, respectively). FIG. 3F provides these data as a bar graph. FIG. 12 shows the rapid clearance of the ¹³¹I-anti-CD45 antibody from the circulating blood in patients. On average, 59 percent of the ¹³¹I-anti-CD45 antibody cleared from blood with a biological half-time of 0.65 hours (39 minutes), and 41 percent cleared with a biological half-time of 31 hours.

Example 5—Various CAR T-Cell Therapies in Development, and Their Lymphodepletion Regimens

There are numerous CAR T-cell therapies in development, each with its own lymphodepletion regime. The chart in FIG. 4 shows selected published trials of anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy for patients with B-cell NHL. Most of these trials employ a chemotherapeutic lymphodepletion regime.

Example 6—¹³¹I-BC8-Based Lymphodepletion Prior to KYMRIAH®

In this example, the subject invention is used to treat a human subject afflicted with NHL or DLBCL. In the first case, this method comprises (i) administering to an NHL patient from 25 mCi to 200 mCi (e.g., 50 mCi, 100 mCi or 150 mCi) of ¹³¹I-BC8, and (ii) after 6, 7 or 8 days, performing KYMRIAH® (tisagenlecleucel) therapy on the patient according to its known protocol. In the second case, this method comprises (i) administering to a DLBCL patient from 25 mCi to 200 mCi (e.g., 50 mCi, 100 mCi or 150 mCi) of ¹³¹I-BC8, and (ii) after 6, 7 or 8 days, performing KYMRIAH® therapy on the patient according to its known protocol.

Example 7—¹³¹I-BC8-Based Lymphodepletion Prior to YESCARTA®

In this example, the subject invention is used to treat a human subject afflicted with NHL. This method comprises (i) administering to an NHL patient from 25 mCi to 200 mCi (e.g., 50 mCi, 100 mCi or 150 mCi) of ¹³¹I-BC8, and (ii) after 6, 7 or 8 days, performing YESCARTA® (axicabtagene ciloleucel) therapy on the patient according to its known protocol.

Example 8—Preclinical Modeling of Anti-CD45 Radioimmunotherapy-Mediated Conditioning/Lymphodepletion

Summary: Prior to a patient receiving a dose of an adoptive cell transfer such as engineered autologous or allogeneic CAR T-cells, it is common to perform a lymphodepletion step often using high dose chemotherapy. This process is considered important to create sufficient space in the immune microenvironment, e.g., bone marrow, to allow the transferred cells to engraft. Further, it appears to elicit a favorable cytokine profile for establishment and proliferation of the donor lymphocytes. Anti-CD45 radioimmunotherapy is being investigated in a Phase III clinical trial as a myeloablative regimen prior to allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in AML patients. Results from this trial suggest that lower doses of ¹³¹I-anti-CD45 radioimmunotherapy may be sufficiently lymphodepleting but not myeloablative.
As example, studies investigating the cumulative radiation dose absorbed in the spleens of human patients receiving single doses of 50 mCi to 200 mCi of ¹³¹I-anti-CD45 have been performed. As shown in Table 1, the time at which the remaining absorbed dose to the spleen will not exceed 25 cGy varies with the total dose of ¹³¹I-anti-CD45. Moreover, FIG. 11 cumulative dose rate to the spleen to the spleen for patients administered 100 mCi ¹³¹I-anti-CD45 through infusion. Dose rate to spleen is plotted against time-post infusion.

TABLE 1

	Time to remaining	Days (approximate)	Total spleen
¹³¹I Activity	absorbed dose less	post-infusion	absorbed
Administered	than 25 cGy	(nearest half-day)	dose (cGy)

50 mCi	117 hours	4.9	174
75 mCi	141 hours	5.9	261
100 mCi	157 hours	6.6	348
150 mCi	182 hours	7.6	522
200 mCi	199 hours	8.3	696

Preclinical studies of the effects of low dose ¹³¹I-anti-CD45 radioimmunotherapy (surrogate 30F11) investigating the lymphodepletive response on particular immune cell types, and not the changes in cytokine expression in response to this form of conditioning, have been performed. For example, FIG. 6 shows transient lymphodepletion in human patients receiving 5 to 20 mCi of ¹³¹I-anti-CD45 (median dose 8.4 mCi for 13 patients). The results of such studies will be supportive in developing and planning human clinical studies utilizing anti-CD45 radioimmunotherapy as a non-myeloablative conditioning regimen prior to the administration of autologous or allogeneic adoptive cell transfer (ACT).
Current studies include immune competent mice (e.g., female C57Bl/6 mice 8 to 12 weeks old) using a CD45 radiolabeled (¹³¹I) anti-mouse receptor antibody to deplete bone marrow and peripheral blood of CD45+ immune cells for modeling of CD45-radioimmunotherapy agents as conditioning regimens for receiving ACT. The comparator will be treatment with the chemotherapy combination of cyclophosphamide (Cy) with fludarabine (Flu). At up to three time points post-treatment, animals will be sacrificed, and peripheral blood, spleen, and bone marrow samples collected for immunophenotyping to evaluate lymphoid and myeloid subsets for lymphodepletion, and blood (serum) collected for cytokine profiling in response to the various treatment regimens.
Materials: Mice (3 per each time point group), e.g., female adolescent C57Bl/6 mice (30 mice total). Mouse surrogate anti-CD45 antibody 30F11 (vendor: Millipore Sigma: MABF321, rat IgG2b). ¹³¹I for labeling. Fludarabine (Flu)+Cyclophosphamide (Cy) (treatment: 250 mg/kg Cy+50 mg/kg Flu)
Part I: Labeling and in vitro characterization of surrogate CD45 antibody 30F11-Perform iodination of 30F11 antibody; perform immunoreactivity to mouse-CD45+ cells (e.g., B6-Ly5a splenocytes for 1 hour at 5 ng/ml: target >70% immunoreactivity)
Part II: (a) (i) Prepare dose for in vivo study (0.5 mCi in 100 ug administered in 200 ul; per Matthews, et al., 2001, Blood, 2:737-745) (ii) Matthews dosimetry results: 0.5 mCi dose: 54 Gy to spleen, 17 Gy to marrow, 8 Gy to lung, and 5 Gy to liver. In other studies, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 mCi in 100 ug were administered for determination of dose response.
(b) The radioimmunotherapy regimen will be administered IP. Nine mice per group will receive CD45-radioimmunotherapy or chemotherapy (Cy/Flu) combination. Twelve mice will serve as pre-treatment and no treatment controls.
(c) At three time points (i.e., 24 hours, 48 hours and 96 hours), mice will be sacrificed and sampled (bone marrow, peripheral blood, and spleen; and serum collected). Refer to FIG. 7.
(d) Immunophenotyping will be performed on bone marrow and peripheral blood evaluating: (i) Tregs (CD4, CD25, FoxP3); (ii) CD4 & CD8 T-cells, B-cell NK cells: (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19, CD335); (iii) HSC (Lin−, c-KIT, SCA1); and (iv) MDSC, DC, MAC, granulocytes: (CD11b, CD11c, CD244, syglec F, Ly6G, Ly6C).
(e) Cytokine profiling will be performed using Panel 31-Plex (MD31) by Luminex, including IL6, IL7, IL10, IL15, MIP1a, VEGF and IFNg.
See for example, references: Wrzesinski, et al., 2010, J. Immunother., 33:1-7; Gattinoni, et al., 2005, JEM, 202(7):907-912; Bracci, et al., 2007, Clin. Cancer Res. 13:644-653; Matthews, et al., 2001, Blood, 2:737-745.

Example 9—Preclinical Model of Adoptive T-Cell Transfer Following Anti-CD45 Radioimmunotherapy-Mediated Conditioning/Lymphodepletion in Mice

Summary: Lymphodepletion is considered a critical step to condition a patient for receiving an autologous or allogeneic cell therapy such as CAR T. A study has been proposed to evaluate the impact of ¹³¹I-anti-CD45 radioimmunotherapy on selective depletion of immune cells and on modulation of the cytokine response in a mouse model in preparation for adoptive cell transfer. In the present study, the use of CD45 radioimmunotherapy will be evaluated as a non-myeloablative conditioning regimen prior to adoptive T-cell transfer. E.G7 lymphoma tumor-bearing mice will be conditioned by a single selected dose of ¹³¹I-anti-CD45 radioimmunotherapy prior to adoptive cell transfer of OVA-specific CD8+ T-cells and monitored for engraftment of the transferred cells and resulting anti-tumor response. The comparator will be conditioning with the chemotherapy combination of Cy with Flu or no prior conditioning. Refer to FIG. 8.
Materials: (i) Mice (5 per each group), female adolescent C57Bl/6 CD45.1 mice (3 groups; 15 mice total). (ii) Donor CD45.2 OT-1 mice (about 5 mice—sufficient for donor T-cell pool). (iii) E.G7 tumor cell line. (iv) Mouse surrogate anti-CD45 antibody 30F11 (vendor: Millipore Sigma: MABF321 200 ug, rat IgG2bκ). (v) ¹¹¹In for labeling. (vi) Fludarabine+Cyclophosphamide (treatment: 250 mg/kg Cy+50 mg/kg Flu).
Methods: (1) CD45.1 C57BL/6 mice will each be injected subcutaneously with 2×10⁶E.G7 tumor cells until an approximate 100 mm³tumor volume is reached (No Matrigel).
(2) Approximately 7 days post-tumor cell injection, mice will receive lymphodepletion either by ¹³¹I-anti-CD45 radioimmunotherapy (single dose I.P. of 0.5 mCi ¹³¹I-anti-CD45; 100 ug antibody in 200 ul) or Flu/Cy, or no conditioning.
(3) CD8+ T-cells will be isolated from CD45.2 OT-1 transgenic mice and cultured and activated in vitro.
(4) Four days post-lymphodepletion, 2×10⁶CD8+ T-cells will be administered to each cohort via tail vein injection.
(5) Tumor volume and body weight will be measured daily as well as behavior and well-being assessments.
(6) Based on Hsu, et al., 2015, Oncotarget, 6:44134-44150, tumor responses should be noted within 10 days, post-T-cell administration. Following measurement on day 10, mice will be sacrificed and blood and tumors harvested.
(7) Tumors will be sectioned and stained for H&E, CD8+ cells, and Treg.
(8) Blood will be assessed by flow for the presence of engrafted CD8 cells (CD45.2+) and populations of Tregs and MDSCs.
(9) Cytokine profiling will be performed to assess terminal levels of IL-10, IL-12, IL-15 and IFNg.
See for example, references: Matthews, et al., 2001, Blood, 2:737-745; and Louis, et al., 2015, Oncotarget, 6:44134-44150.

Example 10—Gene-Edited T-Cells

This example relates to lymphodepletion in cancer patients preceding administration of one or more doses of an adoptive cell therapy containing gene-edited T-cells.
CAR T-cells have shown considerable promise clinically, with response rates in refractory lymphoma patient populations exceeding 80%, and durable responses lasting six months or more in nearly 50% of treated patients.
However, these engineered T-cells remain susceptible to immune regulatory control, such as the up-regulation of immune checkpoint receptors like PD1, Lag3 or TIM3. These receptors mediate a state of exhaustion and limit the activation potential of the engineered cells. In the case of allogenic CAR T-cells, these exogenously administered cells carry the risk of eliciting graft versus host disease (GVHD). This risk is caused by the recognition of mis-matched major histocompatibility antigens by native T-cell receptors present on the engineered allogeneic T-cells.
These adverse outcomes can be effectively mitigated through gene editing technology such as CRISPR/cas9. For example, ablation of the gene encoding PD1 would eliminate the potential for checkpoint regulation of the CAR T anti-tumor response. Further, gene editing to ablate the endogenous TCR locus in allogenic CAR T-cell preparations would effectively prevent GVHD (Ren, et al.). Lymphodepletion is an important step in enabling successful engraftment, proliferation and persistence of administered CAR T-cells. However, safer and more effective methods for lymphodepletion (such as the subject methods) are needed to replace the use of non-specific chemotherapy and radiation. Known, non-specific regimens may contribute to the emergence of CAR T-related toxicities such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS), and gene-edited CAR T-cells are not exempt from this risk. The subject CD45-based lymphodepletion method is a safer, targeted and more effective method for depleting lymphocytes prior to gene-edited CAR T, whether the CAR T-cells are ablated for checkpoint receptors or endogenous TCRs.

Example 11—Dosimetry of Red Marrow and Time to Reduced Activity Levels for a Multicenter Pivotal Phase 3 Study of Iomab-B

Calculations were performed to evaluate times post-infusion for ¹³¹I-anti-CD45 (Iomab-B) activity levels to fall to reduced or postulated “safe” levels needed to minimize radiation dose effects in red marrow to enable and facilitate follow-on cellular marrow recovery therapy.
After administration of Iomab-B, the activity of the radiolabeled antibody decreases exponentially from each of the major organs of pronounced uptake. Without wishing to be bound by theory, one possible explanation is that the dose rate to red marrow decreases exponentially over time due to the combined effects of biological clearance plus radioactive decay, such that a time point may be reached after which the total remaining dose to marrow through infinite time does not exceed a value of 25 cGy. The value 25 cGy represents one estimate of a relatively “safe” absorbed dose that should not adversely affect red marrow cellular regeneration and recovery after prior therapy with high-dose Iomab-B.
Data Review: In a subset of 25 patients who have received Iomab-B in a clinical trial, the mean initial uptake of ¹³¹I-anti-CD45 antibody (Iomab-B) in red marrow was 17.4 percent, which cleared with an average effective half-time of 45.1 hours. FIG. 10 shows average dose rate (cGy/hour) to red marrow in Iomab-B patients for a 100 mCi infusion. Dose rate to marrow is plotted against time-post infusion. The disappearance curve represents a single exponential function having a retention half-time of 45.1 hours. At 154 hours (about 6.5 days) post-infusion, the area-under-curve shows that during all remaining time, a total absorbed dose not to exceed 25 cGy will be imparted to red marrow (representing about 9 percent of the total dose of 271 cGy).
FIG. 10 also shows that the average initial dose rate to red marrow was 4.16 cGy/hour. Times to reach the 25 cGy point will increase with increasing activity infused. Table 2 shows the 25 cGy time points for infusion of 50 mCi, 75 mCi, 100 mCi, 150 mCi, and 200 mCi ¹³¹I-anti-CD45 antibody.

TABLE 2

Time points after which 25 cGy is delivered to red marrow,
based on observed average biokinetic parameters for 25 patients.

	Time to remaining	Days (approximate)	Total marrow
¹³¹I Activity	absorbed dose less	post-infusion	absorbed
Administered	than 25 cGy	(nearest half-day)	dose (cGy)

50 mCi	110 hours	4.5	135
75 mCi	136 hours	5.5	203
100 mCi	154 hours	6.5	271
150 mCi	180 hours	7.5	406
200 mCi	198 hours	8	542

Preliminary Conclusions: From these data, it appears that a waiting period of 6 to 8 days is likely sufficient, depending on the dose delivered, after infusion of the ¹³¹I-anti-CD45 antibody for start of cell-recovery therapy (ACT). For added safety, and to account for patients having biokinetic uptakes and clearance half-times greater than the average values, the safety time period could be increased by one or two days (to 9 to 10 days for 200 mCi) after ¹³¹I-anti-CD45 antibody infusion.
Individual patient variability: Patients differed in Iomab biodistribution and clearance kinetics. Although the average initial uptake in red marrow was 17.4 percent of the total infusion, the highest observed red marrow uptake post-infusion was 36 percent in one patient. Whereas the average clearance half-time from marrow was 45.1 hours, the longest observed clearance half-time was 71 hours. Whereas the average absorbed dose to red marrow was 2.71 cGy per mCi ¹³¹I, the highest value observed in the current protocol was 4.24 cGy/mCi.

Example 12—Immunophenotyping of T-reg Cells Following ¹³¹I-BC8 Targeted Lymphodepletion in Mice

Studies of targeted lymphodepletion in mice using ¹³¹I-anti-CD45 antibody directed radioimmunotherapy have shown the ability to define a dose at which lymphocytes including T-regs can be targeted for depletion, while effectively sparing an impact on the bone marrow. FIGS. 4A-4D and 5A-5C demonstrates that doses of 50-200 μCi of ¹³¹I-BC8 depletes lymphocytes and T-regs, and does not have an appreciable effect on bone marrow cells. Dose levels of 1.5-4 times higher than evaluated for lymphodepletion have been shown in a mouse tumor model of B-cell lymphoma to direct an anti-tumor effect. The lower lymphodepleting doses of this invention will also target CD45 positive tumor cells and contribute to an anti-tumor effect, reducing tumor burden including PD1 positive tumors, and improving ACT or CAR-T outcomes. In summary, when used in preparation for ACT, the invention will target the immune suppressive tumor microenvironment, leading to an improvement in ACT engraftment, response and anti-tumor outcome.
The following aspects are disclosed in this application:
Aspect 1. A method for depleting a subject's immune cells, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody in a single dose, wherein the subject's immune cells comprise lymphocytes, regulatory T cells, myeloid derived suppressor cells, tumor associated macrophages, activated macrophages, and combinations thereof, and wherein the radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody is radiolabeled BC8.
Aspect 2. The method of aspect 1, wherein the effective amount of the radiolabeled BC8 depletes at least 50% of lymphocytes of the subject, or at least 70% of lymphocytes of the subject, or at least 80% of lymphocytes of the subject.
Aspect 3. The method of aspect 1 or 2, wherein the effective amount of the radiolabeled BC8 antibody does not deplete neutrophils in the subject.
Aspect 4. The method according to any one of aspects 1 to 3, wherein the radiolabeled BC8 comprises ¹³¹I, ¹²⁵I, ¹²³I, ⁹⁰Y, ¹⁷⁷Lu, ¹⁸⁶Re, ¹⁸⁸Re, ⁸⁹Sr, ¹⁵³Sm, ³²P, ²²⁵Ac, ²¹³Bi, ²¹³Po, ²¹¹At, ²¹²Bi, ²¹³Bi, ²²³Ra, ²²⁷Th, ¹⁴⁹Tb, ¹³⁷Cs, ²¹²Pb and ¹⁰³Pd.
Aspect 5. The method according to any one of aspects 1 to 4, wherein the radiolabeled BC8 is ¹³¹I-BC8, and the single dose of ¹³¹I-BC8 is from 10 mCi to 200 mCi, or wherein the effective amount of ¹³¹I-BC8 is less than 200 mCi.
Aspect 6. The method according to any one of aspects 1 to 4, wherein the radiolabeled BC8 is ¹³¹I-BC8, and the single dose of ¹³¹I-BC8 is from 25 mCi to 100 mCi, or wherein the effective amount of ¹³¹I-BC8 is less than 100 mCi.
Aspect 7. The method according to any one of aspects 1 to 4, wherein the radiolabeled BC8 is ²²⁵Ac-BC8, and the single dose of ²²⁵Ac-BC8 is 0.1 μCi/kg of subject weight to 5.0 μCi/kg of subject weight.
Aspect 8. The method according to any one of aspects 1 to 7, wherein the single dose of the radiolabeled BC8 provides a radiation dose of 2 Gy or less to the bone marrow.
Aspect 9. The method according to any one of aspects 1 to 8, wherein the subject is afflicted with cancer and is about to undergo adoptive cell therapy to treat the cancer.
Aspect 10. The method according to aspect 9, wherein the adoptive cell therapy is CAR T-cell therapy.
Aspect 11. The method of aspect 10, wherein the CAR T-cell therapy is autologous cell therapy.
Aspect 12. The method of aspect 10, wherein the CAR T-cell therapy is allogeneic cell therapy.
Aspect 13. The method of aspect 10, wherein the CAR T-cell therapy comprises the administration of gene-edited CAR T-cells, and wherein the gene-edited CAR T-cells fail to properly express at least one checkpoint receptor and/or at least one T-cell receptor.
Aspect 14. The method of aspect 9, further comprising: performing adoptive cell therapy on the subject to treat the subject's cancer.
Aspect 15. The method of aspect 14, wherein the adoptive cell therapy comprises administration of gene-edited CAR T-cells, and wherein the gene-edited CAR T-cells fail to properly express at least one checkpoint receptor and/or at least one T-cell receptor.
Aspect 16. The method of aspect 14, wherein the adoptive cell therapy is performed 6, 7, or 8 days after administration of the radiolabeled BC8.
Aspect 17. The method according to any one of aspects 1 to 16, wherein the single dose of the radiolabeled BC8 comprises unlabeled BC8 in an amount of from 0.1:10 to 1:1 labeled:unlabeled BC8.
Aspect 18. The method according to any one of aspects 1 to 16, wherein the single dose of the radiolabeled BC8 comprises a total protein amount of up to 60 mg, or a total protein amount of between 0.2 mg/kg patient weight to 0.6 mg/kg patient weight.
Aspect 19. An article of manufacture comprising (a) a radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody, and (b) a label instructing the user to administer to a subject an amount of the antibody effective to deplete the subject's immune cells, wherein the subject's immune cells comprise lymphocytes, regulatory T cells, myeloid derived suppressor cells, tumor associated macrophages, activated macrophages, and combinations thereof.
Aspect 20. The article of aspect 19, wherein the radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody is ¹³¹I-BC8 or ²²⁵Ac-BC8.
Aspect 21. The article of aspect 19 or 20, wherein the amount of antibody effective to deplete the subject's lymphocytes is from 10 mCi to 200 mCi ¹³¹I-BC8 or from 0.1 μCi/kg to 5.0 μCi/kg of ²²⁵Ac-BC8.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method for depleting a subject's immune cells, comprising:

administering to the subject an effective amount of a radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody in a single dose,

wherein the subject's immune cells comprise any of lymphocytes, regulatory T cells, myeloid derived suppressor cells, tumor associated macrophages, activated macrophages secreting IL-1, activated macrophages secreting IL-6, and combinations thereof, and wherein the effective amount of the radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody does not deplete neutrophils in the subject.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the effective amount of the radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody depletes at least 50% of the subject's lymphocytes.

3. The method of claim 3, wherein the effective amount of the radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody does not induce myeloablation in the subject.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiolabeled anti-CD45 is radiolabeled BC8 comprising a radiolabel selected from the group consisting of ¹³¹I, ¹²⁵I, ¹²³I, ⁹⁰Y, ¹⁷⁷Lu, ¹⁸⁶Re, ¹⁸⁸Re, ⁸⁹Sr, ¹⁵³Sm, ³²P, ²²⁵Ac, ²¹³Bi, ²¹³Po, ²¹¹At, ²¹²Bi, ²¹³Bi, ²²³Ra, ²²⁷Th, ¹⁴⁹Tb, ¹³⁷Cs, ²¹²Pb and ¹⁰³Pd.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the radiolabeled BC8 is ¹³¹I-BC8, and the single dose of ¹³¹I-BC8 is from 10 mCi to 200 mCi.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the radiolabeled BC8 is ¹³¹I-BC8, and the single dose of ¹³¹I-BC8 is from 25 mCi to 100 mCi.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the radiolabeled BC8 is ²²⁵Ac-BC8, and the single dose of ²²⁵Ac-BC8 is 0.1 μCi/kg of subject weight to 5.0 μCi/kg of subject weight.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the single dose of the radiolabeled BC8 provides a radiation dose of 2 Gy or less to the bone marrow.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject is afflicted with cancer and is about to undergo adoptive cell therapy to treat the cancer.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the adoptive cell therapy is CAR T-cell therapy.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the CAR T-cell therapy is autologous cell therapy.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the CAR T-cell therapy is allogeneic cell therapy.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the CAR T-cell therapy comprises the administration of gene-edited CAR T-cells, and wherein the gene-edited CAR T-cells fail to properly express at least one checkpoint receptor and/or at least one T-cell receptor.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

performing adoptive cell therapy on the subject to treat the subject's cancer.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the adoptive cell therapy comprises administration of gene-edited CAR T-cells, and wherein the gene-edited CAR T-cells fail to properly express at least one checkpoint receptor and/or at least one T-cell receptor.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the adoptive cell therapy is performed 6, 7, or 8 days after administration of the radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the single dose of the radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody comprises radiolabeled BC8 and unlabeled BC8 in an amount of from 0.1:10 to 1:1 radiolabeled:unlabeled BC8.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the single dose of the radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody comprises a total protein amount of BC8 of up to 60 mg, or a total protein amount of BC8 of between 0.2 mg/kg patient weight to 0.6 mg/kg patient weight.

19. An article of manufacture comprising (a) a radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody, and (b) a label instructing the user to administer to a subject an amount of the antibody effective to deplete the subject's immune cells, wherein the subject's immune cells comprise any of lymphocytes, regulatory T cells, myeloid derived suppressor cells, tumor associated macrophages, activated macrophages, and combinations thereof.

20. The article of claim 19, wherein the radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody is ¹³¹I-BC8 or ²²⁵Ac-BC8.

21. The article of claim 19, wherein the amount of antibody effective to deplete the subject's lymphocytes is from 10 mCi to 200 mCi ¹³¹I-BC8 or from 0.1 μCi/kg to 5.0 μCi/kg of ²²⁵Ac-BC8.