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  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
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  • C07K16/00—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies
  • C07K16/18—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans
  • C07K16/28—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans against receptors, cell surface antigens or cell surface determinants
  • C07K16/30—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans against receptors, cell surface antigens or cell surface determinants from tumour cells
  • C07K16/3069—Reproductive system, e.g. ovaria, uterus, testes, prostate
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K51/00—Preparations containing radioactive substances for use in therapy or testing in vivo
  • A61K51/02—Preparations containing radioactive substances for use in therapy or testing in vivo characterised by the carrier, i.e. characterised by the agent or material covalently linked or complexing the radioactive nucleus
  • A61K51/04—Organic compounds
  • A61K51/08—Peptides, e.g. proteins, carriers being peptides, polyamino acids, proteins
  • A61K51/10—Antibodies or immunoglobulins; Fragments thereof, the carrier being an antibody, an immunoglobulin or a fragment thereof, e.g. a camelised human single domain antibody or the Fc fragment of an antibody
  • A61K51/1045—Antibodies or immunoglobulins; Fragments thereof, the carrier being an antibody, an immunoglobulin or a fragment thereof, e.g. a camelised human single domain antibody or the Fc fragment of an antibody against animal or human tumor cells or tumor cell determinants
  • A61K51/1072—Antibodies or immunoglobulins; Fragments thereof, the carrier being an antibody, an immunoglobulin or a fragment thereof, e.g. a camelised human single domain antibody or the Fc fragment of an antibody against animal or human tumor cells or tumor cell determinants the tumor cell being from the reproductive system, e.g. ovaria, uterus, testes or prostate
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P35/00—Antineoplastic agents
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
  • A61K2039/505—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies comprising antibodies
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  • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
  • C07K2317/20—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by taxonomic origin
  • C07K2317/24—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by taxonomic origin containing regions, domains or residues from different species, e.g. chimeric, humanized or veneered
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  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
  • C07K2317/50—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by immunoglobulin fragments
  • C07K2317/52—Constant or Fc region; Isotype
  • C07K2317/526—CH3 domain
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  • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
  • C07K2317/50—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by immunoglobulin fragments
  • C07K2317/56—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by immunoglobulin fragments variable (Fv) region, i.e. VH and/or VL
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  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
  • C07K2317/60—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by non-natural combinations of immunoglobulin fragments
  • C07K2317/62—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by non-natural combinations of immunoglobulin fragments comprising only variable region components
  • C07K2317/622—Single chain antibody (scFv)
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
  • C07K2317/60—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by non-natural combinations of immunoglobulin fragments
  • C07K2317/64—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by non-natural combinations of immunoglobulin fragments comprising a combination of variable region and constant region components
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
  • C07K2317/70—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by effect upon binding to a cell or to an antigen
  • C07K2317/77—Internalization into the cell
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
  • C07K2317/90—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by (pharmaco)kinetic aspects or by stability of the immunoglobulin

Definitions

• a minibody is an antibody format which features a smaller molecular weight ( ⁇ 80kD) than the full-length antibody while maintaining the bivalent binding property against an antigen (Hu et al 1996). Because of its smaller size, the minibody features faster clearance from the system and enhanced penetration when targeting tumor tissue. With the ability for strong targeting combined with rapid clearance, the minibody is an optimized antibody format that may be used for diagnostic imaging (Wu et al 2005).
• PSMA Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen
• Slovin 2005 is a single-pass Type II transmembrane protein possessing glutamate carboxypeptidase activity, although the functional role of PSMA is not well understood (Olson et al 2007).
• Expression of PSMA is relatively limited in normal tissues outside of the prostate including the brain, small intestines, liver, proximal kidney tubules, and salivary gland (Olson et al 2007).
• PSMA expression in prostate cancer increases with tumor aggressiveness and is the highest in high-grade tumors, metastatic lesions, and androgen-independent disease (Olson et al 2007). Therefore, PSMA is a cancer biomarker that is a good candidate for targeting by an imaging agent. PSMA expression is also upregulated in the neovasculature of many non-prostatic solid tumors including lung, colon, breast, renal, liver and pancreatic carcinomas as well as sarcomas and melanoma (Olson et al 2007).
• PSMA was originally defined by a murine antibody (mAb), 7E1 1 , which recognized an intracellular epitope of PSMA (Olson et al 2007).
• the 7E1 1 mAb was later developed into a FDA-approved SPECT imaging agent called Prostascint for the detection and imaging of prostate cancer in soft tissue (Olson et al 2007).
• Prostascint is a relatively poor imaging agent which is limited to detecting necrotic tumor tissue (Olson et al 2007).
• Prostascint also requires a long period of time between injection and imaging (Olson et al 2007). Furthermore,
• Prostascint is a murine antibody which elicits strong immune responses that prevent multiple dosing (Olson et al 2007).
• huJ591 Another full-length antibody that targets PSMA, J591 , was discovered and subsequently deimmunized, the deimmunized version known as huJ591 (Liu et al 1997, Bander et al 2003).
• the deimmunized huJ591 is an anti-human PSMA antibody that recognizes and binds an extracellular epitope on PSMA (Bander et al 2003).
• the huJ591 antibody is being developed as a potential radioimmunotherapy agent against prostate cancer.
• DOTA-conjugated huJ591 antibody labeled with gamma emitting isotopes Indium 1 1 1 and Lutetium 177 demonstrated excellent targeting to metastatic sites, no immunogenicity, and multiple doses were well tolerated (Bander et al 2003, Milowsky et al 2004, Bander et al 2005, Olson et al 2007).
• Phase I studies with 111 ln-DOTA huJ591 demonstrated specific targeting of tumor neovasculature of advanced solid tumors (Milowsky et al 2007).
• a minibody that binds PSMA is provided.
• the minibody is encoded by a nucleotide sequence comprising, from N-terminus to C-terminus, an scFv sequence that can bind prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA), an artificial hinge sequence, and a human lgG1 CH3 sequence.
• the minibody monomer may also include an N-terminus signal sequence to enable secretion of the minibody when expressed in a cell.
• the minibody scFv as described herein comprises a variable heavy domain (VH) linked to a variable light domain (VL) by a linker sequence.
• VH variable heavy domain
• VL variable light domain
• the scFv is in a VHVL orientation such that the VH is upstream of the VL.
• a minibody monomer having such an scFv may have a nucleotide sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2.
• the scFv is in a VLVH orientation such that the VL is upstream of the VH.
• the minibody monomer may be expressed by a cell.
• a CysDB monomer expressed by a cell may include the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:10 or SEQ ID NO:1 1 .
• CysDB a cys-diabody that binds PSMA.
• the CysDB monomer is encoded by a nucleotide sequence comprising, from N-terminus to C-terminus, an scFv sequence that can bind PSMA and a cysteine tail.
• the CysDB may also include an N-terminus signal sequence to enable secretion of the minibody when expressed in a cell.
• the CysDB scFv as described herein comprises a variable heavy domain (VH) linked to a variable light domain (VL) by a linker sequence.
• VH variable heavy domain
• VL variable light domain
• the scFv is in a VHVL orientation such that the VH is upstream of the VL.
• a CysDB monomer having such an scFv may have a nucleotide sequence comprising
• the scFv is in a VLVH orientation such that the VL is upstream of the VH.
• a CysDB monomer having such an scFv may have a nucleotide sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:8 or SEQ ID NO:9.
• the CysDB may be expressed by a cell.
• a CysDB expressed by a cell may include the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:12,
• a method for diagnosing a cancer associated with PSMA expression in a subject includes administering an anti-PSMA minibody or a cys-diabody conjugated to a diagnostic agent to a subject having or suspected of having a cancer associated with PSMA expression; exposing the subject to an imaging method to visualize the labeled minibody or cys-diabody in vivo; and determining that the subject has a cancer associated with PSMA expression when the labeled minibody or cys-diabody localizes to a tumor site.
• a method for treating a cancer associated with PSMA expression in a subject is provided.
• Such a method includes administering a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition to the subject, the composition comprising an anti-PSMA minibody or an anti-PSMA cys-diabody.
• the anti-PSMA minibody or anti-PSMA cys-diabody is conjugated to a
• the cancer associated with PSMA expression in a subject may be lung cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, renal cancer, liver cancer, bladder cancer, pancreatic cancer or melanoma.
• a minibody that may be used in the methods as described above may be any suitable minibody as described herein, or may comprise SEQ ID NO:10 or
• a cys-diabody that may be used in methods as described above may be any suitable minibody as described herein, or may comprise SEQ ID NO:12,
• Figure 1 A is a schematic diagram of the J591 Minibody. This diagram depicts the minibody in the VHVL orientation binding the target PSMA.
• Figure 1 B is a schematic diagram of an expression construct for the J591 minibody in VHVL orientation.
• SP signal peptide, VH - variable heavy domain, VL - variable light domain, L - 18 amino acid linker, H./E - artificial hinge/extension, CH3 from human lgG1 .
• Figure 2 is a comparison between the amino acid sequences of deimmunized (Line 3; SEQ ID NO:5; SEQ ID NO:19), Murine (Line 2; SEQ ID NO:4; SEQ ID NO:18), and Human Composite (Line 1 ; SEQ ID NO:3; SEQ ID NO:17) J591 V- regions.
• Highlighted residues along the HC line (Line 1 ) designate differences between the HC and murine V-regions.
• Highlighted residues along the deimmunized line (Line 3) designate differences between the deimmunized and the murine V-regions as a result of the original deimmunization process.
• the two stars designate the two Prolines introduced by the deimmunization.
• Figure 3 is the J591 Human Composite VHVL Minibody nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:1 ) and corresponding translated amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:10).
• Figure 4 is the J591 2P VHVL Minibody nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:2) and corresponding translated amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:1 1 ).
• FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the cys-diabody (CysDB) (A), a schematic diagram of an expression construct for a CysDB in VLVH orientation (B), and a schematic diagram of an expression construct for a CysDB in VHVL orientation (C).
• SS signal sequence
• VH variable heavy domain
• VL variable light domain
• L linker may be 5 or 8 amino acids
• GGS cysteine tail (Gly-Gly-Cys).
• Figure 6 is the J591 cys-diabody (CysDB) VH-5-VL nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:6) and corresponding translated amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:12).
• Figure 7 is the J591 cys-diabody (CysDB) VH-8-VL nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:7) and corresponding translated amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:13).
• Figure 8 is the J591 cys-diabody (CysDB) VL-5-VH nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:8) and corresponding translated amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:14).
• Figure 9 is the J591 cys-diabody (CysDB) VL-8-VH nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:9) and corresponding translated amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:15).
• Figure 10 is a Vector Map for pcDNA 3.1 /myc-His (-) Versions A, B, C.
• This expression vector from Invitrogen Corp. features the CMV promoter for mammalian expression and Neomycin resistance for selection.
• Figure 1 1 is a representative Western blot analysis confirming the expression of the J591 minibodies by CHO-K1 cells. Lane 1 corresponds to a
• Lane 2 corresponds to an Empty Vector sample
• Lane 3 corresponds to a positive control minibody sample
• Lane 4 corresponds to the J591 HC VLVH sample
• Lane 5 corresponds to the J591 HC VHVL sample
• Lane 6
• Lane 7 corresponds to the J591 2P VHVL sample.
• Figure 12A-D are graphs that represent flow cytometry analysis of the J591 minibodies. Histograms plot cell count versus PE signal (FL2-H).
• Figure 12A shows a graph representing the flow cytometry analysis for the J591 HC VLVH minibody
• Figure 12B shows a graph representing the flow cytometry analysis for the J591 HC VHVL minibody
• Figure 12C shows a graph representing the flow cytometry analysis for the J591 2P VLVH minibody
• Figure 12D shows a graph representing the flow cytometry analysis for the J591 2P VHVL minibody.
• Figure 13 is an SDS-PAGE analysis of the purified J591 minibody.
• the purified J591 minibody protein was loaded onto the SDS-PAGE gel under non-reducing conditions (lane 1 ) and reducing conditions (lane 2).
• the gel was stained with GelCode Blue (Pierce, Thermo Scientific).
• the minibody was diluted 1 /5 for loading on the gel.
• Figure 14 is a size exclusion chromatography (SEC) analysis of purified J591 minibody.
• the graph plots the 220nm UV absorbance (mAU) vs. time (min). 4 g of the J591 minibody was loaded onto a TSK-GEL Super SW3000 column. A protein molecular weight standard was also run separately on the column to provide reference. The percentage of the aggregate versus the minibody protein (labeled here as monomer) was determined by calculating the area under the curve.
• FIG. 15 illustrates that the J591 minibody protein binds PSMA by ELISA.
• 96-well ELISA plates were coated with purified recombinant PSMA protein at 1 g/ml.
• Purified J591 minibody protein (1 , ⁇ ) was introduced at a starting concentration of 2pg/ml and serially diluted ten times by third dilutions. Identical dilutions were
• Figures 16A-D are graphs that represent flow cytometry analysis, illustrating that the J591 minibody binds PSMA+ cell lines. All histograms plot cell count vs. PE signal (FL2-H). The J591 minibody protein and the negative control minibody (1 ), both at 20Mg/ml, were tested for binding to the PSMA+ cell line LNCaP (A and B) and CWR22rv1 (C and D). Cells were subsequently stained with a secondary anti- human IgG (Fc specific)-PE conjugated antibody. 1 X10 5 cells/point and analysis was performed with 5,000 events/point.
• A J591 minibody (2) binding LNCaP cells
• B J591 -DOTA minibody (2) binding LNCaP cells
• C J591 minibody (2) binding CWR cells
• D J591 -DOTA minibody (2) binding CWR cells.
• FIG 17 are representative images that show the internalization of J591 minibody in LNCaP cells.
• LNCaP cells were plated on poly-d-lysine-coated coverslips in 12-well plates. Following 2 days of growth, the cells were pre-chilled for 30 minutes at 4C before incubation with the primary antibody or minibody for 30 minutes at 4C. At the indicated time points after primary incubation, the cells were fixed, permeabilized, and stained with secondary anti-human IgG-Alexa 488. The coverslips were
• FIG 18 are representative images that show the internalization of J591 minibody in CWR22rv1 cells.
• CWR22rv1 cells were plated on poly-d-lysine-coated coverslips in 12-well plates. Following 2 days of growth, the cells were pre-chilled for 30 minutes at 4C before incubation with the primary antibody or minibody for 30 minutes at 4C. At the indicated time points post-primary incubation, the cells were fixed, permeabilized, and stained with secondary anti-human IgG-Alexa 488. The coverslips were simultaneously mounted on to slides and counterstained with DAPI within the mounting media. Slides were viewed using a 63X oil-immersion lens on a Leica SP2- 1 P-FCS confocal microscope.
• Figure 19 is a graph illustrating uptake and retention of cell-associated radioactivity of 31 l-labelled and 111 ln-DOTA labelled J591 minibody.
• the radioactivity from the cell membrane, cell lysate (internalized), and total (membrane + internalized) fractions are expressed as counts per minute (cpm).
• CWR22rv1 cells were seeded into 24-well plates at 5x10 5 cells/well the day before the experiment. Cells were pre-chilled at 4C before incubation with an excess of (A) 131 l-labelled or (B) 111 ln-DOTA labelled J591 minibody.
• the supernatant containing the radiolabeled minibody was removed, the cells were stripped with an acidic glycine buffer to obtain the membrane fraction, and the cells were lysed. Each time point was performed in triplicate.
• the Y-bars represent standard deviation.
• Figure 20 is a graph comparing cell-associated radioactivity of 131 1 labelled versus 111 ln-DOTA labelled J591 minibody.
• the total cell-associated radioactivity (membrane + internalized) expressed as a percentage of the initial cell-associated radioactivity over time upon binding to CWR22rv1 cells.
• This plot shows both the 131 1- labelled (bottom line) and the 111 ln-DOTA labelled J591 minibody (top line).
• Figure 21 illustrates representative serial microPET/CT images of a mouse bearing CWR22rv1 and PC3 xenografts injected with 64 Cu-DOTA-J591 minibody.
• a representative mouse was serially scanned at multiple times postinjection.
• the CWR22rv1 tumor is depicted as the (+) tumor and the PC3 tumor as the (-) tumor.
• CT scan at 4 hours postinjection. Coronal and tranverse planes are shown.
• PET/CT overlay image at 4 hours postinjection. Coronal and transverse planes are shown.
• Coronal PET/CT overlay 3D projection of the representative mouse at 4 hours postinjection D
• Figure 22 is a bar graph illustrating the biodistribution of 64 Cu-DOTA-J591 minibody at 19 hours and 43 hours post-injection.
• Figure 23 is illustrates representative serial microPET images of a mouse bearing CWR22rv1 and PC3 xenografts injected with 124 I-J591 minibody.
• CWR22rv1 tumor is depicted as the (+) tumor and the PC3 tumor as the (-) tumor.
• A CT scan at 4 hours postinjection. Coronal and tranverse planes are shown.
• B PET/CT overlay image at 4 hours postinjection. Coronal and transverse planes are shown.
• C Coronal PET/CT overlay images at 4, 20, and 44 hours postinjection.
• Figure 24 is a bar graph illustrating the biodistribution of 124 I-J591 minibody at 19 hours and 44 hours post-injection.
• Figure 25 is a bar graph illustrating the expression level of the following minibody variants in transient transfected CHO-K1 cells: (1 ) J591 HC VLVH minibody (J591 VLVH Mb), (2) J591 HC VHVL minibody (J591 VHVL Mb), (3) J591 2P VLVH minibody (J591 VLVH ** Mb) and (4) J591 2P VHVL minibody (J591 VHVL ** Mb).
• the huJ591 HC VHVL exhibited the highest expression (6.7 pg/mL) from transient transfection.
• Figure 26 is a bar graph showing the biodistribution ratios (i.e., positive tumor to tissue ratios) at 4 hours, 20 hours and 43 hours after injection of the 64 Cu- DOTA-J591 minibody.
• the biodistribution ratios included ratios of positive tumor (Pos) compared to liver (Liv), kidneys (Kid) and soft tissue (Soft). Error bars represent mean standard errors (SEM).
• Figure 27 is a bar graph showing the biodistribution ratios (i.e., positive tumor to tissue ratios) at 4 hours, 20 hours and 43 hours after injection of the 124 I-J591 minibody.
• the biodistribution ratios included ratios of positive tumor (Pos) compared to liver (Liv), kidneys (Kid) and soft tissue (Soft). Error bars represent mean standard errors (SEM).
• the disclosure is directed to an antibody or functional antibody fragment that targets prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA).
• PSMA antibody or functional antibody fragment thereof may be conjugated to a substance such as a diagnostic agent, a therapeutic agent or a nanoparticle to form an anti-PSMA conjugate.
• methods that include the use of the PSMA antibody, the functional PSMA antibody fragment or the anti-PSMA conjugate for diagnosing, visualizing, monitoring, or treating cancer or other conditions associated with overexpression of PSMA.
• PSMA antibodies or a functional PSMA antibody fragments are provided herein according to the embodiments described herein.
• a PSMA antibody or functional antibody fragment is a molecule that includes one or more portions of an
• modified antibody includes, but is not limited to genetically engineered or otherwise modified forms of immunoglobulins, such as intrabodies, chimeric antibodies, fully human antibodies, humanized antibodies, and heteroconjugate antibodies (e.g., bispecific antibodies, diabodies, triabodies, and tetrabodies).
• the term functional antibody fragment includes one or more antigen binding fragments of antibodies alone or in combination with other molecules, including, but not limited to Fab', F(ab') 2 , Fab, Fv, rlgG, scFv fragments, single domain fragments, peptibodies, minibodies and cys-diabodies.
• the term scFv refers to a single chain Fv antibody in which the variable domains of the heavy chain and of the light chain of a traditional two chain antibody have been joined to form one chain.
• the modified antibody or functional antibody fragment is an anti-PSMA minibody.
• the anti-PSMA antibody is a J591 minibody.
• the anti-PSMA minibody has an anti-PSMA antibody fragment with optimized pharmacodynamic properties for in vivo imaging and biodistribution as described below.
• a "minibody” is a homodimer, wherein each monomer is a single- chain variable fragment (scFv) linked to a human lgG1 CH3 domain by a linker, such as ana hinge sequence.
• the hinge sequence is a human lgG1 hinge sequence (EPKSCDKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGP; SEQ ID NO:16).
• the hinge sequence is an artificial hinge sequence.
• the artificial hinge sequence may include a portion of a human lgG1 hinge and a GlySer linker sequence.
• the artificial hinge sequence includes approximately the first 14 or 15 residues of the human lgG1 hinge followed by a GlySer linker sequence that is 8, 9 or 10 amino acids in length.
• the artifical hinge sequence includes approximately the first 15 residues of the lgG1 hinge followed by a GlySer linker sequence that is 10 amino acids in length.
• the scFv may have a VHVL or a VLVH orientation, wherein a VHVL orientation means that the variable heavy domain (VH) of the scFv is upstream from the variable light region (VL) and a VLVH orientation means that the VL of the scFv is upstream from the VH.
• VH variable heavy domain
• VL variable light region
• upstream means toward the N-terminus of an amino acid or toward the 5' end of a nucleotide sequence.
• the VH and VL are linked to each other by an amino acid linker sequence.
• the amino acid linker may be any suitable length. In one embodiment, the linker is Gly-Ser-rich and approximately 15-20 amino acids in length. In another embodiment, the linker is Cly-Ser rich and is 18 amino acids in length.
• each monomer of the anti-PSMA minibody may be encoded by a nucleotide sequence that includes the following elements, from N-terminus to C-terminus: (a) an scFv sequence that can bind PSMA, (b) an artificial hinge sequence, and (c) a human IgG CH3 sequence.
• the minibodies may be expressed by a cell, a cell line or other suitable expression system as described herein.
• a signal sequence may be fused to the N-terminus of the scFv to enable secretion of the minibody when expressed in the cell or cell line.
• the nucleotide sequence is SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2.
• the nucleotide is transcribed and translated into an amino acid sequence.
• the expressed amino acid sequence is SEQ ID NO:10 or SEQ ID NO:1 1 .
• the modified antibody or functional antibody fragment is an anti-PSMA cys-diabody (CysDB)
• CysDB anti-PSMA cys-diabody
• a "diabody” comprises a first polypeptide chain which comprises a heavy (VH) chain variable domain connected to a light chain variable domain (VL) on the first polypeptide chain (VH-VL) connected by a peptide linker that is too short to allow pairing between the two domains on the first polypeptide chain and a second polypeptide chain comprising a light chain variable domain (VL) linked to a heavy chain variable domain VH on the second polypeptide chain (VL-VH) connected by a peptide linker that is too short to allow pairing between the two domains on the second polypeptide chain.
• a peptide linker may be any suitable length that promotes such assembly, for example, between 5 and 10 amino acids in length.
• some cys-diabodies may include a peptide linker that is 5 or 8 amino acids in length.
• the anti-PSMA CysDB is a homodimer antibody format formed with two identical monomers that include single chain Fv (scFv) fragments with an approximate molecular weight of 55 kDa.
• the anti-PSMA is a J591 CysDB.
• the anti-PSMA CysDBs described herein have an anti-PSMA antibody fragment with optimized pharmacodynamic properties that may be used for in vivo imaging and biodistribution.
• each monomer of a CysDB may be encoded by a nucleotide sequence that includes the following elements, from N-terminus to C-terminus: (a) an scFv sequence that can bind PSMA and (b) a cysteine tail.
• the CysDBs may be expressed by a cell or a cell line as described herein.
• a signal sequence may be fused to the N-terminus of the scFv to enable secretion of the minibody when expressed in the cell or cell line.
• the nucleotide sequence is SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8 or SEQ ID NO:9.
• the nucleotide When expressed by a cell or cell line, the nucleotide is transcribed and translated into an amino acid sequence.
• the expressed amino acid sequence is SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14 or SEQ ID NO:15.
• the CysDB scFv sequence is similar to the minibody scFv sequences described above scFv.
• the scFv may have a VHVL or a VLVH orientation, wherein a VHVL orientation means that the variable heavy domain (VH) of the scFv is upstream from the variable light region (VL) and a VLVH orientation means that the VL of the scFv is upstream from the VH.
• the antibody variable regions are linked together by a GlySer linker as described above.
• a Cysteine tail (Gly-Gly-Cys), is added at the C-terminus. This Cysteine tail allows the diabody complex to form covalent Cysteine bonds and provides the option for available sulfur residues for site-specific conjugation of functional moieties such as radiolabels.
• CysDBs have been successfully engineered from various parental antibodies against different targets including CEA, Her2 (trastuzumab/Herceptin®), PSCA, and CD20 (rituximab/Rituxan®).
• Different variations of the CysDB format have been evaluated with four particular versions demonstrating the most promise with respect to binding and expression level.
• the heavy and light chain variable domains associate in different ways.
• the use of different linker lengths allows for conformational flexibility and range-of-motion to ensure formation of the disulfide bonds.
• the two linker length variants have either a 5 amino acid linker or an 8 amino acid linker.
• Each linker length variant may be developed using both orientations (VL-linker-VH-Cys tail and VH-linker-VL-Cys tail) to ensure the proper folding and stability is achieved. According to some
• CysDB variants that may be used in methods described herein have been constructed: VH5VL, VH8VL, VL5VH, and VL8VH (see Figures 6-9). Although each of the CysDB variants has been successfully expressed, results may vary depending on the parental antibody used. Producing and testing the expression and binding of all four variants ensures identification of an optimal format for protein production for each new CysDB. Evaluating the set of variants is important to ensure that a high-quality, stable protein is produced where the disulfide bridge is available. Therefore, engineering a CysDB actually involves using two distinct linker lengths, not one - as in the minibody, as well as both orientations of the variable regions, VH/VL and VL/VH.
• a mammalian cell line e.g., CHO-K1 cell line
• a mammalian cell line may be used as an expression system to produce the minibodies, cys-diabodies or other antibody fragments described herein.
• a mammailan expression system is not required, as such post-translational modifications are not needed.
• mammalian and non- mammalian expression systems may be used to produce the PSMA antibody fragments (e.g., anti-PSMA minibodies and cys-diabodies) according to the embodiments of the disclosure including, but not limited to mammalian expression systems (e.g., CHO-K1 cells), bacterial expression systems (e.g., E. Coli, B. subtilis) yeast expression systems (e.g., Pichia, S. cerevisiae) or any other known expression system.
• mammalian expression systems e.g., CHO-K1 cells
• bacterial expression systems e.g., E. Coli, B. subtilis
• yeast expression systems e.g., Pichia, S. cerevisiae
• J591 HC VHVL Protein production of the J591 HC VHVL minibody was successfully scaled-up to produce sufficient amounts for the internalization and microPET imaging experiments described below.
• the J591 minibody is rapidly internalized upon binding to PSMA+ cell lines CWR22rv1 and LNCaP.
• the total cell-associated radioactivity decreased over time suggesting loss of label likely attributed to
• the total cell-associated radioactivity of the 111 ln-DOTA- J591 minibody increased significantly over time (-2.5 fold) which is consistent with the residualizing label being trapped in the lysosomes. Based on the persistence of total cell-associated radioactivity over time, the residualizing 111 ln-DOTA radiolabeling strategy appeared to be the appropriate approach for in vivo imaging of the internalizing PSMA antigen.
• the PSMA antibodies or functional antibody fragments may include antibody derivatives that are modified.
• the antibody derivatives include, but are not limited to, antibodies that have been modified by glycosylation, acetylation, pegylation, phosphorylation, amidation, derivatization by known protecting/blodking groups, proteolytic cleavage, and linkage to a cellular ligand or other protein. Any of numerous chemical modifications may be carried out by known techniques, including, but not limited to, specific chemical cleavage, acetylation, gormylation and metabolic synthesis of tunicamycin. Additionally, the derivative may contain one or more non-natural amino acids.
• the PSMA antibody or functional antibody fragment may be conjugated to another substance to form an anti-PSMA conjugate.
• the anti- PSMA conjugates described herein can be prepared by known methods of linking antibodies with lipids, carbohydrates, protein or other atoms and molecules.
• the anti-PSMA conjugate is formed by site-specific conjugation using a suitable linkage or bond. Site-specific conjugation is more likely to preserve the binding activity of an antibody or functional antibody fragment.
• the substance may be conjugated or attached at the hinge region of a reduced antibody component or antibody fragment via disulfide bond formation.
• cysteine residues at the C- terminus of an scFv fragment such as those introduce in the cys-diabodies described above, allows site-specific thiol-reactive coupling at a site away from the antigen binding site to a wide variety of agents.
• linkages or bonds used to form the anti-PSMA conjugate may include, but is not limited to, a covalent bond, a non-covalent bond, a sulfide linkage, a hydrazone linkage, a hydrazine linkage, an ester linkage, an amido linkage, and amino linkage, an imino linkage, a thiosemicabazone linkage, a semicarbazone linkage, an oxime linkage and a carbon-carbon linkage.
• the anti-PSMA conjugate may include a PSMA antibody or functional PSMA antibody fragment conjugated to a diagnostic agent.
• a "diagnostic agent” is an atom, molecule, or compound that is useful in diagnosing, detecting or visualizing a disease.
• diagnostic agents may include, but are not limited to, radioactive substances (e.g., radioisotopes, radionuclides, radiolabels or radiotracers), dyes, contrast agents, fluorescent compounds or molecules, bioluminescent compounds or molecules, enzymes and enhancing agents (e.g., paramagnetic ions).
• radioactive substances e.g., radioisotopes, radionuclides, radiolabels or radiotracers
• dyes e.g., contrast agents, fluorescent compounds or molecules, bioluminescent compounds or molecules, enzymes and enhancing agents (e.g., paramagnetic ions).
• nanoparticles for example quantum dots and metal nanoparticles (described below) may also be suitable for use as a detection agent
• Radioactive substances that may be used as diagnostic agents in accordance with the embodiments of the disclosure include, but are not limited to, 18 F, 32 P, 33 P, 45 Ti, 47 Sc, 52 Fe, 59Fe, 62 Cu, 64 Cu, 67 Cu, 67 Ga, 68 Ga, 75 Sc, 77 As, 86 Y, 90 Y.
• Paramagnetic ions that may be used as diagnostic agents in accordance with the embodiments of the disclosure include, but are not limited to, ions of transition and lanthanide metals (e.g. metals having atomic numbers of 6 to 9, 21 -29, 42, 43, 44, or 57-71 ). These metals include ions of Cr, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu.
• transition and lanthanide metals e.g. metals having atomic numbers of 6 to 9, 21 -29, 42, 43, 44, or 57-71 .
• These metals include ions of Cr, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu.
• the agent when the diagnostic agent is a radioactive metal or paramagnetic ion, the agent may be reacted with a reagent having a long tail with one or more chelating groups attached to the long tail for binding these ions.
• the long tail may be a polymer such as a polylysine, polysaccharide, or other derivatized or derivatizable chain having pendant groups to which may be bound to a chelating group for binding the ions.
• chelating groups examples include, but are not limited to, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA),
• chelate is normally linked to the PSMA antibody or functional antibody fragment by a group which enables formation of a bond to the molecule with minimal loss of immunoreactivity and minimal aggregation and/or internal cross-linking.
• non-radioactive metals such as manganese, iron and gadolinium are useful for MRI, when used along with the antibodies and carriers described herein.
• Macrocyclic chelates such as NOTA, DOTA, and TETA are of use with a variety of metals and radiometals including, but not limited to, radionuclides of gallium, yttrium and copper, respectively.
• Other ring-type chelates such as macrocyclic polyethers, which are of interest for stably binding nuclides, such as 223 Ra for RAIT may be used.
• chelating moieties may be used to attach a PET imaging agent, such as an AI- 18 F complex, to a targeting molecule for use in PET analysis.
• Contrast agents that may be used as diagnostic agents in accordance with the embodiments of the disclosure include, but are not limited to, barium, diatrizoate, ethiodized oil, gallium citrate, iocarmic acid, iocetamic acid, iodamide, iodipamide, iodoxamic acid, iogulamide, iohexyl, iopamidol, iopanoic acid, ioprocemic acid, iosefamic acid, ioseric acid, iosulamide meglumine, iosemetic acid, iotasul, iotetric acid, iothalamic acid, iotroxic acid, ioxaglic acid, ioxotrizoic acid, ipodate, meglumine, metrizamide, metrizoate, propyliodone, thallous chloride, or combinations thereof
• Bioluminescent and fluorescent compounds or molecules and dyes that may be used as diagnostic agents in accordance with the embodiments of the disclosure include, but are not limited to, fluorescein, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), Oregon Green.TM., rhodamine, Texas red, tetrarhodimine isothiocynate (TRITC), Cy3, Cy5, etc.), fluorescent markers (e.g., green fluorescent protein (GFP), phycoerythrin, etc.), autoquenched fluorescent compounds that are activated by tumor-associated proteases, enzymes (e.g., luciferase, horseradish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, etc.), nanoparticles, biotin, digoxigenin or combination thereof.
• fluorescent markers e.g., green fluorescent protein (GFP), phycoerythrin, etc.
• enzymes e.g., luciferase, horseradish peroxidase, alkaline
• Enzymes that may be used as diagnostic agents in accordance with the embodiments of the disclosure include, but are not limited to, horseradish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, acid phoshatase, glucose oxidase, ⁇ -galactosidase, ⁇ - glucoronidase or ⁇ -lactamase. Such enaymes may be used in combination with a chromogen, a fluorogenic compound or a luminogenic compound to generate a detectable signal.
• the anti-PSMA conjugate may include a PSMA antibody or functional PSMA antibody fragment conjugated to a therapeutic agent.
• a "therapeutic agent” as used herein is an atom, molecule, or compound that is useful in the treatment of cancer or other conditions associated with PSMA.
• therapeutic agents include, but are not limited to, drugs, chemotherapeutic agents, therapeutic antibodies and antibody fragments, toxins, radioisotopes, enzymes (e.g., enzymes to cleave prodrugs to a cytotoxic agent at the site of the tumor), nucleases, hormones, immunomodulators, antisense oligonucleotides, chelators, boron
• Chemotherapeutic agents are often cytotoxic or cytostatic in nature and may include alkylating agents, antimetabolites, anti-tumor antibiotics, topoisomerase inhibitors, mitotic inhibitors hormone therapy, targeted therapeutics and
• the chemotherapeutic agents that may be used as diagnostic agents in accordance with the embodiments of the disclosure include, but are not limited to,13-cis-Retinoic Acid, 2-Chlorodeoxyadenosine, 5- Azacitidine, 5-Fluorouracil, 6-Mercaptopurine, 6-Thioguanine, actinomycin-D, adriamycin, aldesleukin, alemtuzumab, alitretinoin, all-transretinoic acid, alpha interferon, altretamine, amethopterin, amifostine, anagrelide, anastrozole,
• arabinosylcytosine arsenic trioxide, amsacrine, aminocamptothecin, aminoglutethimide, asparaginase, azacytidine, bacillus calmette-guerin (BCG), bendamustine,
• bevacizumab bevacizumab, bexarotene, bicalutamide, bortezomib, bleomycin, busulfan, calcium leucovorin, citrovorum factor, capecitabine, canertinib, carboplatin, carmustine, cetuximab, chlorambucil, cisplatin, cladribine, cortisone, cyclophosphamide, cytarabine, darbepoetin alfa, dasatinib, daunomycin, decitabine, denileukin diftitox, dexamethasone, dexasone, dexrazoxane, dactinomycin, daunorubicin, decarbazine, docetaxel, doxorubicin, doxifluridine, eniluracil, epirubicin, epoetin alfa, erlotinib, everoli
• prednisolone prednisone, procarbazine, raloxifene, rituximab, romiplostim, ralitrexed, sapacitabine, sargramostim, satraplatin, sorafenib, sunitinib, semustine, streptozocin, tamoxifen, tegafur, tegafur-uracil, temsirolimus, temozolamide, teniposide, thalidomide, thioguanine, thiotepa, topotecan, toremifene, tositumomab, trastuzumab, tretinoin, trimitrexate, alrubicin, vincristine, vinblastine, vindestine, vinorelbine, vorinostat, or zoledronic acid.
• Therapeutic antibodies and functional fragments thereof, that may be used as diagnostic agents in accordance with the embodiments of the disclosure include, but are not limited to, alemtuzumab, bevacizumab, cetuximab, edrecolomab, gemtuzumab, ibritumomab tiuxetan, panitumumab, rituximab, tositumomab, and trastuzumab
• Toxins that may be used as diagnostic agents in accordance with the embodiments of the disclosure include, but are not limited to, ricin, abrin, ribonuclease (RNase), DNase I, Staphylococcal enterotoxin-A, pokeweed antiviral protein, gelonin, diphtheria toxin, Pseudomonas exotoxin, and Pseudomonas endotoxin.
• Radioisotopes that may be used as diagnostic agents in accordance with the embodiments of the disclosure include, but are not limited to, 32 P, 89 Sr, 90 Y. 99m Tc, "Mo, 131 l, 153 Sm, 177 Lu, 186 Re, 213 Bi, 223 Ra and 225 Ac.
• the anti-PSMA conjugate may include a PSMA antibody or functional PSMA antibody fragment conjugated to a nanoparticle.
• nanoparticle refers to a microscopic particle whose size is measured in nanometers, e.g., a particle with at least one dimension less than about 100 nm. Nanoparticles are particularly useful as detectable substances because they are small enough to scatter visible light rather than absorb it. For example, gold nanoparticles possess significant visible light extinction properties and appear deep red to black in solution. As a result, compositions comprising PSCA-specific antibody or fragments conjugated to
• nanoparticles can be used for the in vivo imaging of tumors or cancerous cells in a subject. At the small end of the size range, nanoparticles are often referred to as clusters. Metal, dielectric, and semiconductor nanoparticles have been formed, as well as hybrid structures (e.g. core-shell nanoparticles). Nanospheres, nanorods, and nanocups are just a few of the shapes that have been grown. Semiconductor quantum dots and nanocrystals are examples of additional types of nanoparticles. Such nanoscale particles, when conjugated to a PSMA antibody or functional antibody fragment, can be used as imaging agents for the in vivo detection of tumor cells as described above.
• nanoparticles can be used in therapeutic applications as drug carriers that, when conjugated to a PSCA-specific antibody or fragment of the present invention, deliver chemotherapeutic agents, hormonal therapaeutic agents, radiotherapeutic agents, toxins, or any other cytotoxic or anti-cancer agent known in the art to cancerous cells that overexpress PSCA on the cell surface.
• Any of the anti-PSMA conjugates described above may be further conjugated with one or more additional therapeutic agents, diagnostic agents, nanoparticles, carriers or a combination thereof.
• a PSMA antibody or functional PSMA antibody fragment may be radiolabeled with 131 1 and conjugated to a lipid carrier, such that the anti-PSMA-lipid conjugate forms a micelle.
• the micelle may incorporate one or more therapeutic or diagnostic agents.
• the PSMA antibody or functional PSMA antibody fragment may be conjugated to 131 1 (e.g., at a tyrosine residue) and a drug (e.g., at the epsilon amino group of a lysine residue), and the carrier may incorporate an additional therapeutic or diagnostic agent.
• the PSMA antibody, functional PSMA antibody fragment or anti-PSMA conjugate may be used to target a PSMA positive cell, such as cancer cells that overexpress PSMA. Therefore, methods for diagnosing, detecting, visualizing, monitoring or treating a cancer or other condition associated with PSMA expression may include administering the PSMA antibody, functional PSMA antibody fragment or anti-PSMA conjugate to a subject having or suspected of having a cancer or other condition associated with PSMA expression.
• the term "subject” refers to any animal (e.g., a mammal), including but not limited to humans, non-human primates, rodents, dogs, pigs, and the like.
• Cancers that are associated with PSMA expression may include those having cancer tumor tissue that overexpresses PSMA (e.g., prostate cancer) or those having solid tumor neovasculature that overexpresses PSMA (e.g., prostate cancer, lung cancer, colon (or colorectal) cancer, breast cancer, renal cancer, liver cancer, bladder cancer and pancreatic cancer as well as sarcomas and melanoma).
• Most solid tumor neovasculature expresses PSMA, making PSMA a neovasculature biomarker.
• a cancer that is associated with PSMA expression may include any cancer tissue with neovasculature including, but not limited to, carcinomas such as prostate cancer, lung cancer, colon (or colorectal) cancer, breast cancer, renal cancer, liver cancer, bladder cancer and pancreatic cancer as well as sarcomas and melanoma.
• a method for diagnosing, detecting, visualizing or monitoring a cancer associated with PSMA expression includes administering a diagnostic anti-PSMA conjugate to a subject having or suspected of having a cancer.
• the diagnostic anti-PSMA conjugate includes a PSMA antibody or a functional PSMA antibody fragment conjugated to one or more diagnostic agents as described above.
• the PSMA antibody, or a functional PSMA antibody fragment is a minibody or a CysDB, derived from a J591 antibody such as those J591 minibodies and J591 CysDBs described herein.
• the diagnostic anti-PSMA conjugate may be conjugated to or associated with one or more additional substances described herein, such as a therapeutic anti-PSMA conjugate (as described below), unconjugated therapeutic agents, contrast solutions, carrier lipids or nanoparticles.
• the diagnostic anti-PSMA conjugate used in the method described above is suitable for in vivo or in vitro detection or visualization methods.
• an in vitro diagnostic or prognostic assay will be performed to determine the expression level of PSMA in a tissue sample taken from a subject having or suspected of having a cancer associated with PSMA as compared to a normal (i.e., non cancerous) or control tissue sample (i.e., known cancerous or benign tissue sample).
• a normal tissue sample i.e., non cancerous
• control tissue sample i.e., known cancerous or benign tissue sample.
• FISH fluorescent in situ hybridization
• the diagnostic anti-PSMA conjugate may be used with an in vivo imaging modality to visualize the target cells within the topography of the subject's body.
• determining that the subject has a cancer associated with PSMA expression is accomplished by visualizing the lableled minibody or CysDB, wherein the visualized labeled minibody or CysDB localizes to a tumor site.
• the PSMA minibody may also be used to stage, and monitor cancer progression according to method that are similar to those described above.
• Suitable methods of in vivo imaging include, but are not limited to, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) or microPET, computed
• CT computed tomography
• CCD cooled charged coupled device
• optical imaging e.g., bioluminescent optical imaging, fluorescent optical imaging, or absorption of reflectance
• SPECT single photon emission computed tomography
• a minibody or CysDB as described herein that is labeled with an appropriate radioisotope may be used as a clinical imaging agent to target PSMA in vivo according to the methods described herein.
• an appropriate radioisotope e.g., residualizing 124 l, 64 Cu - DOTA or 89 Zr-DOTA
• J591 minibodies and CysDBs may also be developed as a potential single photon emission computed tomography
• the J591 minibody may be used as a SPECT imaging agent by changing the radiolabel, for example, 111 ln-DOTA-J591 .
• tumor uptake increased to 13.3( ⁇ 8.3) %ID/g with the 64 Cu-DOTA-J591 minibodies, which declined to 3.25( ⁇ 0.9) %ID/g with the 124 l- J591 minibodies.
• Positive to negative tumor ratios were 3.1 and 4.9 at 19 hours and 5.4 and 7.3 at 43 hours for 64 Cu-DOTA- and 124 I-J591 minibodies, respectively.
• methods for treating cancer or other condition associated with overexpression of PSMA include administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition that includes a PSMA antibody, or a functional PSMA antibody fragment as described above.
• the PSMA antibody, or a functional PSMA antibody fragment is a minibody or a CysDB, derived from a J591 antibody such as those J591 minibodies and J591 CysDBs described herein.
• Treating" or “treatment” of a condition may refer to preventing the condition, slowing the onset or rate of development of the condition, reducing the risk of developing the condition, preventing or delaying the development of symptoms associated with the condition, reducing or ending symptoms associated with the condition, generating a complete or partial regression of the condition, or some combination thereof.
• a "therapeutically effective amount" or a ⁇ 'therapeutically effective dose is an amount of a compound that produces a desired therapeutic effect in a subject, such as preventing or treating a target condition or alleviating symptoms associated with the condition.
• the precise therapeutically effective amount is an amount of the composition that will yield the most effective results in terms of efficacy of treatment in a given subject. This amount will vary depending upon a variety of factors, including but not limited to the characteristics of the therapeutic compound (including activity,
• pharmacokinetics including age, sex, disease type and stage, general physical condition, responsiveness to a given dosage, and type of medication
• physiological condition of the subject including age, sex, disease type and stage, general physical condition, responsiveness to a given dosage, and type of medication
• the pharmaceutical composition may include a therapeutic anti-PSMA conjugate, wherein the conjugate includes a PSMA antibody or a functional PSMA antibody fragment conjugated to one or more therapeutic agent as described above.
• the PSMA antibody, or a functional PSMA antibody fragment is a minibody or a CysDB, derived from a J591 antibody such as those J591 minibodies and J591 CysDBs described herein.
• the J591 minibodies or cys-diabodies described herein may be used in a radioimmunotherapy approach, wherein one or more of the 3B J591 minibodies is radiolabeled with an appropriate beta-emitting radiolabel such as Yttrium-90.
• the radiolabeled 3B J591 minibody or minibodies may be used to deliver cell damage and death to local cancerous tissue that expresses PSMA. Further, the use of radiolabeled J591 minibodies and cys-diabodies would likely exhibit improved tumor penetration as compared to radiolabeled full-length parental huJ591 antibody.
• the therapeutic anti-PSMA conjugate may be conjugated to or associated with one or more additional substances described herein, such as diagnostic anti-PSMA conjugates (described above), unconjugated diagnostic agents, contrast solutions, carrier lipids or nanoparticles.
• the pharmaceutical composition may also include a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
• a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier may be a pharmaceutically acceptable material, composition, or vehicle that is involved in carrying or transporting a compound of interest from one tissue, organ, or portion of the body to another tissue, organ, or portion of the body.
• the carrier may be a liquid or solid filler, diluent, excipient, solvent, or encapsulating material, or some combination thereof.
• Each component of the carrier must be "pharmaceutically acceptable” in that it must be compatible with the other ingredients of the formulation. It also must be suitable for contact with any tissue, organ, or portion of the body that it may encounter, meaning that it must not carry a risk of toxicity, irritation, allergic response,
• compositions described herein may be administered by any suitable route of administration.
• a route of administration may refer to any administration pathway known in the art, including but not limited to aerosol, enteral, nasal, ophthalmic, oral, parenteral, rectal, transdermal (e.g., topical cream or ointment, patch), or vaginal.
• transdermal administration may be accomplished using a topical cream or ointment or by means of a transdermal patch.
• Parenter refers to a route of administration that is generally associated with injection, including infraorbital, infusion, intraarterial, intracapsular, intracardiac, intradermal, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intrapulmonary, intraspinal, intrasternal, intrathecal, intrauterine, intravenous, subarachnoid, subcapsular, subcutaneous, transmucosal, or transtracheal.
• J591 minibody construct [0091] J591 minibody construct. Third generation J591 minibodies are
• the minibody format is a homodimer wherein each monomer is a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) linked to a human lgG1 CH3 domain ( Figure 1 A).
• the scFv can have a VHVL or a VLVH orientation.
• the J591 minibody expression construct for a an scFv having a VHVL orientation has a variable heavy (VH) domain that is linked to a variable light (VL) region by an 18 amino acid linker (L) sequence.
• VH variable heavy
• VL variable light
• L 18 amino acid linker
• J591 Human Composite (HC) with a VHVL orientation J591 HC VHVL; SEQ ID NO:1 );
• J591 with the 2 Proline substitutions (2P) with a VHLV orientation J591 2P VHVL; SEQ ID NO:2);
• J591 with the 2 Proline substitutions (2P) with a VLVH orientation J591 2P VLVH).
• Figure 3 shows the sequence of the J591 HC VHVL minibody (SEQ ID NO:1 ) and Figure 4 shows the sequence of the J591 2P VHVL minibody (SEQ ID NO:2).
• the 18 amino acid linker (L) has a specific sequence of GlySer-rich residues (see Figure 1 , for sequence see Figures 3 and 4).
• the scFv is tethered to the human lgG1 CH3 domain by an artificial hinge sequence wherein the first 15 residues are that of the human lgG1 hinge followed by a 10 amino acid GlySer linker sequence (see Figure 1 , for sequence see Figure 3 and 4). This specific hinge sequence has also been successfully incorporated into previous minibodies.
• the minibody (either VH-VL- CH3 or VL-VH-CH3 orientation) exists as a stable dimer due to the association between the CH3 domains as well as the formation of disulfide bonds within the hinge regions.
• a kappa light chain signal sequence leads the expression construct and fused at the N-terminus of the variable heavy domain (see Figure 1 B, for sequence see Figure 3 and 4).
• a set of J591 minibodies were engineered by making amino acid substitutions in the parental huJ591 variable heavy and light domains. Sequence analysis of the full length parental huJ591 variable regions identified an unusually high number of conformationally restrictive Proline residues, which are recognized to decrease the flexibility of protein structure. A comparison of sequence alignment between the deimmunized J591 (SEQ ID NO:5; SEQ ID NO:19) and the original murine J591 (SEQ ID NO:4; SEQ ID NO:18) revealed that the deimmunization process introduced additional Proline residues (see Figure 2). After sequence and protein modeling analysis, two changes to the protein were made to improve the flexibility and folding ability.
• Expression of the J591 minibodies Expression vectors for each of the four minibody sequences above were generated. Each of the four minibody sequences was cloned into the pcDNA3.1 /myc-His (-) Version A vector for mammalian expression (Invitrogen, Inc.) at the corresponding Xbal/Hindl 11 sites.
• the pcDNA3.1 expression vector features a CMV promoter for mammalian expression and both mammalian (Neomycin) and bacterial (Ampicillin) selection markers (see Figure 10).
• the four J591 minibody expression vectors were transiently transfected into CHO-K1 cells to validate expression of the J591 minibodies.
• the transfections were performed using the Lipofectamine reagent in a 6-well plate format. Following a 72 hour transfection, the supernatants were harvested and filtered to remove any cells.
• ELISA Quantitative ELISAs were performed to analyze J591 minibody expression from transient transfection.
• ELISA is a sandwich assay which uses a goat anti-human IgG (Fc specific) as the capture antibody and an AP-conjugated goat anti-human IgG (Fc specific) as the detection antibody.
• Purified protein for a previously produced minibody was used as a standard.
• J591 minibody supernatants were serially diluted to find dilution points which fit in the linear range of the standard curve.
• SoftMax Pro was used to interpolate the concentration of the unknowns according to the standard curve.
• the J591 Human Composite VHVL (HC VHVL) minibody was selected as a lead candidate to move forward into larger scale (-low milligram quantity) protein production for subsequent in vivo imaging studies described below.
• HC VHVL minibody J591 Human Composite VHVL minibody
• any of the J591 minibodies or cys-diabodies described herein may be purified and used in similar studies.
• the J591 HC VHVL minibody was stably transfected into CHO-K1 cells using Neomycin as the selection marker. Following selection for high-expressing clones, a clone expressing the J591 minibody at approximately 36 mg/L (over a 4 day culture) was chosen for scale-up production.
• Protein Production Run To produce at least 10mg of final purified protein, the stable cell line was expanded to a 400ml production run (in 2% FBS media). Cells were seeded into eight T175 flasks, and the production run lasted for 7 days.
• the protein was run under non- reducing and reducing conditions by SDS-PAGE. Under non-reducing conditions, the minibody was detected at approximately 85 kDa ( Figure 13). A relatively minor smear was present under the 85kDa band which may represent a small amount of
• the minor band at approximately 40kDa represents the minibody monomer. Under reducing conditions, the minibody was detected as the monomeric form at around 40kDa ( Figure 13).
• the protein was analyzed by size exclusion chromatography. 4 micrograms of the purified protein was analyzed by SEC ( Figure 14). The major peak corresponds with minibody homodimer. The two minor peaks which eluted at earlier time points represent larger aggregate protein. Analysis of the area under the peaks showed that 85% of the protein product exists as the proper minibody homodimer vs 15% aggregate.
• Example 3 J591 minibodies binds and is internalized by PSMA+ cells
• High-expressing stable cell pools were generated with Catalent's proprietary GPEx technology using lentiviral transductions of serum-free CHO-S cells.
• the J591 minibody was purified from the cell supernatant with sufficiently high purity for downstream experiments. High purity of the product was confirmed by SDS-PAGE and SEC analysis (>85% purity). The purified protein does not have any significant bioburden (0 cfu/ml) and relatively low endotoxin levels (between 8 and 16 EU/mg). The total yield from this production run batch was 65 mg of J591 minibody protein.
• Functional ELISA To confirm the ability of the J591 minibody protein to bind purified PSMA, an indirect ELISA using purified recombinant PSMA was
• LNCaP cells are known to have a higher expression of PSMA than the CWRs which may explain the higher PE signal of the cell population (see Figure 16, top row vs. bottom row). As anticipated, the J591 minibody did not significantly bind the PC3 cells (data not shown).
• Conjugation was performed using the water-soluble N-hydroxysuccinimide method (Lewis et al 2001 ). Following DOTA conjugation, the protein conjugate was dialyzed to change buffer and remove excess DOTA.
• the J591 -DOTA minibody was tested for binding to PSMA by flow cytometry. Compared to the unconjugated J591 minibody, the J591 -DOTA minibody exhibited a slight decrease in immunoreactivity as shown in the slight shift in the PE signal of the cell population (see Figure 16B and 16D). Excessive conjugation of bifunctional chelators to antibodies has been known to be a cause for decrease in immunoreactivity (Kukis et al 1995). Conjugation conditions can be optimized to prevent excessive conjugation and the resulting loss of binding. However, the slight shift in binding for the J591 -DOTA minibody was considered acceptable and the protein moved forward into radiolabeling.
• the J591 full-length antibody and minibody could not bind the PSMA- PC3 cells (data not shown).
• radiolabeling results including radiolabeling efficiency, percentage of bound
• the radiolabeling efficiency was determined to be approximately 51 % using instant thin layer chromatography (ITLC) to measure the percentage of radioactivity bound to the protein versus unbound, (see Table 2 below).
• the specific activity was determined to be 0.46 ⁇ by measuring the total activity of the radiolabeled protein using a dose calibrator and calculating the specific activity based on the labeling efficiency (Table 2). To remove excess unbound 131 1, the radiolabeled protein was further purified using spin columns. The percentage of radioactivity bound to the J591 minibody following purification was dramatically increased to approximately 96% following purification (Table 2).
• Purified J591 HC VHVL minibody may be used to demonstrate the ability to target human PSMA in vivo in microPET imaging and biodistribution studies.
• the purified J591 HC VHVL minibody protein may first be validated again to confirm its ability to bind PSMA in vitro in preparation for the imaging studies. Upon confirmation of binding, the J591 HC VHVL minibody may then be conjugated to the bifunctional chelator DOTA and radiolabeled with an appropriate positron-emitting radiometal for microPET such as Copper 64. Radiolabeled minibody can be analyzed to ensure high radiolabeling efficiency and immunoreactivity before proceeding to micoPET imaging.
• the radiolabeled minibody can be injected intravenously into xenograft mice implanted with either PSMA positive or PSMA negative tumors.
• each animal may be serially scanned by PET. After the final scan, animals may be scanned by CT for anatomical reference. The PET and CT images for each animal may then be analyzed to evaluate tumor targeting and specificity.
• Example 5 In vivo binding and biodistribution of 124 I-J591 and 64 Cu-DOTA- conjugated J591 minibodies
• Radiolabeling J591 minibody with lodine-124 Purified J591 minibody protein (total amount of 300 ⁇ 9) was radiolabeled with approximately 1 .3 mCi of 124 l using the lodogen method from Pierce Thermo Scientific (as described in Olafsen et al 2006). This method involves a chemical oxidation reaction to attach 124 l radioisotope to available Tyrosine residues of the J591 minibody.
• Radiolabeled J591 minibody was partially purified using Sephadex G-25 spin columns and re-evaluated by ITLC to determine the percentage of bound radioactivity.
• the specific activity of the radiolabeled protein was 2.6 ⁇ / ⁇ 9 (Table 3), as determined by measuring the total radioactivity of the protein using a dose calibrator. To remove excess unbound 124 l from the reaction, the radiolabeled protein was further purified using spin columns. The percentage of radioactivity bound to the J591 minibody following purification was dramatically increased to approximately 98% (Table 3).
• Immunoreactivity of the 124 I-J591 minibody was determined to be 48% by testing binding to CWR22rv1 vs PC3 cells (Table 3). Although this immunoreactivity was lower than anticipated, the decision was made to move the 124 l J591 minibody forward into the imaging and biodistribution experiment based on the previous binding performance of the minibody. Future optimizations to the radiolabeling conditions (pH, time, temperature, etc) and obtaining higher protein purity could potentially improve the immunoreactivity. Table 3. Radiolabeling of the J591 Minibody with 124 l and
• Radiometal labeling the DOTA-J591 minibody with Copper-64 J591 minibody, previously conjugated with the bifunctional metal chelator DOTA, was radiolabeled with 64 Cu.
• the initial radiolabeling condition 40C ⁇ g of the DOTA-J591 minibody in PBS was incubated with approximately 745 ⁇ 64 CuCI 2 in 25mM metal-free ammonium citrate [pH 5.2] at 43C for 60 minutes. The reaction was stopped by the addition of 10mM EDTA to a final concentration of 1 mM. Using these labeling conditions, radiolabeling efficiency was determined to be lower than anticipated at approximately 40% (see Table 3).
• the DOTA-J591 minibody was first dialyzed into 0.25 ammonium acetate buffer [pH 7.2] before starting the
• radiolabeling reaction An additional 560 g of the DOTA-J591 minibody, in the ammonium acetate buffer, was labeled with approximately 730 uCi of 64 CuCI 2 . Another adjustment to improve the radiolabeling involved increasing the percentage of ammonium citrate buffer used in the reaction. With these adjustments, the radiolabeling efficiency was dramatically increased to approximately 92% (Table 3).
• 124 1 J591 minibody As with the 64 Cu-DOTA J591 minibody, microPET and biodistribution experiments were performed with the 124 l J591 minibody to evaluate tumor targeting. Both xenograft tumors were grown to a range in size between 36-192 mg before starting the imaging experiment. MicroPET images at 4 hours postinjection (p.i.) showed rapid localization at the CWR22rv1 tumor but high circulating activity in the thorax, abdomen, and bladder ( Figure 23A and 23B). Background activity cleared significantly from the system by 20 hours postinjection and was almost completely absent by 44 hours while the activity at the positive tumor remained ( Figure 23C).
• the biodistribution of the minibody may be investigated according to embodiments of the disclosure. These biodistribution studies can investigate the localization of the minibody at the tumor site versus other selected tissues over time following injection. These studies may be used to demonstrate high tumor to background ratios. Use of a J591 minibody would likely produce a high tumor to background ratio when imaging a tumor that overexpresses PSMA, such as in prostate cancer. Positive results from these imaging and biodistribution experiments may lead to toxicology experiments in preparation for clinical studies.
• the ability of a J591 minibody to target human PSMA in vivo by PET imaging studies may be demonstrated through clinical trials in cancer patients.
• the clinical trials may be performed in prostate cancer patients.
• radiolabeled minibody can be injected intravenously into cancer patients having a form of cancer that is known to overexpress PSMA.
• each patient may be serially scanned by PET.
• patients may be scanned by CT for anatomical reference.
• the PET and CT images for each patient may then be analyzed to evaluate tumor targeting and specificity.
• Olafsen T Kenanova VE, Wu AM. Tunable pharmacokinetics: modifying the in vivo half- life of antibodies by directed mutagenesis of the Fc fragment. Nat Protoc, 2006. 1 :2048- 60. Olafsen T, Betting D, Kenanova VE, Salazar FB, Clarke P, Said J, Raubitschek AA, Timmerman JM, Wu AM. Recombinant Anti-CD20 Antibody Fragments for Small-Animal PET Imaging of B-Cell Lymphomas. J Nuc Med, 2009. 50(9):1500-1508.
• Slovin SF Targeting novel antigens for prostate cancer treatment: focus on prostate- specific membrane antigen. Expert Opin Ther Targets, 2005. 9(3): 561 -570.

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