Radiolabeled antibodies for treatment of tumors

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to the imaging and treatment of melanin-containing melanomas using radiolabeled anti-melanin antibodies, and to the imaging and treatment of tumors using radiolabled antibodies that bind to a cellular component released by dying tumor cells.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Throughout this application various publications are referred to in parenthesis. Full citations for these references may be found at the end of the specification immediately preceding the claims. The disclosures of these publications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties into the subject application to more fully describe the art to which the subject application pertains.

[0005] There is a clinical need for new therapies for melanoma which is among the few cancers with a rising incidence (1). Malignant melanoma affects ˜40,000 new patients each year in the United States and an estimated 100,000 world-wide (2, 3). Melanoma is an important cause of cancer among young patients (30-50 years) which increases the economic importance of the disease. While primary tumors are successfully removed surgically, a satisfactory treatment for patients with metastatic melanoma has not been developed (4). The median survival time of patients with metastatic melanoma is 8.5 months, with an estimated 5-year survival of 6% (4). There has been little change in these results over the past 25 years.

[0006] Immune approaches to the therapy of metastatic melanoma have been evolving steadily and include treating patients with 1) non-specific immune stimulants with a focus on the use of tumor-associated antigens by passive immune therapy with antibodies targeted directly to tumor cells; and 2) active immune therapy via vaccination with tumor cells, tumor cell lysates, peptides, carbohydrates, gene constructs encoding proteins, or anti-idiotype antibodies that mimic tumor-associated antigens (5).

[0007] Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) radiolabeled with diagnostic radioisotopes 99 m-Technetium (99mTc) and III-Indium (111In) as well as with 131-Iodine (131I) have been used extensively for radioimmunoimaging (RII) of metastatic melanoma. A recent review by Kang and Yong (6) summarizes 58 patient trials (excluding case studies) involving a total of 3638 patients. The majority (>80%) of these studies used mAbs to high molecular weight melanoma associated antigen (HMW-MAA) proteoglycan. The sensitivity of RII using various anti-HMW-MAA mAbs or mAbs against other melanoma associated antigens such as P97 (7) is 65-88% (5, 6) which compares favorably with standard diagnostic methods (6). RII is also able to survey the entire body for metastases in a single study and can detect a substantial number of otherwise occult lesions.

[0008] Although RII has filled a niche in detection and disease assessment of metastatic melanoma, the ultimate goal is radioimmunotherapy (RIT). RIT takes advantage of the specificity of the antigen-antibody interaction to deliver lethal doses of radiation to target cells using radiolabeled antibodies (8). RIT is experiencing a renaissance, and so far has been most successful for the treatment of “liquid” and “semi-liquid” malignancies such as lymphoma and leukemia (9). The recent FDA approval of Zevalin® (IDEC Pharmaceuticals, San Diego, Calif.), which is 90-Yttrium (90Y) labeled monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody for treatment of relapsed or refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is proof of the enormous potential of RIT in cancer treatment.

[0009] There have been relatively few attempts to use RIT for treatment of melanoma in either the pre-clinical or clinical settings. One possible explanation for this might be the perception of melanoma as a relatively radioresistant cancer (10, 11) resulting from the outcomes of radiation therapy of melanoma with external beam radiation. Radioresistance in melanoma has been associated with melanin contents which presumably provide a non-specific shield that absorbs photons. The perception that melanoma is radioresistant is changing now (11) and, more importantly, it has been shown that radioresistance of certain tumors towards external radiation beam is higher compared to treatment of the same type of tumors with radioimmunotherapy. The difference in efficacy is due to different mechanisms of interaction between tumor cells and gamma rays of external beam compared to the particulate radiation delivered by radiolabeled antibodies (12, 13). Significant killing of melanoma cells in monolayers was observed as a result of treatment with antibodies radiolabeled with 125-Iodine (14), 211-Astatine (15), and 111-Indium (16). 131-I-labeled mAb caused shrinkage of human malignant melanoma multicellular spheroids (17). In an animal model of human melanoma, intratumoral injection of mAb radiolabeled with alpha-emitter 213-Bismuth caused complete disappearance of xenografted tumors while systemic RIT was less efficient with some delay in tumor progression followed by eventual re-growth (18). In a pilot study in patients with metastatic melanoma (19), a patient who received total dose of 374 mCi 131-1-labeled Fab′ fragments of anti-HMW-MAA mAb showed a greater than 50% reduction in the size of pelvic and pericaval nodes, with stabilization of disease at the smaller nodal size for a period of several months.

[0010] The majority of human melanomas are pigmented with melanin. Although several antibodies have been tried for the therapy of melanomas (notably monoclonal antibodies against high molecular weight melanoma-associated antigen, against chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, and against transferrin receptor), the approach of targeting melanin with an anti-melanin antibody has not been utilized. One factor which teaches away from the use of anti-melanin antibodies is that melanin is an intracellular pigment that is normally found in the melanosome. Hence, one might dismiss this pigment as a target as being inaccessible to a serum antibody. Another factor is that the amount of intracellular melanin is inversely related to the radiosensitivity of human melanoma cells (20-22). Melanin is thought to absorb radiation and thereby protect the cells.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention is directed to the use of melanin as an antigen for radioimmunotherapy (RIT) of melanoma with radiolabeled anti-melanin antibodies. Targeting melanin with radiolabeled antibodies allows the use of RIT against melanomas that contain melanin, i.e. pigmented melanomas and hypomelanotic melanomas which are the most common types of melanoma. Accordingly, the invention provides a method for treating a melanin-containing melanoma in a subject which comprises administering to the subject an amount of a radiolabeled anti-melanin antibody effective to treat the melanoma. The invention also provides a method for imaging a melanin-containing melanoma in a subject which comprises administering to the subject an amount of a radiolabeled anti-melanin antibody effective to image the melanoma.

[0012] This invention further provides methods of treating and/or imaging a tumor in a subject which comprise administering to the subject an amount of a radiolabeled antibody effective to treat and/or image the tumor, where the radiolabeled antibody binds to a cellular component released by a dying tumor cell.

[0013] The invention also provides a method of making a composition effective to treat or image a melanin-containing melanoma in a subject which comprises admixing a radiolabeled anti-melanin antibody and a carrier. The invention further provides a composition comprising an amount of a radiolabeled anti-melanin antibody effective to treat and/or image a melanin-containing melanoma in a subject and a carrier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0014]
FIG. 1A-1B. Binding of 213Bi-CHXA″-6D2 to SK-MEL-28 cells (A) and to MNT1 cells (B).

[0015]
FIG. 2A-2C. Scintigraphic images of nude mice at 3 hours post-injection with: A) 111In-6D2, administered IP to mice following IP injection of 2.8×106 SK-28-MEL cells 24 hours earlier; B) 111In-IgM, administered IP to mice following IP injection of 2.8×106 SK-28-MEL cells 24 hours earlier; C) 111In-6D2, administered IP to non-tumor-bearing mice.

[0016]
FIG. 3A-3B. Scintigraphic images of MNT1 tumor-bearing nude mouse at 3 hours (A) and 24 hours (B) post-injection with 99mTc-6D2 antibody.

[0017]
FIG. 4. Immunogold TEM of MNT1 melanoma cell stained with mAb 6D2 [original magnification×20,000]. Left upper corner inset is the magnification of the central area of the melanoma cell indicated by the white box near the center of the image; right lower corner inset is the magnification of the extracellular area indicated by the black box in the upper right corner of the image. Arrows indicate gold balls labeling melanin.

[0018]
FIG. 5. MNT1 human melanoma tumor growth in nude mice treated with: 1.5 mCi 188Re-6D2; 1.5 mCi 188Re-IgM; and 100 μg unlabeled 6D2.

[0019]
FIG. 6A-6B. Biodistribution of 188Re-HYNIC-D-4B4 in nude mice carrying MNT1 tumors. A) mice treated with only 188Re-HYNIC-D-4B4; B) mice treated with 188Re-HYNIC-D-4B4 plus D-lysine.

[0020]
FIG. 7. Therapy of MNT1 melanoma tumors in nude mice with 188Re-HYNIC-D-4B4.

[0021]
FIG. 8A-8B. Scintigraphic images of radiolabeled 6D2 mAb in black and white mice: A) 3 h image of 188Re-6D2 given IV to a black C57BL/6 mouse; B) 3 h image of 188Re-6D2 given IV to a white BALB/c mouse. The positions of the tails are marked with arrows.

[0022]
FIG. 9A-9B. Histological analysis of melanin-containing tissues of black C57BL/6 mice treated with 188Re-6D2 antibody: A—eye of a mouse treated with 1.5 mCi 188Re-6D2; B—eye of a control mouse.

[0023]
FIG. 10. Schematic of the conceptual approach to radiotherapy by anti-melanin mAb. Melanin is released from melanoma cells as a consequence of cell turnover. Anti-melanin antibody binds to free melanin and delivers cytotoxic radiation to the area. Melanized, weakly melanized and amelanotic cells are killed by radiation through “cross-fire” effect.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] This invention provides a method of treating a tumor in a subject which comprises administering to the subject an amount of a radiolabeled antibody effective to treat the tumor, where the radiolabeled antibody binds to a cellular component released by a dying tumor cell. The invention also provides a method of imaging a tumor in a subject which comprises administering to the subject an amount of a radiolabeled antibody effective to image the tumor, where the radiolabeled antibody binds to a cellular component released by a dying tumor cell. The cellular component can be a histone, a mitochondrial protein, a cytoplasmic protein, or a pigment, e.g. melanin. The histone can be one of the major subtypes of histones, i.e. H1, H2A, H2B, H3 and H4. In one embodiment, the tumor is a melanoma and the cellular component is melanin.

[0025] The subject invention is also directed to a method for treating a melanin-containing melanoma in a subject which comprises administering to the subject an amount of a radiolabeled anti-melanin antibody effective to treat the melanoma. The invention further provides a method for imaging a melanin-containing melanoma in a subject which comprises administering to the subject an amount of a radiolabeled anti-melanin antibody effective to image the melanoma.

[0026] As used in the subject application, the term “antibody” encompasses whole antibodies, fragments of whole antibodies, and peptides. Preferably, the peptide is positively charged. Antibody fragments include, but are not limited to, F(ab′)2 and Fab′ fragments. F(ab′)2 is an antigen binding fragment of an antibody molecule with deleted crystallizable fragment (Fc) region and preserved binding region. Fab′ is ½ of the F(ab′)2 molecule possessing only ½ of the binding region. The term antibody is further meant to encompass polyclonal antibodies and monoclonal antibodies. In one embodiment, the antibody fragment or peptide specifically binds to a cellular component released by a dying tumor cell. In one embodiment, the antibody fragment or peptide specifically binds to melanin.

[0027] The antibody can be any of an IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, or IgM antibody. The IgA antibody can be an IgA 1 or an IgA2 antibody. The IgG antibody can be an IgG1, IgG2, IgG2a, IgG2b, IgG3 or IgG4 antibody. A combination of any of these antibodies can also be used. One consideration in selecting the type of antibody to be used is the desired serum half-life of the antibody. IgG has a serum half-life of 23 days, IgA 6 days, IgM 5 days, IgD 3 days, and IgE 2 days (60). Another consideration is the size of the antibody. For example, the size of IgG is smaller than that of IgM allowing for greater penetration of IgG into tumors. IgA, IgG, and IgM are preferred antibodies.

[0028] In one embodiment, the antibody is 6D2. In one embodiment, the antibody is an antibody generated against human melanin.

[0029] Melanin-binding peptides have been described (24), where the melanin-binding peptide is a decapeptide. In one embodiment, the melanin-binding decapeptide is 4B4 (YERKFWHGRH) (SEQ ID NO:1) (24). Melanin-binding peptides longer or shorter than 10 amino acids can also be used. Important structural characteristic of melanin-binding peptides are the presence of aromatic amino acids and overall positive charge.

[0030] As used herein, the term “tumor” includes melanomas. The term “treat” a tumor means to eradicate the tumor, to reduce the size of the tumor, to stabilize the tumor so that it does not increase in size, or to reduce the further growth of the tumor.

[0031] The subject can be a mammal. In different embodiments, the mammal is a mouse, a rat, a cat, a dog, a horse, a sheep, a cow, a steer, a bull, livestock, a primate, a monkey, or preferably a human.

[0032] The choice of the particular radioisotope with which the antibody is labeled may be determined by the size of the tumor to be treated and its localization in the body. Two characteristics are important in the choice of a radioisotope-emission range in the tissue and half-life. Alpha emitters, which have a short emission range in comparison to beta emitters, may be preferable for treatment of small tumors or melanomas that are disseminated in the body. Examples of alpha emitters include 213-Bismuth (half-life 46 minutes), 223-Radium (half-life 11.3 days), 224-Radium (half-life 3.7 days), 225-Radium (half-life 14.8 days), 225-Actinium (half-life 10 days), 212-Lead (half-life 10.6 hours), 212-Bismuth (half-life 60 minutes), 211-Astatin (half-life 7.2 hours), and 255-Fermium (half-life 20 hours). In a preferred embodiment, the alpha-emitting radioisotope is 213-Bismuth). 213Bi emits a high LET α-particle with E=5.9 MeV with a path length in tissue of 50-80 μm. Theoretically a cell can be killed with one or two α-particle hits. 213Bi has been proposed for use in single-cell disorders and some solid cancers (34, 35-37) and has been used to treat patients with leukemia in Phase I clinical trials (38, 39). 213Bi is the only α-emitter that is currently available in generator form, which allows transportation of this isotope from the source to clinical centers within the United States and abroad.

[0033] Beta emitters, with their longer emission range, may be preferable for the treatment of large tumors or melanomas. Examples of beta emitters include 188-Rhenium (half-life 16.7 hours), 90-Yttrium (half-life 2.7 days), 32-Phosphorous (half-life 14.3 days), 47-Scandium (half-life 3.4 days), 67-Copper (half-life 62 hours), 64-Copper (half-life 13 hours), 77-Arsenic (half-life 38.8 hours), 89-Strontium (half-life 51 days), 105-Rhodium (half-life 35 hours), 109-Palladium (half-life 13 hours), 111-Silver (half-life 7.5 days), 131-Iodine (half-life 8 days), 177-Lutetium (half-life 6.7 days), 153-Samarium (half-life 46.7 hours), 159-Gadolinium (half-life 18.6 hours), 186-Rhenium (half-life 3.7 days), 166-Holmium (half-life 26.8 hours), 166-Dysprosium (half-life 81.6 hours), 140-Lantanum (half-life 40.3 hours), 194-Irridium (half-life 19 hours), 198-Gold (half-life 2.7 days), and 199-Gold (half-life 3.1 days). In a preferred embodiment, the beta-emitting radioisotope is 188-Rhenium. 188Re is a high-energy β-emitter (Emax=2.12 MeV) that has recently emerged as an attractive therapeutic radionuclide in diverse therapeutic trials including cancer radioimmunotherapy, palliation of skeletal bone pain, and endovascular brachytherapy to prevent restenosis after angioplasty (31-33). 118Re has the additional advantage that it emits γ-rays which can be used for imaging studies. For the treatment of large tumors or melanomas or those in difficult to access sites deep in the body, longer-lived isotopes such as 90-Yttrium (half-life 2.7 days), 177-Lutetium (half-life 6.7 days) or 131-Iodine (half-life 8 days) may be preferred.

[0034] Positron emitters could also be used, such as (half-life in parenthesis): 52mMn (21.1 min); 62Cu (9.74 min); 68Ga (68.1 min); 11 C (20 min); 82Rb (1.27 min); 110In (1.15 h); 118Sb (3.5 min); 122I(3.63 min); 18F (1.83 h); 34mCl (32.2 min); 38K (7.64 min); 51Mn (46.2 min); 52Mn (5.59 days); 52Fe (8.28 h); 55Co (17.5 h); 61Cu (3.41 h); 64Cu (12.7 h); 72As (1.08 days); 75Br (1.62 h); 76Br (16.2 h); 182mRb (6.47 h); 83Sr (1.35 days); 86Y (14.7 h); 89Zr (3.27 days); 94mTc (52.0 min); 120 I(1.35h); 124 I(4.18 days). 64-Copper is a mixed positron, electron and Auger electron emitter.

[0035] Any of the radioisotopes, except alpha emitters, that are used for radioimmunotherapy can also be used at lower doses for radioimmunoimaging, for example a beta emitter, a positron emitter or an admixture of a beta emitter and a positron emitter. Preferred radioisotopes for use in radioimmunoimaging include 99 m-Technetium, 111-Indium, 67-Gallium, 123-Iodine, 124-Iodine, 131-Iodine and 18-Fluorine. For imaging one can use a dose range of 1-30 mCi for diagnostic isotopes (e.g., 99 m-Tc) and 1-5 mCi for therapeutic isotopes to avoid unnecessary dose to a patient.

[0036] The invention further provides methods for treating tumors or melanin-containing melanoma in a subject which comprise administering to the subject an amount of antibodies radiolabeled with a plurality of different radioisotopes effective to treat the tumor. Preferably, the radioisotopes are isotopes of a plurality of different elements. In a preferred embodiment, at least one radioisotope in the plurality of different radioisotopes is a long range emitter and at least one radioisotope is a short range emitter. Examples of long range emitters include beta emitters and positron emitters. Examples of short range emitters include alpha emitters. Positron emitters can also be intermediate range emitters depending on the energy of the positrons. In a preferred embodiment, the long-range emitter is a beta emitter and the short range emitter is an alpha emitter. Preferably, the beta emitter is 188-Rhenium. Preferably, the alpha emitter is 213-Bismuth. Combinations of different radioisotopes can be used, which include an admixture of any of an alpha emitter, a beta emitter, and a positron emitter, with physical half-lives from 30 minutes to 100 days. Preferably, the plurality of different radioisotopes is more effective in treating the tumor than a single radioisotope within the plurality of different radioisotopes, where the radiation dose of the single radioisotope is the same as the combined radiation dose of the plurality of different radioisotopes.

[0037] It is known from radioimmunotherapy studies of tumors that whole antibodies usually require from 1 to 3 days time in circulation to achieve maximum targeting. While slow targeting may not impose a problem for radioisotopes with relatively long half-lives such as 188Re (t1/2=16.7 hours), faster delivery vehicles are needed for short-lived radioisotopes such as 213Bi (t1/2=46 min). The smaller melanin-binding peptides and F(ab′)2 and Fab′ fragments provide much faster targeting which matches the half-lives of short-lived radionuclides (55, 56).

[0038] The dose of the radioisotope can vary depending on the localization and size of the tumor, the method of administration of radiolabeled antibody (local or systemic) and the decay scheme of the radioisotope. In order to calculate the doses which can treat the tumor without radiotoxicity to vital organs, a diagnostic scan of the patient with the antibody radiolabeled with a diagnostic radioisotope or with a low activity therapeutic radioisotope can be performed prior to therapy, as is customary in nuclear medicine. The dosimetry calculations can be performed using the data from the diagnostic scan (59). In different embodiments, the dose of the radioisotope for RIT is between 1-1000 mCi.

[0039] Clinical data (39, 58) indicate that fractionated doses of radiolabeled antibodies and peptides are more effective than single doses against tumors and are less radiotoxic to normal organs. Depending on the status of a patient and the effectiveness of the first treatment with RIT, the treatment may consist of one dose or several subsequent fractionated doses.

[0040] The uptake of radiolabeled antibody by the kidney can be reduced or inhibited by administering a positively charged amino acid to the subject (29, 30), such as lysine, arginine or histidine. A preferred amino acid is D-lysine.

[0041] Preferably, the uptake of radiolabeled anti-melanin antibody in the melanoma or radiolabled antibody in the tumor is at least 10 times greater than in surrounding muscle. Preferably, the radiolabeled anti-melanin antibody is not taken up by non-cancerous (i.e., normal or healthy) melanin-containing tissue, including, but not limited to, hair, eyes, skin, brain, spinal cord, and/or peripheral neurons.

[0042] The invention provides a method of using a radiolabeled anti-melanin antibody to image and/or treat a melanin-containing melanoma in a subject which comprises:

[0043] (a) generating a monoclonal antibody against melanin;

[0044] (b) attaching a radiolabel to the monoclonal antibody; and

[0045] (c) administering to the subject an amount of the radiolabeled antibody effective to image and/or treat the melanoma.

[0046] The invention further provides a method of using a radiolabeled antibody to image and/or treat a tumor in a subject which comprises:

[0047] (a) generating a monoclonal antibody against a cellular component released by a dying tumor cell;

[0048] (b) attaching a radiolabel to the monoclonal antibody; and

[0049] (c) administering to the subject an amount of the radiolabeled antibody effective to image and/or treat the tumor.

[0050] Antibodies can be readily generated without undue experimentation using the protocol given below in Experimental Details.

[0051] The invention provides a method of making a composition effective to treat a melanin-containing melanoma in a subject which comprises admixing a radiolabeled anti-melanin antibody and a carrier. The invention also provides a method of making a composition effective to image a melanin-containing melanoma in a subject which comprises admixing a radiolabeled anti-melanin antibody and a carrier. The invention further provides a method of making a composition effective to image and/or treat a tumor in a subject which comprises admixing a radiolabeled antibody and a carrier, where the antibody binds to a cellular component released by a dying tumor cell. The invention provides a composition made by any of these methods, i.e. a composition comprising an anti-melanin antibody effective to treat and/or image a melanin-containing melanoma in a subject and a carrier. As used herein, the term “carrier” encompasses any of the standard pharmaceutical carriers, such as a sterile isotonic saline, phosphate buffered saline solution, water, and emulsions, such as an oil/water emulsion.

[0052] In different embodiments, a melanin-containing melanoma can be a pigmented melanoma, a hypomelanotic melanoma, or an amelanotic melanoma. So-called “amelanotic melanomas” are generally hypomelanotic and contain small amounts of melanin (61, 62).

[0053] This invention will be better understood from the Experimental Details which follow. However, one skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the specific methods and results discussed are merely illustrative of the invention as described more fully in the claims which follow thereafter.

[0054] Experimental Details

[0055] 1. Introduction

[0056] Melanin is an intracellular pigment that is normally found in the melanosome. Hence, one might dismiss this pigment as a target for a serum antibody because melanin could be expected to be inaccessible. However, melanomas, like many rapidly growing tumors, can be assumed to have a large cell turnover resulting in cell lysis and release of pigment. Hence, an antibody to melanin can bind to melanin by virtue of the presence of extracellular pigment originating from dead cells. Furthermore, since most of the melanin in the body in healthy tissue is intracellular, it is believed that antibody therapy targeting melanin would not harm pigmented cells such as normal melanocytes or melanin-containing neurons.

[0057] Monoclonal antibodies have been developed against fungal melanin produced by C. neoformans. These mAbs bind to melanin produced by other microorganisms such as Sepia officinalis as well as to synthetic melanin (23-25). Since both fungal melanin and melanin in tumors are negatively charged and reagents generated to fungal melanin recognize melanin from diverse sources (25, 26), it was hypothesized that fungal melanin-binding antibody would bind to melanin in melanoma cells and would be able to deliver radioisotopes to the tumors in vivo.

[0058] 2. Materials and Methods

[0059] Radiolabeled anti-melanin antibodies. An anti-melanin antibody (mAb 6D2) that was originally developed against fungal melanin (23) was used as a carrier delivery vehicle to deliver therapeutic radioactivity (e.g. radioimmunotherapy (RIT)) to a pigmented melanoma. MAb 6D2 (IgM type) was generated from hybridomas obtained from mice immunized with melanin isolated from Cryptococcus neoformans. Na99mTcO4 was purchased from Syncor (Bronx, N.Y.), and 111InCl3 from Iso-Tex Diagnostics, Friendswood, Tex. 188Re in the form of Na perrhenate (Na188ReO4) was eluted from a 188W/188Re generator (Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, Tenn.). 225-Actiunium (225 Ac) for construction of a 225Ac/213Bi generator was acquired from ORNL. The 225AC/213Bi generator was constructed using a MP-50 cation exchange resin, and 213Bi was eluted with 0.15 M HI (hydroiodic acid) in the form of 213BiI3 as described in (52). The mAb was radiolabeled with 213Bi (213-Bismuth, short-range alpha-emitting isotope for therapy) or 111In (111-Indium, photon emitter for imaging use, chemical analogue of 213Bi) via the bifunctional chelator CHXA″ (N-[2-amino-3-(p-isothiocyanatophenyl)propyl]-trans-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine-N, N′, N″, N′″, N″″-pentaacetic acid) (57); and with 188Re (188-Rhenium, long-range beta-emitting isotope for therapy) and 99mTc (99m-Technetium, photon emitter for imaging, chemical analogue of 188Re) via “direct labeling” through reduction of antibody disulfide bonds with dithiothreitol (54). The immunoreactivity of radiolabeled 6D2 mAb towards fungal melanin was tested by immunofluorescence.

[0060] Radiolabeled melanin-binding peptides. Fungal melanin-binding peptides have been previously identified and sequenced from the phage display library (24). The melanin-binding decapeptide 4B4 (YERKFWHGRH) (SEQ ID NO:1) was synthesized with HYNIC (hydrazinonicotinamide) ligand at the N terminus utilizing D-amino acids and Fmoc reagent 6-Fmoc-hydrazino-nicotinic acid (Trilink Biotechnology, Inc.) in the Laboratory for Macromolecular Analysis at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, N.Y. The peptide structure was verified by mass spectrometry and amino acid sequencing. HYNIC-D-4B4 was radiolabeled with 188Re.

[0061] In vivo studies. Studies were carried out by injecting human melanoma cells into nude mice. The use of nude mice is essential to prevent the mouse immune system from clearing the human cells. In one set of experiments, the human lightly pigmented melanoma line SK-28-MEL (ATCC) was used. Mice were injected IP with 2.8×106 SK-28-MEL cells 24 hours before injections of radiolabeled antibody. In another set of experiments, melanoma-like lesions were created in nude mice using highly pigmented human melanoma cells MNT1 (27). Tumors were induced by injecting 5.5×106 MNT1 cells into the right flank of female nude mice. The tumors reached 0.7-1 cm in diameter 4 weeks after implantation.

[0062] 3. Results

[0063] Binding of radiolabeled antibody to human pigmented melanoma cell line. Cell binding of 111 In-6D2 and the irrelevant IgM 12A1 (which binds to C. neoformans capsule) was evaluated by incubating 2 μg/mL mAb with 0.23−2×106 whole cells of the human lightly pigmented melanoma line SK-28-MEL (ATCC) which was grown with or without 110 μM L-tyrosine to promote melanin formation. Cell binding of 111In-6D2 (FIG. 1A) was higher for the melanoma cells grown with 110 μM L-tyrosine suggesting melanin-specific binding. The binding of 111In-6D2 antibody to SK-MEL-28 cells was due to the presence of extracellular melanin in the milieu which is constantly being released as a result of cell turn-over. For MNT1 cells significantly higher binding was observed for lysed cells which is almost certainly due to the release of melanin from the cells and making it accessible to the antibody (FIG. 1B).

[0064] In vivo binding of radiolabeled antibody to SK-28-MEL melanoma cells. In vivo binding of 111In-6D2 and control 111In-IgM was studied by scintigraphic imaging in nude mice injected IP with 2.8×106 SK-28-MEL cells 24 hours before 111In-6D2 (FIG. 2A-2C). For comparison several non-tumor bearing mice were injected IP with 111In-6D2 mAb. In mice injected IP with SK-28-MEL cells there was more retention of 111In-6D2 in the intraperitoneal cavity (FIG. 2A) compared to irrelevant 111In-IgM (FIG. 2B) and control animals with no tumor cells (FIG. 2C).

[0065] Radioimmunotherapy of melanomas using radiolabeled antibody to melanin. Melanoma-like lesions were created in nude mice using highly pigmented human melanoma cells MNT1 (27). Tumors were induced by injecting 5.5×106 MNT1 cells into the right flank of female nude mice. The tumors reached 0.7-1 cm in diameter 4 weeks after implantation. Several tumor-bearing and control (no tumors) mice were imaged with 0.4 mCi 99mTc-6D2 (IV injection). Excellent localization in the tumor was achieved at 3 hours (FIG. 3A) and remained high at 24 hours (FIG. 3B). Significant uptake of 99mTc-6D2 antibody was also observed in kidneys which is, most likely, due to the fact that the complimentarity determining region (CDR) of the antibody carries a positive charge which attracts antibody molecules to the negatively charged sites in the membranes of renal tubular cells (28). Alternatively, damaged radiolabeled antibody molecules may be cleared by the kidney. Blocking the kidneys with positively charged amino acids, such as D-lysine (29, 30), or using better defined preparations of labeled IgM may help in circumventing uptake of antibody by the kidney.

[0066] Binding of anti-melanin mAb 6D2 to MNT1 melanoma cells in vitro. To prove that mAb 6D2, which had been developed against fungal melanin, could also bind to tumor-derived melanin and to elucidate the mechanism of mAb 6D2 binding to MNT1 melanoma cells in vitro, the binding of this mAb to MNT1 cells was studied by immunofluorescence. The mAb 6D2 bound only to dead melanoma cells which comprised 3-5% of the total number of cells in culture as measured by the dye exclusion assay. Dead cells apparently released their melanin or had disrupted cell membranes that allowed antibody access to melanin. No binding was observed to viable cells with intact cell membranes. Control mAb 5C11 did not bind to either viable or dead MNT1 cells (results not shown).

[0067] Binding of anti-melanin mAb 6D2 to tumor melanin. Immunogold transmission electron microscopy TEM experiments were performed to establish at the ultrastructural level whether mAb 6D2 could interact with tumor melanin. TEM of the tumor tissue arising from the human melanoma cell line MNT1 implanted into nude mice proved that mAb 6D2 bound to tumor melanin synthesized in vivo. Gold balls were associated with melanin particles inside the cell (FIG. 4, upper insert). By this method cytoplasmic melanin is made accessible to the antibody when the tissue is sectioned. However, the presence of extracellular melanin was almost certainly the result of melanin release from melanoma cells undergoing rapid cell turnover in a fast growing tumor (FIG. 4, lower inset). No association of gold balls with melanin was observed when the tumor tissue was stained with an irrelevant IgM (not shown).

[0068] Therapy of MNT1 melanoma in nude mice with 188Re-6D2. For therapy experiments MNT1 tumor-bearing mice were separated into 4 groups of 7-8 animals and treated IV with: 1.5 mCi 188Re-6D2; 1.5 mCi 188Re-IgM; 100 μg unlabeled 6D2 or left untreated. Growth was completely inhibited in the group treated with 188Re-6D2 (FIG. 5), and tumor regression occurred in animals with smaller initial tumors. Residual thin (˜1 mm) melanin plaques remained in mice with regressed tumors until they were sacrificed at day 30 after treatment. During the observation period, no deaths occurred in the mice treated with 188Re-6D2. In contrast, tumors continued to grow aggressively in mice treated with 188Re-IgM or unlabeled 6D2 and in the untreated mice. By day 20 post-treatment all control mice, except for one in the unlabeled 6D2 group, had died.

[0069] Biodistribution of radiolabeled melanin-binding peptide. Nude mice bearing MNT1 melanoma tumors were injected IV with 2 μg 188Re-HYNIC-D-4B4. Animals (groups of 4 per time point) were sacrificed at 30 min, 1, 2, 3 and 24 hours post-injection, and their major organs were removed, blotted from blood, weighted and counted in a gamma camera. To investigate if co-injection of D-lysine changes kidney and tumor uptake of 188Re-HYNIC-D-4B4, the peptide was co-injected IV with D-lysine (400 mg/kg) and the biodistribution was performed as above.

[0070]

188
Re-HYNIC-D-4B4 cleared rapidly from the blood with only 0.5% ID/g remaining in circulation at 24 hours post-injection (FIG. 6A). Interestingly, a transient increase in uptake in practically all major organs was observed at 3 hours post-injection, which might be explained by the redistribution of activity from the intestinal compartment. The kidney uptake was high with ˜30% ID/g being found in the kidneys at 0.5-1 hour post-injection, which decreased to 10% ID/g at 24 hours, which closely resembles the biodistribution pattern of 188Re-6D2 mAb. The tumor uptake of 188Re-HYNIC-D-4B4 was the highest at earlier time points (˜4.5% ID/g) and decreased to 0.5% ID/g at 24 hours. At all times uptake of 188Re-HYNIC-D-4B4 in the tumor was 10 times higher than in surrounding muscle tissue.

[0071] The biodistribution pattern changed somewhat when 188Re-HYNIC-D-4B4 was co-injected with D-lysine (FIG. 6B). Less uptake was observed in the blood, liver, spleen and heart. The redistribution of activity at 3 hours resulted in significantly elevated uptake in the stomach which resolved by 24 hours. Co-injection of D-lysine did not significantly change kidney uptake of 188Re-HYNIC-D-4B4 at 0.5-3 hour time points and increased it at 24 hours. The plausible explanation could be that 188Re-HYNIC-D-4B4 carries a much higher positive charge than D-lysine and, as a consequence, has higher affinity for the negatively charged sites on the membranes of renal tubular cells. The tumor uptake at 0.5 hour was the same as when no D-lysine was co-injected, but no wash-out of activity from the tumor was observed at later time points. It should be pointed out that the actual necessity of blocking kidney uptake in patients treated with radiolabeled peptides arises only when the cumulative dose to the kidney is likely to exceed 30 Gy (63).

[0072] Radioimmunotherapy of melanomas using radiolabeled melanin-binding peptide. For therapy experiments nude mice bearing MNT1 tumors 0.4-0.5 cm in diameter (10 animals per group) were injected IP with 1 mCi 188Re-HYNIC-D-4B4 (20 μg), 1 mCi 188Re-HYNIC-D-4B4+10 mg (400 mg/kg body weight) D-lysine, or left untreated. On Day 20 post-treatment, 5 mice out of each treatment group were treated again with 1 mCi peptide or 1 mCi peptide +D-lysine to investigate the effect of multiple treatments on tumor progression. The size of the tumor was measured with calipers every 4 days. The tumors grew in the control group, and at somewhat slower pace in groups that received one treatment, and significantly slower (P=0.01) in groups that were treated twice (FIG. 7). It might be possible that multiple treatments with lower activities of radiolabeled peptides will be even more efficient in arresting melanoma tumors growth.

[0073] Safety of RIT of melanoma with melanin-binding antibodies. Comparative scintigraphic imaging of black and white mice with 188Re-6D2 mAb. In order to determine if 188Re-6D2 mAb binds to normal melanocytes, comparative imaging was performed using C57BL/6 black mice and BALB/c white mice. C57BL/6 mice have black hair, black eyes and melanized skin on their tails. Six C57BL/6 and six white BALB/c mice were injected IV with the same activity used in therapy experiments-1.5 mCi 188Re-6D2. Mice were imaged on a gamma camera 3 and 24 hours post-injection.

[0074] No uptake of 188Re-6D2 was detected in the hair follicles, eyes, brains and melanized tails of C57BL/6 black mice at 3 hours (FIG. 8A) and at 24 hours (not shown) post-injection in comparison with white BALB/c mice (FIG. 8B). In order to determine if any radiation damage was induced by 188Re-6D2 mAb in melanin-containing normal tissues, three C57BL/6 black mice imaged with 1.5 mCi 188Re-6D2 and three control C57BL/6 mice were sacrificed 2 weeks post-imaging, followed by three other imaged and three other control mice at 4 weeks post-imaging. Their eyes and melanized skin from the tails were removed, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded, stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and analysed histologically. No radiation damage was detected in the eyes (FIG. 9) and melanized skin (results not shown) of C57BL/6 black mice treated with 188Re-6D2 mAb.

[0075] 4. Prospective Examples

[0076] Generation of antibodies to cellular components that become accessible as a result of cell death. In addition to using anti-melanin antibodies, one can generate antibodies against proteins and other cellular components, such as histones, mitochondrial proteins, and cytoplasmic proteins, which are expressed only intracellularly in high concentrations and are released by dying cells, using well established hybridoma technology described below.

[0077] Generation of antibodies to human melanin. In addition to using the anti-melanin antibody illustrated herein, new mAbs to human melanin can be generated using for example melanin from melanoma cells as described below. Melanoma melanin can be purified as described in (40). Briefly, MNT1 highly pigmented human melanoma cells can be grown in MEM/20% FBS medium as in (27), collected and treated with the sequence of cell wall-lysing enzymes, 4 M guanidine thiocyanate and Proteinase K, and boiled in 6 M HCl. The isolated melanin can be extensively dialyzed against deionized water, dried and stored at −20° C.

[0078] IgG antibodies against melanoma melanin can be produced by hybridoma technology. Mice will be immunized with purified melanin. The melanin can be used with or without adjuvant. Freund's complete adjuvant for initial immunization followed by Freund's incomplete adjuvant can be used. CpG (unmethylated cytosine-guanine dinucleotides) has been shown to be a highly effective (enhances T cell help) and safe immunogen (42). CpG will be used according to the manufacturer's recommendations (ImmunoEasy Mouse Adjuvant, Qiagen). Priming with heat-killed MNT1 melanoma cells followed by boosting with the protein can also be used. Although the intraperitoneal approach has been used in the immunizations that identified mAb 6D2 to C. neoformans melanin (23), the base of tail route appears to be a more effective route since the lymph nodes in this region drain directly into the peritoneal lymph nodes that are rich in dendritic cells, which are considered to be the first line of antigen presentation (43). Serum will be obtained prior to immunization and at various times following immunization. Effectiveness of immunization can be determined by incubation of serially diluted serum in 96 well plates coated with melanin that has been blocked for non-specific binding. Following incubation of the serum, the wells will be washed and alkaline phosphatase (AP)-labeled goat anti-mouse (GAM) IgG/M will be applied. The reaction will be developed with p-nitrophenyl phosphate substrate (p-NPP) and measured at an OD of 405 nm. Pre-immune serum will be compared to serum obtained after immunization for each mouse. For responder mice, the isotypes of the mAbs will be characterized using the ELISA with specific immunoglobulin isotypes.

[0079] Splenocytes from mice with strong antibody responses to immunization will be fused with non-producing myeloma partners (23). Hybridomas will be generated by a fusion of spleen cells to myeloma cells at a 4:1 ratio in the presence of 50% polyethyleneglycol. The cell mixture will be suspended in a defined complete hypoxanthine-aminopterin-thymidine (HAT) media, with L-glutamine containing 20% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum, 10% NCTC-109, HAT, and 1% nonessential amino acids for selection of hybridomas, plated in 96-well tissue culture plates, and incubated in a 10% CO2 incubator at 37° C. Screening of the hybridomas for the presence of mAbs to the melanin antigen will be performed by incubation of supernatants in 96 well plates coated with immunogen then blocked to prevent non-specific binding. The wells will be washed and AP-labeled (GAM) IgG/M will be applied. The reaction will be developed with p-NPP and measured at an OD of 405 nm. The isotypes of the mAbs will be characterized. Large volumes of supernatant will be generated from the selected hybridomas, purified by a column of agarose beads labeled with Ab to the appropriate mouse immunoglobulin (Sigma), and concentrated by centrifugation in an 100,000 NMWL Ultrafree®-15 centrifugal filter device (Millipore).

[0080] Generation of anti-melanoma melanin IgG F(ab′)2 and Fab′fragments. F(ab′)2 fragments can be obtained by use of a commercial kit (ImmunoPure, Pierce) as in (44). Briefly, pepsin digestion of IgG at pH 4.2 will be performed, after which the proteolysis will be stopped by centrifugation of the pepsin beads and by adjusting pH to 7 with 5 M sodium acetate. Fab′ fragments can be generated by incubation of F(ab′)2 fragments with 10 mM dithiothreitol followed by 22 mM iodoacetamide to block the thiol groups. The molecular weight of the obtained fragments can be analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and by size-exclusion HPLC. The protein concentration can be determined by the method of Lowry (45).

[0081] Derivatization (conjugation) of anti-melanin antibody and antibody fragments with bifunctional chelating agents. In order to radiolabel an antibody with a radiometal, it is necessary to conjugate a bifunctional chelating agent to the antibody prior to radiolabeling. The choice of radioisotopes to perform quality control of radiolabeled antibodies or in vivo imaging studies is ruled by the concept of “matching pairs” of radiopharmaceuticals. This concept calls for the use of diagnostic isotopes (no α- or α-particles emissions) for imaging procedures and quality control with chemistries similar to those of therapeutic isotopes (46). 111-Indium (111In) which is readily available commercially is a substitute for therapeutic isotope 213Bi (46) because of their shared similar chemical properties. Consequently, these isotopes can be used for labeling under identical conditions, and their biodistribution properties are very similar. Hence, the immunoreactivity and, further on, biodistribution results obtained with 111In are readily applicable to 213Bi.

[0082] For radiolabeling with 188Re, antibodies and F(ab′)2 and Fab′ fragments will be derivatized with succinimidyl-HYNIC (hydrazynonicotinamide) and purified as in (47). The advantage of employing “indirect” labeling via bifunctional chelating agents such as HYNIC or others over “direct” labeling is that the radiolabeling process is greatly simplified and shortened by using the aliquots of HYNIC-antibody which can be stored frozen for prolonged periods of time. The incorporation of HYNIC into the proteins will be monitored spectrophotometrically at 385 nm (48). The initial HYNIC to protein ratio will be chosen so that the final HYNIC to protein ratio does not exceed ˜1.5 since above this number a partial loss of mAb's immunoreactivity may occur.

[0083] For radiolabeling with 213Bi or 111In, antibodies and F(ab′)2 and Fab′ fragments will be conjugated to N-[2-amino-3-(p-isothiocyanatophenyl)propyl]-trans-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine-N,N′,N″, N′″,N″″-pentaacetic acid (CHXA″) as in (49) with average number of chelates per antibody of ˜1.5 as will be determined by the Yttrium-Arsenazo Ill. spectrophotometric method (50).

[0084] Synthesis of tumoral melanin-binding peptides modified at N terminus with biotin for immunofluorescence, CHXA″ and HYNIC ligands for radiolabeling. Fungal melanin-binding peptides have been previously identified and sequenced from the phage display library (24). Tumoral melanin-binding peptides will be identified using the same technique and can be synthesized with biotin, CHXAΔ and HYNIC ligands at the N terminus. The structures of the peptides will be verified by mass spectrometry and amino acid sequencing.

[0085] Immunoreactivity determination. The immunoreactivity of generated F(ab′)2 and Fab′ fragments, as well as HYNIC- and CHXA″-derivatized 6D2, whole IgG, its fragments and derivatized 4B4 peptide will be determined by melanoma melanin ELISA as described in (40) and confirmed by immunofluorescence as in (51).

[0086] 5. Discussion

[0087] The present application demonstrates that it is possible to radiolabel an anti-melanin antibody with a variety of isotopes without a loss of immunoreactivity. In addition, the application demonstrates that radiolabeled anti-melanin mAb binds to pigmented melanoma cells and that the binding is directly proportional to the degree of melanization of the cells. Hence, the labeled antibody will localize to a melanoma in a subject. Further, animals xenografted with pigmented human melanoma cells were successfully imaged with 99mTc-6D2 and treated with 188Re-6D2 mAb and with 188Re-HYNIC-D-4B4. Hence, administration of radiolabeled anti-melanin antibody translates into a therapeutic effect.

[0088] The RIT approach described herein is useful against melanotic melanomas which constitute the majority of melanomas. It can also be useful against amelanotic melanomas which are generally hypomelanotic (i.e., have small amounts of melanin) rather than truly amelanotic and produce tyrosinase which demonstrates that they can synthesize melanin (61, 62). Targeting melanin with anti-melanin radiolabeled antibodies should not select for the evolution of a melanotic melanoma into an amelanotic tumor since amelanotic variants in a normal tumor would still be susceptible to killing by the “cross-fire” effect of radiation emanating from the radiolabeled antibody bound to melanin in the tumor mass (FIG. 10).

[0089] No uptake of 188Re-6D2 antibody was observed in the melanised skin on the tails, in the hair follicles, eyes, or in the brains on scintigraphic images of back C57BL/6 mice, which was confirmed histologically by the absence of radiation damage to these tissues. Thus, antibody therapy targeting melanin in patients should not harm non-malignant melanized cells such as normal melanocytes or melanin-containing neurons since melanin in healthy tissue can be expected to be intracellular and not accessible to antibody.

[0090] The RIT approach described herein should also be useful for treating tumors using a radiolabeled antibody that binds to a cellular component released by a dying tumor cell. This techniques is particularly useful for treatment of aggressive, rapidly growing tumors where the cell turnover is much higher than in normal, healthy tissue.

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Radiolabeled antibodies for treatment of tumors

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Provisional Applications (1)