Antibody targeting of Cathepsin S induces antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity

Hang Fai Kwok*, Richard J. Buick, Diana Kuehn, Julie A. Gormley, Declan Doherty, Thomas J. Jaquin, Angela McClurg, Claire Ward, Teresa Byrne, Jacob Jaworski, Ka Lai Leung, Philip Snoddy, Christine McAnally, Roberta E. Burden, Breena Gray, Jenny Lowry, Isabelle Sermadiras, Natalia Gruszka, Nigel Courtenay-Luck, Adrien KissenpfennigChristopher J. Scott, James A. Johnston, Shane A. Olwill

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Proteolytic enzymes have been implicated in driving tumor progression by means of their cancer cell microenvironment activity where they promote proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. Therapeutic strategies have focused on attenuating their activity using small molecule inhibitors, but the association of proteases with the cell surface during cancer progression opens up the possibility of targeting these using antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Cathepsin S is a lysosomal cysteine protease that promotes the growth and invasion of tumour and endothelial cells during cancer progression. Our analysis of colorectal cancer patient biopsies shows that cathepsin S associates with the cell membrane indicating a potential for ADCC targeting.Results: Here we report the cell surface characterization of cathepsin S and the development of a humanized antibody (Fsn0503h) with immune effector function and a stable in vivo half-life of 274 hours. Cathepsin S is expressed on the surface of tumor cells representative of colorectal and pancreatic cancer (23%-79% positive expression). Furthermore the binding of Fsn0503h to surface associated cathepsin S results in natural killer (NK) cell targeted tumor killing. In a colorectal cancer model Fsn0503h elicits a 22% cytotoxic effect.Conclusions: This data highlights the potential to target cell surface associated enzymes, such as cathepsin S, as therapeutic targets using antibodies capable of elicitingADCC in tumor cells.

Original languageEnglish
Article number147
JournalMolecular Cancer
Volume10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 14 Dec 2011

Keywords

  • Adcc
  • Antibody
  • Cathepsin S
  • Microenvironment
  • Protease

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Medicine
  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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