Method of monitoring the efficacy of the anti-clever-1 therapy in cancer

Abstract

An agent capable of binding to CLEVER-1 in an individual can be used in activating macrophages to switch their phenotype from M2 macrophages into M1 macrophages. The invention relates to methods for utilizing the macrophages ability to switch their phenotype. In one aspect, the invention relates to a method for estimating of the efficacy of anti-CLEVER-1 therapy by monitoring a modulation of M2 macrophages into M1 macrophages, when an agent capable of binding to CLEVER-1 is administered in a patient, wherein an increased TNF-alpha secretion or HLA-DR expression is indicative of modulation of M2 macrophages into M1 macrophages.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring the modulation of M2 macrophages into M1 macrophages as an indication of the efficacy of an anti-CLEVER-1 therapy, comprising the steps of (a) administering an agent capable of binding to CLEVER-1 to a patient in need of such treatment, (b) obtaining peripheral blood monocytes (PBLs) from a blood sample drawn from said patient, (c) measuring the TNF-alpha secretion of said PBLs, and (d) measuring HLA-DR expression on CD14 positive PBLs, (e) comparing values of the TNF-alpha secretion and the HLA-DR expression measured in steps (c) and (d) to control values for an estimation of the efficacy of the anti-CLEVER-1 treatment, wherein the control values are the values measured before administering an agent capable of binding to CLEVER-1 in the patient or the values of one or more previous measurements carried out at different time points in the same patient and wherein an increased TNF-alpha secretion and HLA-DR expression is indicative of modulation of M2 macrophages into M1 macrophages, and (f) continuing the anti-CLEVER-1 treatment if an increased TNF-alpha secretion or HLA-DR expression is determined, wherein the agent capable of binding to CLEVER-1 binds to an epitope of human CLEVER-1 wherein the epitope comprises the sequences: PFTVLVPSVSSFSSR (SEQ ID NO: 1), and QEITVTFNQFTK (SEQ ID NO: 2), and wherein the agent capable of binding to CLEVER-1 is anti-CLEVER-1 antibody 3-372 or VH3/VK5.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the epitope further comprises one or more of sequences selected from the group consisting of: ATQTGRVFLQ (SEQ ID NO: 3), DSLRDGRLIYLF (SEQ ID NO: 4), SKGRILTMANQVL (SEQ ID NO: 5), and LCVYQKPGQAFCTCR (SEQ ID NO: 6).

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least a two fold increase of the measured TNF-alpha secretion compared to the control value is indicative of a modulation of M2 macrophages into M1 macrophages.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said patient is suffering from cancer originated tumor or antigen immune suppression.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1A shows results of the determination of HLA-DR expression from CD14 positive cells. The cells were treated with human IgGs or the CLEVER-1 targeting humanized antibodies VH3/VK5. The method used for determining HLA-DR expression from CD14 positive cells is presented detailed in the experimental part.

(2) FIG. 1B shows results of soluble TNF-alpha measured from the culture medium using a TNF-alpha ELISA kit (Invitrogen).

(3) FIG. 2A shows TAM re-polarization in syngeneic E0771 mammary carcinomas after administration of an antibody binding to CLEVER-1. TAM re-polarization is measured by increased macrophage populations expressing MHCII (in human HLA-DR) by flow cytometry. Each dot represents the percentage of MHCII.sup.high CD11b.sup.+F4/80.sup.+ TAMs in one mouse.

(4) FIG. 2B shows increased secretion of TNF-alpha on TAMs from E0771 syngeneic mammary carcinoma after administration of an antibody binding to CLEVER-1. Each dot represents TAMs isolated from one mouse.

DEFINITIONS AND DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) The term CLEVER-1 is used to denote the protein disclosed in WO 03/057130, Common Lymphatic Endothelial and Vascular Endothelial Receptor-1.

(6) The term an agent capable of binding to human CLEVER-1 refers to agents including antibodies and fragments thereof or peptides or the like, which are capable of binding to human CLEVER-1. The agent may also be any other macromolecule having an adequate affinity to bind to a specific epitope of human CLEVER-1 defined in the present application.

(7) The term an antibody or a fragment thereof is used in the broadest sense to cover an antibody or a fragment thereof which are capable to bind CLEVER-1 molecule in an individual. Especially, it shall be understood to include chimeric, humanized or primatized antibodies, as well as antibody fragments and single chain antibodies (e.g. Fab, Fv), so long they exhibit the desired biological activities.

(8) Particularly preferred CLEVER-1 antagonist monoclonal antibodies 3-266 (DSM ACC2519) and 3-372 (DSM ACC2520), both deposited under the terms of the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Micro-organisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure on Aug. 21, 2001, with DSMZ-Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen and Zellkulturen GmbH, Mascheroder Weg 1b, D-38124 Braunschweig, are disclosed in WO 03/057130.

(9) The term patient or individual refers to a human.

(10) The term treatment or treating shall be understood to include complete curing of a disease as well as amelioration or alleviation of said disease. The term prevention shall be understood to include complete prevention, prophylaxis, as well as lowering the individual's risk of falling ill with said disease or disorder.

(11) Macrophages may be divided into two distinct phenotypes: M1 and M2 macrophages. M1 macrophages are classical pro-inflammatory macrophages, which produce large quantities of pro-inflammatory cytokines and co-stimulatory molecules, and are very efficient in activation of T-cell responses. M2 macrophages, in contrast, are immune suppressing cells, which synthesize anti-inflammatory cytokines and induce regulatory T cells and hence profoundly dampen antigen-driven T cell activation. Tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) are considered harmful as they mature into M2 macrophages (tumour promoting macrophages) within the tumour environment and suppress anti-tumour immune response and mediate angiogenic switch, a crucial step in cancer growth. The M2 macrophages can be modulated into M1 macrophages (pro-inflammatory macrophages) and such phenotype conversion from M2 to M1 may directly or indirectly cause tumour rejection.

(12) In the present context the expression M1 macrophages or pro-inflammatory macrophages refers to the macrophages characterized by an increased measured level of macrophage/monocyte TNF-alpha (TNF-) secretion or HLA-DR expression. The modulation of M2 macrophages into M1 macrophages will increase monocyte TNF-alpha secretion and also HLA-DR expression compared to the control values measured before administering an agent capable of binding to CLEVER-1 in the patient, or the values of one or more previous measurements carried out at different time points in the same patient. It is important to compare measured values of monocyte TNF-alpha secretion and HLA-DR expression to the values of the same patient, since the level of these markers may vary from an individual to another and e.g. cytokines such as interferon-gamma and LPS activation may increase TNF-alpha expression by the M2 macrophages.

(13) It has surprisingly been found that M2 macrophages can be activated to modulate M1 macrophages by contacting the said macrophages by an agent capable of binding to human CLEVER-1. Especially it has been found out that the M2 macrophages associated with malignant tumours can be modulated or re-polarized into M1 macrophages by contacting the said macrophages by an agent capable of binding to CLEVER-1 on TAMs. Both phenotypes can be present at same time and both of the phenotypes can be found in tumours.

(14) An agent, such as an antigen or a fragment thereof, peptide(s) or macromolecule, is bound to human CLEVER-1 for achieving said modulation or re-polarization of macrophage phenotypes. It has been identified that agents such as antibodies specific for CLEVER-1 protein recognize a specific CLEVER-1 epitope. Consequently, an agent is preferably bound to specific sequences, i.e. epitopes, on the CLEVER-1 molecule for achieving said modulation of macrophage phenotypes, wherein the epitope is discontinuous and comprises the amino acid sequences:

(15) TABLE-US-00002 (SEQIDNO:1) PFTVLVPSVSSFSSR, and (SEQIDNO:2) QEITVTFNQFTKofhumanCLEVER-1.

(16) In some embodiments of the invention the discontinuous epitope further comprises one or more of amino acid sequences selected from the group consisting of:

(17) TABLE-US-00003 (SEQIDNO:3) ATQTGRVFLQ, (SEQIDNO:4) DSLRDGRLIYLF, (SEQIDNO:5) SKGRILTMANQVL, and (SEQIDNO:6) LCVYQKPGQAFCTCRofhumanCLEVER-1.

(18) A part of the target protein human CLEVER-1, i.e. human Stabilin-1, has defined in SEQ ID NO: 7. The epitopes SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5 and SEQ ID NO: 6 on the CLEVER-1 molecule corresponds amino acids 420-434, 473-484, 390-399, 576-587, 615-627 and 313-327 of target protein human CLEVER-1 defined in SEQ ID NO: 7. A discontinuous epitope mapping of human CLEVER-1 is disclosed more detailed in Finnish patent application No. 20165335.

(19) A specific binding to two or more said epitope sequences on CLEVER-1 on TAMs will provide a novel method for treating cancers or preventing metastasis without harmful side-effects since the treatment can be targeted to specific epitopes for achieving desired modulation of macrophage phenotype. Consequently, the findings described here are especially useful in the treatment or prevention of all kinds of malignant tumours associated with an increased amount of tumour promoting macrophages or other pathologies such as chronic inflammation where an individual presents a dominance of immune suppression. Consequently, a method for treating cancer or preventing metastasis comprising administering to an individual an antibody or a fragment thereof binding to CLEVER-1, preferably to specific epitopes on CLEVER-1 molecule defined above. The method comprises treating or preventing cancer by reducing tumour size and/or; by reducing tumour growth in an individual; and/or by inhibiting cancer cell transmigration and metastasis formation. Thus, any benign or malignant tumour or metastasis of malignant tumour, such as skin cancer and colon cancer can be treated. Also leukemias, lymphomas and multiple myelomas can be treated. Particularly, melanomas and lymphomas are expected to respond very well to the treatment based on animal models.

(20) The method for modulating macrophages phenotype is believed to be useful in the treatment or prevention of all kinds of sarcomas, such as fibrosarcoma, liposarcoma, chondrosarcoma, osteosarcoma, angiosarcoma, lymphangiosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma, mesothelioma, meningioma, leukemias, lymphomas, as well as all kinds of carcinomas, such as squamous cell carcinomas, basal cell carcinoma, adenocarcinomas, papillary carcinomas, cystadenocarcinomas, bronchogenic carcinomas, melanomas, renal cell carcinomas, hepatocellular carcinoma, transitional cell carcinomas, choriocarcinomas, seminomas, and embryonal carcinomas.

(21) Macrophages have also an important role during inflammation and infection resolution besides affecting in the growth or regression of tumours. In infections, a switch from M1 to M2 macrophage can occur, leading to the generation of suppressive environment that abrogates effector immunity. Consequently, the findings described here to modulate macrophages phenotype are also useful in the treatment of chronic infections to remove immune suppression against the infective antigens. A method for treating chronic infections comprising administering to an individual an agent capable of binding to CLEVER-1, preferably to two or more specific epitope sequences on CLEVER-1 molecule defined above, wherein said agent may activate macrophages to switch their phenotype from M2 into M1.

(22) Further, an agent capable of binding to CLEVER-1 molecule on macrophages and monocytes in an individual can be used as an adjuvant in vaccines. The said agent achieves re-polarization of macrophages and thus removes or at least decreases immune suppression against the vaccine antigens. Any antigen-induced vaccination may benefit if the host or vaccination site can temporally be removed from immune suppressive elements.

(23) A pharmaceutical composition comprising an agent capable of binding to CLEVER-1 and an appropriate excipient is suitable for use in treating or preventing cancer, or in treating chronic infections. The pharmaceutical compositions to be used in the present invention can be administered by any means that achieve their intended purpose. For example, administration can be intravenous, intraarticular, intra-tumoural or subcutaneous. In addition to the pharmacologically active compounds, the pharmaceutical preparations of the compounds preferably contain suitable pharmaceutically acceptable carriers comprising excipients and auxiliaries that facilitate processing of the active compounds into preparations that can be used pharmaceutically.

(24) The modulation of M2 into M1 macrophages may be verified by measuring monocyte TNF-alpha secretion from human blood samples. Consequently, the increased secretion of TNF-alpha may be used as a marker for monitoring treatment response in an individual. The TNF-alpha secretion may be determined from the peripheral blood monocytes enriched from the blood drawn from a patient. A level of the TNF-alpha measured may be used as a marker for the patient response to the treatment comprising administering an agent capable of binding to human CLEVER-1, when the level is compared to control level measured from the same patient before administering said agent capable of binding to CLEVER-1 in the patient, or the values of one or more previous measurements carried out at different time points in the same patient.

(25) According to an embodiment of the invention, a method for estimating of the efficacy of anti-CLEVER-1 therapy by monitoring a development of a modulation of M2 macrophages into M1 macrophages, when an agent capable of binding to CLEVER-1, preferably to said two or more specific epitope sequences on CLEVER-1, is administered in a patient, comprising the steps of (a) obtaining peripheral blood monocytes (PBLs) from a blood sample drawn from said patient, (b) measuring the TNF- secretion of said PBLs, and/or (c) measuring HLA-DR expression on CD14 positive PBLs, and (e) comparing values of the TNF- secretion and/or the HLA-DR expression measured in steps (b) and (c) to control values for an estimation of the efficacy of the anti-CLEVER-1 treatment, wherein the control values are the values measured before administering an agent capable of binding to CLEVER-1 in the patient or the values of one or more previous measurements carried out at different time points in the same patient and wherein an increased TNF-alpha secretion or HLA-DR expression is indicative of modulation of M2 macrophages into M1 macrophages.

(26) Determining of TNF-alpha secretion from peripheral blood monocytes obtained from a blood sample drawn from the patient can be carried commonly known methods, for example by using a commercial TNF-alpha ELISA kit. The HLA-DR expression on CD14 positive monocytes can also be monitored by using a known method by flow cytometry.

(27) The development of modulation of M2 macrophages into M1 macrophages may be monitored by comparing a measured level of monocyte TNF-alpha secretion to the control values measured before administering an agent capable of binding to CLEVER-1 in the patient, or the values of one or more previous measurements carried out at different time points in the same patient. For example, a decreased level of monocyte TNF-alpha secretion compared to the results from previous measurements or to a control may be used to indicate higher expression of M2 macrophages, while an increased level of TNF-alpha, compared to the results from previous measurements or to a control may be used to indicate that more expression of M1 macrophages with lower expression of M2 macrophages, wherein it can also be used to indicate the efficacy of the anti-CLEVER-1 treatment. The increased level of TNF-alpha indicates more expression of M1 macrophages with lower expression of M2 macrophages, i.e. it attributes responsiveness to said therapy. An agent capable of binding to CLEVER-1 will activate at least a part of the M2 macrophages to re-polarize into M1 macrophages and after the administration of said agent both macrophage phenotypes may be present, but the increased expression of the M1 macrophages may be observed compared to the situation before the administration of said agent.

(28) According to an embodiment of the invention, at least a two fold increase of the measured TNF-alpha secretion compared to the control value is indicative of modulation of M2 macrophages into M1 macrophages and so to indicate the patient responsiveness to the therapy.

(29) The invention is illustrated by the following non-limiting examples. It should be understood that the embodiments given in the description above and the examples are for illustrative purposes only, and that various changes and modifications are possible within the scope of the invention.

EXAMPLES

Example 1: Antibody Binding In Vitro

(30) Human peripheral blood monocytes from healthy donors were collected and they were enriched from about 9 ml of peripheral blood by Ficoll-gradient centrifugation. After that they are plated in low attachment 96-well plates in a density of 1.210.sup.6 cell/well in IMDM medium supplemented with 1% human AB serum. The cells were treated with 1 g/ml or 10 g/ml of anti-CLEVER-1 antibody 3-372 (DSM ACC2520 deposited at DSMZ-Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH on Aug. 21, 2001) or VH3/VK5 (a humanized anti-CLEVER-1 antibody recognizing said specific CLEVER-1 epitopes, details of the antibody is presented more detailed in below, DSM ACC3361 deposited at DSMZ-Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH, Inhoffenstrasse 7B, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany on May 27, 2020) for 48 hours. HLA-DR expression was determined from CD14 positive cells after 48 hours by using LSR Fortessa flow cytometry. Dead cells were eliminated from the analysis based on the positive signal for 7-AAD cell viability dye.

(31) Human IgGs was used as reference.

(32) FIG. 1A shows results of the determination HLA-DR expression from CD14 positive cells. HLA-DR expression on CD14 positive cells increased with treatment of humanized anti-CLEVER-1 antibody VH3/VK5 compared to reference of human IgGs.

(33) No difference in cell viability between treatments was observed. Thus, it can be concluded that the CLEVER-1 targeting antibodies do not affect monocyte survival.

A Humanized Anti-CLEVER-1 Antibody VH3/VK5

(34) A humanized anti-CLEVER-1 antibody VH3/VK5 is generated from the 3-372 mouse monoclonal antibody (DSM ACC2520 deposited at DSMZ-Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH on Aug. 21, 2001) using Composite Human Antibody technology, which is disclosed more detailed in Finnish patent application FI 20165335. The humanized anti-CLEVER-1 antibody VH3/VK5 recognizing epitope sequences of human CLEVER-1 defined in the present application.

Example 2: Measurement of TNF-

(35) Human peripheral blood monocytes from healthy donors were collected and enriched as described in Example 1. Monocytes from 3 ml of erythrocyte lysis buffer treated blood were let to adhere overnight on 6-well plates, washed once with PBS and cultured for 3 days with 10 g/ml of anti-CLEVER-1 antibody 3-372 or AK-1.

(36) Soluble TNF-alpha was measured from culture medium using a commercial TNF-alpha ELISA kit (Invitrogen). The results of the measurement are showed in FIG. 1B. The increased TNF-alpha secretion has noticed by samples treated with anti-CLEVER-1 antibody compared to untreated samples or the control treated samples with AK-1.

Example 3: Mouse Syngeneic Cancer Models

(37) Established E0771 mouse mammary carcinomas were treated with 5 mg/kg of anti-CLEVER-1 (mStab1) or isotype control every 3-4 days until the tumours reached a size of 1 mm.sup.3. The effect of anti-CLEVER-1 treatment on the recruitment and phenotype of TAMs, different monocyte subsets and tumour-infiltrating leukocytes was assessed using flow cytometry.

(38) FIG. 2A shows TAM re-polarization in syngeneic E0771 mammary carcinomas after administration of an antibody binding to CLEVER-1. Tumours treated with anti-CLEVER-1 showed a similar level of TAMs (CD11b.sup.+F4/80.sup.+) compared to the control treated tumours. However, the TAM population in anti-CLEVER-1 tumours consisted of more pro-inflammatory macrophages (Ly6C.sup.loMHCII.sup.hi) with lower expression of the type II marker, CD206.

(39) The anti-CLEVER-1 treated TAMs secreted significantly more TNF-alpha compared to IgG treated TAMs, as shown in FIG. 2B. Consistent with this, also a decrease in FoxP3.sup.+ tumour-infiltrating leukocytes was observed.

(40) The results indicate that CLEVER-1 is a potential target for macrophage-directed immunotherapy and that the efficiency of anti-CLEVER-1 treatment could be monitored by monocyte TNF- secretion.