An ultra-high-affinity small organic ligand of fibroblast activation protein for tumor-targeting applications.

We describe the development of OncoFAP, an ultra-high-affinity ligand of fibroblast activation protein (FAP) for targeting applications with pan-tumoral potential. OncoFAP binds to human FAP with affinity in the subnanomolar concentration range and cross-reacts with the murine isoform of the protein. We generated various fluorescent and radiolabeled derivatives of OncoFAP in order to study biodistribution properties and tumor-targeting performance in preclinical models. Fluorescent derivatives selectively localized in FAP-positive tumors implanted in nude mice with a rapid and homogeneous penetration within the neoplastic tissue. Quantitative in vivo biodistribution studies with a lutetium-177-labeled derivative of OncoFAP revealed a preferential localization in tumors at doses of up to 1,000 nmol/kg. More than 30% of the injected dose had already accumulated in 1 g of tumor 10 min after intravenous injection and persisted for at least 3 h with excellent tumor-to-organ ratios. OncoFAP also served as a modular component for the generation of nonradioactive therapeutic products. A fluorescein conjugate mediated a potent and FAP-dependent tumor cell killing activity in combination with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells specific to fluorescein. Similarly, a conjugate of OncoFAP with the monomethyl auristatin E-based Vedotin payload was well tolerated and cured tumor-bearing mice in combination with a clinical-stage antibody-interleukin-2 fusion. Collectively, these data support the development of OncoFAP-based products for tumor-targeting applications in patients with cancer.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Competing interest statement: D.N. is a cofounder and shareholder of Philogen (http://www.philogen.com/en/), a Swiss-Italian Biotech company that operates in the field of ligand-based pharmacodelivery. J. Millul, G.B., J. Mock, A.Z., S.D.P., L.N., A.G., E.S., I.B., E.J.D., F.S., and S.C. are employees of Philochem AG, the daughter company of Philogen, acting as the discovery unit of the group.