An ErbB3 antibody, MM-121, is active in cancers with ligand-dependent activation

Cancer Res. 2010 Mar 15;70(6):2485-94. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-09-3145. Epub 2010 Mar 9.

Abstract

ErbB3 is a critical activator of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR; ErbB1), ErbB2 [human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)], and [hepatocyte growth factor receptor (MET)] addicted cancers, and reactivation of ErbB3 is a prominent method for cancers to become resistant to ErbB inhibitors. In this study, we evaluated the in vivo efficacy of a therapeutic anti-ErbB3 antibody, MM-121. We found that MM-121 effectively blocked ligand-dependent activation of ErbB3 induced by either EGFR, HER2, or MET. Assessment of several cancer cell lines revealed that MM-121 reduced basal ErbB3 phosphorylation most effectively in cancers possessing ligand-dependent activation of ErbB3. In those cancers, MM-121 treatment led to decreased ErbB3 phosphorylation and, in some instances, decreased ErbB3 expression. The efficacy of single-agent MM-121 was also examined in xenograft models. A machine learning algorithm found that MM-121 was most effective against xenografts with evidence of ligand-dependent activation of ErbB3. We subsequently investigated whether MM-121 treatment could abrogate resistance to anti-EGFR therapies by preventing reactivation of ErbB3. We observed that an EGFR mutant lung cancer cell line (HCC827), made resistant to gefitinib by exogenous heregulin, was resensitized by MM-121. In addition, we found that a de novo lung cancer mouse model induced by EGFR T790M-L858R rapidly became resistant to cetuximab. Resistance was associated with an increase in heregulin expression and ErbB3 activation. However, concomitant cetuximab treatment with MM-121 blocked reactivation of ErbB3 and resulted in a sustained and durable response. Thus, these results suggest that targeting ErbB3 with MM-121 can be an effective therapeutic strategy for cancers with ligand-dependent activation of ErbB3.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • CHO Cells
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cetuximab
  • Cricetinae
  • Cricetulus
  • ErbB Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Gefitinib
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Mice
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Neuregulin-1 / pharmacology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Quinazolines / pharmacology
  • Receptor, ErbB-3 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptor, ErbB-3 / immunology*
  • Receptor, ErbB-3 / metabolism
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Ligands
  • Neuregulin-1
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Quinazolines
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Receptor, ErbB-3
  • Cetuximab
  • Gefitinib