EphA3 as a target for antibody immunotherapy in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Leukemia. 2017 Aug;31(8):1779-1787. doi: 10.1038/leu.2016.371. Epub 2016 Dec 6.

Abstract

The human EphA3 gene was discovered in a pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (pre-B-ALL) using the EphA3-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb), IIIA4, which binds and activates both human and mouse EphA3. We use two models of human pre-B-ALL to examine EphA3 function, demonstrating effects on pre-B-cell receptor signaling. In therapeutic targeting studies, we demonstrated antitumor effects of the IIIA4 mAb in EphA3-expressing leukemic xenografts and no antitumor effect in the xenografts with no EphA3 expression providing evidence that EphA3 is a functional therapeutic target in pre-B-ALL. Here we show that the therapeutic effect of the anti-EphA3 antibody was greatly enhanced by adding an α-particle-emitting 213Bismuth payload.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Bismuth
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy
  • Mice
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / drug therapy*
  • Receptor, EphA3 / immunology*
  • Receptor, EphA3 / metabolism
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Receptor, EphA3
  • Bismuth