Abstract 3915: Tumor-targeted hyaluronan (HA) imaging with a recombinant HA binding protein: TSG6dHep-Fc.
Authors: Li Xiaoming , Huang Lei , Wei Ge , Osgood Ryan J. , Zhao Qiping , Jiang Ping , Shepard H. Michael , Maneval Daniel C. , Thompson Curtis B. 
Published: August 2014

A new investigational therapeutic agent, pegylated recombinant human hyaluronidase PH20 (PEGPH20) is a currently under clinical development for the treatment of tumors that accumulate hyaluronan (HA), a nonsulfated glycosaminoglycan and a major constituent of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of many solid tumors. HA accumulation has been correlated with local invasion, the presence of distal metastasis, higher tumor grade, and poorer overall survival in multiple malignancies. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that sustained HA removal, accomplished with PEGPH20, inhibits tumor growth and enhances chemotherapeutic activity in HA-rich xenografts and genetically engineered mouse tumor models.

To facilitate non-invasive clinical selection of patients with HA-rich malignancies, and confirm PEGPH20 enzymatic targeting of these malignancies, we have developed a soluble recombinant HA binding protein by fusing a tumor necrosis factor-stimulated gene-6 protein (TSG6) fragment, mutated at the heparin-binding site, with human IgG1 Fc (TSG6dHep-Fc).

In preclinical proof-of-concept studies, recombinant TSG6dHep-Fc was labeled with the near-infrared fluorophore DyLight755 (TSG6dHep-FcDL755) and administered IV to the following xenograft peritibial athymic mouse models: HA-rich pancreatic BxPC3, HA-poor prostate Du145 and HA-rich prostate Du145/HAS2. TSG6dHep-FcDL755 HA binding was imaged via fluorescence (IVIS Lumina II, Caliper Life Sciences, Inc.). Systemic/dermal HA binding was weakly present, but easily removed via background subtraction to allow tumor intensity quantification. In the HA-rich xenograft models, pancreatic BxPC3 and prostate Du145/HAS2, TSG6dHep-FcDL755 strongly labeled the peritibial tumors, peaking at 2 days post administration and was completely absent at day 10 post administration. In contrast, the HA-poor prostate Du145 tumors were very weakly labeled, making background subtraction of systemic/dermal HA binding difficult. In separate experiments, mice were treated with a single dose of PEGPH20 (4.5 mg/kg, IV) or vehicle prior to TSG6dHep-FcDL755 imaging. In all groups dosed with PEGPH20, TSG6dHep-FcDL755 signal intensity was extremely low and appeared to be limited to non-specific, whole body labeling. These results suggest that imaging with labeled TSG6dHep-Fc could be a useful tool for selecting patients with HA-rich malignancies, thereby enabling clinicians to noninvasively identify patients who might benefit from therapies that target HA and the ECM.

Citation Format: Xiaoming Li, Lei Huang, Ge Wei, Ryan J. Osgood, Qiping Zhao, Ping Jiang, H. Michael Shepard, Daniel C. Maneval, Curtis B. Thompson. Tumor-targeted hyaluronan (HA) imaging with a recombinant HA binding protein: TSG6dHep-Fc. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3915. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-3915