Abstract PO4-06-11: Development of fully human anti-progranulin monoclonal antibodies as inhibitors of triple negative breast cancer cell growth and tumor formation
Authors: Serrero Ginette , Dong Jianping , Hayashi Jun , Dong Chun 
Published: May 2024

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by invasiveness and poor survival. Identifying novel TNBC targeted therapies to potentiate standard of care (SOC) therapy, is an unmet need. In the past 4 years, several targeted therapies for TNBC have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, the identification of targeted therapies against other biological drivers of TNBC remains important. Progranulin

(PGRN/GP88) is a biological driver of tumorigenesis, survival, and drug resistance in breast cancer. PGRN/GP88 tissue expression is an independent prognostic factor of recurrence while elevated serum PGRN/GP88 level is associated with poor outcomes such as progression of disease and shortened survival. PGRN/GP88 expression is elevated in 30% TNBC. The importance of inhibiting PGRN/GP88 effect on the proliferation and tumor growth of triple negative breast cancer cells was previously established. In the current study, in association with Precision Antibody, we developed anti-PGRN/GP88 fully human monoclonal antibodies by immunizing TC transgenic humanized mice with recombinant human progranulin. Within 60 days since the start of immunization, several fully human monoclonal antibodies were successfully developed, characterized by several functional assays including neutralization, inhibition of PGRN/GP88 cell surface binding, proliferation, migration in MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro and in vivo.

Results: The inhibition of PGRN/GP88 action by fully human monoclonal antibodies inhibited proliferation and migration in a dose-and time-dependent fashion in TNBC cells. Octet analysis determined Kd in the range of 10−11 M to 10−10 M. Transwell assay showed that anti-PGRN treatment inhibited migration In vivo xenograft studies with MDA-MB-231 cells injected in athymic nude mice showed that several fully human anti-PGRN antibodies inhibited tumor growth when compared to antibody control treated mice. In vivo dose response of AG01 in MDAMB-231 tumor bearing mice will be provided.

Conclusion: PGRN/GP88 represents a therapeutic target for TNBC with two companion diagnostics (tissue test and ELISA to measure GP88 circulating levels). The use of the TC transgenic mice allows for the rapid development of fully human high affinity monoclonal antibodies bypassing the need for chimerization or humanization of mouse monoclonal antibodies. The development of fully human anti-progranulin antibodies provides novel targeted therapeutic option for TNBC.

This work is supported by a an SBIR grant 5R44 CA 224718 from the National Cancer Institute to GS.

Citation Format: Ginette Serrero, Jianping Dong, Jun Hayashi, Chun Dong. Development of fully human anti-progranulin monoclonal antibodies as inhibitors of triple negative breast cancer cell growth and tumor formation [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO4-06-11.