Abstract A026: Tumor-specific glycosylated CD43 is a novel and highly specific target for acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome
Authors: Gillissen Marijn , Kedde Martijn , Yasuda Etsuko , Jong Greta De , Levie Sophie , Bakker Arjen , Hensbergen Paul , Villaudy Julien , Beaumont Tim , Helden Pauline van , Spits Hergen , Hazenberg Mette D. 
Published: November 2016

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) are high-risk diseases with a poor prognosis. Even with intensive treatment regimens less than 50% of patients can be cured, and for the majority of patients - those over 65 years of age and/or patients with comorbidities - such intensive regimens are not feasible. Novel therapeutic approaches such as immunotherapy directed against a highly specific tumor target are highly needed.

Aims: The aim of our study was to identify novel therapeutic antibodies that are highly specific for AML and to discover novel tumor-specific antigens, widely expressed on AML and MDS but not on healthy hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic cells.

Methods: For this we made use of the oldest human tumor immunology model with proven efficacy available: an allogeneic HSCT patient with a potent graft versus AML allo-immune response. From this patient we isolated CD27+ IgG+ memory B lymphocytes and transduced these cells with Bcl-6 and Bcl-xL, thereby generating pre-plasmablast B cell clones that produce abundant antibodies. Supernatants of these B cell clones were used to screen for binding to surface antigens on the AML cell line THP-1.

Results: We identified an IgG1 antibody, AT14-013, that specifically interacted with AML cell lines THP-1, MOLM-13, SH-2 and others, and with leukemic blasts isolated from newly diagnosed AML and MDS patients from our clinic. AT14-013 did not interact with healthy hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic cells. This antibody was of donor origin and was antigen experienced as it contained 26/11 somatic hypermutations in the heavy and light chains, respectively. Target identification using mass spectrometry analysis and epitope mapping strategies with FLAG-tagged truncated variants of CD43 expressed by THP-1 that we created revealed CD43 as the target. CD43 is expressed by all hematopoietic cells, but AT14-013 targeted a specific, sialylated epitope on CD43 that is uniquely and widely expressed on all types of AML, as illustrated by its reactivity with blasts of each of 48 randomly selected AML and MDS patients in our clinic. AT14-013 induced antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and complement dependent cytotoxicity of AML cell lines and primary blasts.

Summary and conclusion: We have identified onco-sialylated CD43 (CD43os) as a novel tumor-specific target that is widely expressed on AML and MDS blasts. Antibodies against this target have high potential as therapeutic antibodies, either as a naked antibody or manufactured into an antibody-drug conjugate, bispecific T cell engager or CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) T cell.

Citation Format: Marijn Gillissen, Martijn Kedde, Etsuko Yasuda, Greta De Jong, Sophie Levie, Arjen Bakker, Paul Hensbergen, Julien Villaudy, Tim Beaumont, Pauline van Helden, Hergen Spits, Mette D. Hazenberg. Tumor-specific glycosylated CD43 is a novel and highly specific target for acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Second CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; 2016 Sept 25-28; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2016;4(11 Suppl):Abstract nr A026.