Abstract 2969: Targeting novel senescence markers by conditionally active biologics eliminates senescence-associated secretory phenotype in in vitro and in vivo models
Authors: Chen Jian , Wang Jian , Liu Haizheng , Chang Cathy , Boyle William J. , Short Jay M. 
Published: March 2024

Clearing senescent cells has been shown to have promising effects against cancer and age-related pathologies in preclinical models as well as early human clinical trials. However, current senescent cell elimination strategies are focused on targets that do not distinguish between hyper-inflamed or SASP senescent cells versus relatively non-inflamed senescent cells. The use of senolytics in the clinic is still limited due to their cytotoxicity to either normal cells or potentially beneficial senescent cells. A more effective senescence cell targeted approach is needed to reduce side effects and increase the efficiency of senescence cell removal or reduction.

Conditionally Active Biologics (CAB) technology is a proprietary platform unique in its ability to be selectively active in the context of diseased tissues, but not normal tissues. The aberrant accumulation of senescent cells in aged and cancerous tissue triggers inflammatory signaling through a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), promoting aging and tumor progression. Since our CAB technology is currently being tested as a cancer therapy by targeting cell surface markers such as AXL, ROR2, and CTLA4 in clinical studies, we explored whether CAB technology allows selective removal of senescent cells in SASP-associated microenvironments.

In our previous report, we demonstrated several novel senescence-specific surface antigens upregulated in senescent cells (1). CAB antibodies targeting these senescence markers have no or very low binding to the target antigen on senescence cells in physiological, alkaline conditions, but have strong binding in glycolytic, acidic SASP conditions in in vitro binding assays. In in vitro antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity assays, CAB antibodies were more potent against senescent cells compared to proliferating cells and displayed high selectivity for the glycolytic, acidic condition. To study whether CAB antibody reduces senescent cell occurrence in vivo, we developed a unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) mouse model to induce senescent cells, fibrosis, and inflammation in mouse kidney. The mice treated with CAB antibodies had a significant reduction of senescent cells and inflammatory cells infiltrated in the renal cortex, compared to the mice treated with benchmark and isotype antibodies in UUO kidneys. Thus, the CAB antibody-based therapeutic is a promising strategy for senescent cell removal in an inflammatory microenvironment. In conclusion, CAB technology provides a new generation of biologics with an increased safety margin and therapeutic index targeting SASP, acidic senescence cells in cancer and age-related diseases.

(1). Chen J, Wang J, Liu H, Chang C, Boyle WJ, and Short JM. Abstract 4795: Conditionally active biologics eliminates senescence cells in cancer and aging. Cancer Res (2023) 83.

Citation Format: Jian Chen, Jian Wang, Haizheng Liu, Cathy Chang, William J. Boyle, Jay M. Short. Targeting novel senescence markers by conditionally active biologics eliminates senescence-associated secretory phenotype in in vitro and in vivo models [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 2969.