Investigations of Influence of Antibody Binding Kinetics on Tumor Distribution and Anti-Tumor Efficacy

Abstract The pharmacokinetics of antibodies with varied binding kinetics were simulated to assess the role of affinity and binding microconstants (kon, koff) on tumor exposure and intra-tumoral distribution. Anti-HER2 constructs (trastuzumab, pertuzumab, VK3VH6, and conjugates with DM1 and gelonin) were produced, purified, and tested for binding and cytotoxicity in vitro , and for intra-tumoral distribution and anti-tumor efficacy in mice. Simulations demonstrated that homogeneity in intra-tumoral distribution increases with increases in koff and with decreases in kon. Interestingly, simulations also predicted that homogeneity in tumor distribution may be improved by decreasing kon and koff in parallel (without changing affinity). Relative to trastuzumab, pertuzumab exhibits similar affinity but a ~ fivefold smaller kon and koff, while VK3VH6 exhibits a similar koff but a ~ 30-fold lower kon and affinity. Conjugate concentrations associated with 50% inhibition of cell proliferation (IC50s) were found to vary with affinity, where IC50 values were similar for pertuzumab and trastuzumab, and higher for VK3VH6. Consistent with model simulations, VK3VH6 and pertuzumab demonstrated more homogeneous tumor distribution than trastuzumab. Although treatment differences were not statistically significant, pertuzumab and VK3VH6 conjugates showed trends for increased survival time relative to mice treated with trastuzumab conjugates. Our simulation and experimental results demonstrate complex relationships between antibody-antigen binding kinetics, intratumoral distribution, and efficacy. The rate constant of association, kon, is an underappreciated determinant of intra-tumoral distribution; among high-affinity antibodies, those with lower values of kon may be expected to exhibit improved intra-tumoral distribution and, potentially, efficacy. Graphical Abstract