EGFRvIII Antibodies for the Treatment of Human Cancer

Abstract:

Epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRvIII) is a variant of EGFR that is an excellent target for immunotherapy because of its expression in cancer cells and not in normal cells. 

Inventors from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) have isolated seven mouse monoclonal antibodies that bind to the human EGFRvIII but not wildtype EGFR. These EGFRvIII antibodies can be used as either independent agents or targeting domains in recombinant immunotoxins (RITs), antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), bispecific antibodies, and chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). Significantly, RITs using one of the antibodies (40H3) have shown potent killing in breast cancer cells and in epidermoid cancer cells, strongly supporting that the antibodies may be further developed as therapeutics. The 40H3 antibody is also able to bind to EGFR when overexpressed as seen in various cancers, and thus has broad therapeutic potential.    

The NCI seeks research co-development partners or licensees for monoclonal antibodies that specifically target cancer-expressed EGFR.

Competitive Advantages:

• The EGFRvIII antibodies with high EGFRvIII binding specificity will result in less non-specific cell killing and lower potential side effects 
• RITs using the 40H3 antibody are available for immediate testing 
• 40H3 can also bind EGFR when over-expressed from amplified EGFR, which is specific to various cancers  

Commercial Applications:

• Therapeutic applications include the unconjugated antibodies and their use as a targeting moiety in ADCs, RITs, and CARs
• Diagnostic agent for detection and monitoring levels of EGFRvIII expressing cancers