Article
Author: Antony, Abin ; Grippin, Adam J ; Koong, Albert C ; Schrank, Benjamin R ; Chang, Mengyu ; Li, Jing ; Kim, Betty Y S ; Gallup, Thomas D ; Tran, Nhat ; Wang, Yifan ; Yun, Kyuson ; Wu, Annette ; Ma, Yifan ; Jeong, Seong Dong ; Lee, DaeYong ; Huntoon, Kristin ; Dong, Shiyan ; Jiang, Wen ; Ha, JongHoon ; Edwards, Jared ; Kang, Minjeong
Antigen-presenting cells phagocytose tumor cells and subsequently cross-present tumor-derived antigens. However, these processes are impeded by phagocytosis checkpoints and inefficient cytosolic transport of antigenic peptides from phagolysosomes. Here, using a microbial-inspired strategy, we engineered an antibody-toxin conjugate (ATC) that targets the 'don't eat me' signal CD47 linked to the bacterial toxin listeriolysin O from the intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes via a cleavable linker (CD47-LLO). CD47-LLO promotes cancer cell phagocytosis by macrophages followed by LLO release and activation to form pores on phagolysosomal membranes that enhance antigen cross-presentation of tumor-derived peptides and activate cytosolic immune sensors. CD47-LLO treatment in vivo significantly inhibited the growth of both localized and metastatic breast and melanoma tumors and improved animal survival as a monotherapy or in combination with checkpoint blockade. Together, these results demonstrate that designing ATCs to promote immune recognition of tumor cells represents a promising therapeutic strategy for treating multiple cancers.