Photosensitizing antibody-fluorophore conjugates

#This application relates to antibody-IR700 conjugates, and methods of their use to kill cells that specifically bind to the antibody following irradiation with infrared (NIR) light. Also provided are devices that incorporate NIR light emitting diodes (LEDs) that can also be used with the disclosed conjugates and methods.

#Cancer was responsible for about 13% of all human deaths in 2007. Although there are several therapies for cancer, there remains a need for therapies that effectively kill the tumor cells while not harming non-cancerous cells.

#In order to minimize the side effects of conventional cancer therapies, including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, molecular targeted cancer therapies have been developed. Among the existing targeted therapies, monoclonal antibodies (MAb) therapy have the longest history, and to date, over 25 therapeutic MAbs have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (Waldmann, Nat Med 9:269-277, 2003); Reichert et al., Nat Biotechnol 23:1073-1078, 2005). Effective MAb therapy traditionally depends on three mechanisms: antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), and receptor blockade and requires multiple high doses of the MAb. MAbs have also been used at lower doses as vectors to deliver therapies such as radionuclides (Goldenberg et al., J Clin Oncol 24, 823-834, 2006) or chemical or biological toxins (Pastan et al., Nat Rev Cancer 6:559-565, 2006). Ultimately, however, dose limiting toxicity relates to the biodistribution and catabolism of the antibody conjugates.

#FIG. 1A is a digital image showing the labeling of cells with a Trastuzumab-IR700 conjugate (Tra-IR700) at 4° C. for 1 hour or 37° C. for 6 hours. Light images also shown. Scale bar, 30 μm.

#FIG. 1B is a digital image showing the lysosomal localization of Tra-1R700 6 h after incubation. Scale bar, 50 μm.

#FIG. 1C is a digital image showing is a digital image showing before and after incubation with Tra-IR700 at 37° C. for 6 hours followed by photoimmunotherapy (PIT). Scale bar, 50 μm.

#Unless otherwise explained, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which a disclosed invention belongs. The singular terms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless context clearly indicates otherwise. Similarly, the word “or” is intended to include “and” unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. “Comprising” means “including.” Hence “comprising A or B” means “including A” or “including B” or “including A and B.”

#Suitable methods and materials for the practice and/or testing of embodiments of the disclosure are described below. Such methods and materials are illustrative only and are not intended to be limiting. Other methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used. For example, conventional methods well known in the art to which a disclosed invention pertains are described in various general and more specific references, including, for example, Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2d ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1989; Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 3d ed., Cold Spring Harbor Press, 2001; Ausubel et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Greene Publishing Associates, 1992 (and Supplements to 2000); Ausubel et al., Short Protocols in Molecular Biology: A Compendium of Methods from Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, 4th ed., Wiley & Sons, 1999; Harlow and Lane, Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1990; and Harlow and Lane, Using Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1999.

#The sequences associated with all GenBank Accession numbers referenced herein are incorporated by reference for the sequence available on Jul. 9, 2010.