Identification of GPC2 as an Oncoprotein and Candidate Immunotherapeutic Target in High-Risk Neuroblastoma

Publication date: 11 September 2017
Source:Cancer Cell, Volume 32, Issue 3
Author(s): Kristopher R. Bosse, Pichai Raman, Zhongyu Zhu, Maria Lane, Daniel Martinez, Sabine Heitzeneder, Komal S. Rathi, Nathan M. Kendsersky, Michael Randall, Laura Donovan, Sorana Morrissy, Robyn T. Sussman, Doncho V. Zhelev, Yang Feng, Yanping Wang, Jennifer Hwang, Gonzalo Lopez, Jo Lynne Harenza, Jun S. Wei, Bruce Pawel, Tricia Bhatti, Mariarita Santi, Arupa Ganguly, Javed Khan, Marco A. Marra, Michael D. Taylor, Dimiter S. Dimitrov, Crystal L. Mackall, John M. Maris
We developed an RNA-sequencing-based pipeline to discover differentially expressed cell-surface molecules in neuroblastoma that meet criteria for optimal immunotherapeutic target safety and efficacy. Here, we show that GPC2 is a strong candidate immunotherapeutic target in this childhood cancer. We demonstrate high GPC2 expression in neuroblastoma due to MYCN transcriptional activation and/or somatic gain of the GPC2 locus. We confirm GPC2 to be highly expressed on most neuroblastomas, but not detectable at appreciable levels in normal childhood tissues. In addition, we demonstrate that GPC2 is required for neuroblastoma proliferation. Finally, we develop a GPC2-directed antibody-drug conjugate that is potently cytotoxic to GPC2-expressing neuroblastoma cells. Collectively, these findings validate GPC2 as a non-mutated neuroblastoma oncoprotein and candidate immunotherapeutic target.

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Teaser

Bosse et al. show that GPC2 is expressed at high levels on most neuroblastomas (NB) but not at appreciable levels in normal childhood tissues and that GPC2 is critical for NB maintenance. They develop a GPC2-directed antibody-drug conjugate that is cytotoxic to GPC2-expressing NB cells in vitro and in vivo.


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