Novel PSCA targeting scFv-fusion proteins for diagnosis and immunotherapy of prostate cancer

Purpose Despite great progress in the diagnosis and treatment of localized prostate cancer (PCa), there remains a need for new diagnostic markers that can accurately distinguish indolent and aggressive variants. One promising approach is the antibody-based targeting of prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA), which is frequently overexpressed in PCa. Here, we show the construction of a molecular imaging probe comprising a humanized scFv fragment recognizing PSCA genetically fused to an engineered version of the human DNA repair enzyme O 6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT), the SNAP-tag, enabling specific covalent coupling to various fluorophores for diagnosis of PCa. Furthermore, the recombinant immunotoxin (IT) PSCA(scFv)-ETA′ comprising the PSCA(scFv) and a truncated version of Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PE, ETA′) was generated. Methods We analyzed the specific binding and internalization behavior of the molecular imaging probe PSCA(scFv)-SNAP in vitro by flow cytometry and live cell imaging, compared to the corresponding IT PSCA(scFv)-ETA′. The cytotoxic activity of PSCA(scFv)-ETA′ was tested using cell viability assays. Specific binding was confirmed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue specimen of early and advanced PCa. Results Alexa Fluor ® 647 labeling of PSCA(scFv)-SNAP confirmed selective binding to PSCA, leading to rapid internalization into the target cells. The recombinant IT PSCA(scFv)-ETA′ showed selective binding leading to internalization and efficient elimination of target cells. Conclusions Our data demonstrate, for the first time, the specific binding, internalization, and cytotoxicity of a scFv-based fusion protein targeting PSCA. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed the specific ex vivo binding to primary PCa material.