Conjugation of glucosylated polymer chains to checkpoint blockade antibodies augments their efficacy and specificity for glioblastoma

Because of the blood-tumour barrier and cross-reactivity with healthy tissues, immune checkpoint blockade therapy against glioblastoma has inadequate efficacy and is associated with a high risk of immune-related adverse events. Here we show that anti-programmed death-ligand 1 antibodies conjugated with multiple poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains functionalized to target glucose transporter 1 (which is overexpressed in brain capillaries) and detaching in the reductive tumour microenvironment augment the potency and safety of checkpoint blockade therapy against glioblastoma. In mice bearing orthotopic glioblastoma tumours, a single dose of glucosylated and multi-PEGylated antibodies reinvigorated antitumour immune responses, induced immunological memory that protected the animals against rechallenge with tumour cells, and suppressed autoimmune responses in the animals' healthy tissues. Drug-delivery formulations leveraging multivalent ligand interactions and the properties of the tumour microenvironment to facilitate the crossing of blood-tumour barriers and increase drug specificity may enhance the efficacy and safety of other antibody-based therapies. Monoclonal antibodies conjugated with multiple polymer chains functionalized to target glucose transporter 1 and detaching in the reductive tumour microenvironment augment the potency and safety of checkpoint blockade therapy for glioblastoma.

Automated summary

Monoclonal antibodies conjugated with multiple polymer chains, functionalized to target glucose transporter 1 and detaching in the reductive tumor microenvironment, can enhance the potency and safety of checkpoint blockade therapy for glioblastoma. This approach showed promising results in mouse models, reinvigorating antitumor immune responses and inducing protective immunological memory against tumor rechallenge.