Identification of a novel prostate tumor target, mindin/RG-1, for antibody-based radiotherapy of prostate cancer

Gene expression analysis showed that a human mindin homologue, mindin/RG-1, is expressed selectively in prostate tissues and that its expression level is elevated in some prostate tumors. Mindin/RG-1 protein expression is maintained in >80% of prostate cancers metastatic to bone or lymph nodes as well as in locally recurrent tumors in androgen-unresponsive patients. In contrast, mindin/RG-1 expression in other normal tissues is significantly lower than that seen in the prostate. A fully human antibody, 19G9, was generated against mindin/RG-1 protein and was shown to accumulate at high abundance in LNCaP tumor xenografts. Conjugates of this antibody with the chelator CHX-A ''-DTPA were generated and radiolabeled with either In-111, Y-90, or Y-86. Small animal positron emission tomography imaging with the Y-86-radiolabeled conjugate showed very specific accumulation of the antibody in LNCaP tumor xenografts with clear tumor delineation apparent at 4 hours. The therapeutic efficacy of [Y-90]-CHX-A ''-DTPA-19G9 was evaluated in mice bearing LNCaP xenografts. A dose-finding study identified a nontoxic therapeutic dose to be similar to 75 mu Ci. Significant antitumor effects were seen with a single administration of radiolabeled antibody to animals bearing 200 to 400 mm 3 tumors. Inhibition of tumor growth was observed in all treated animals over a 49-day period. At 49 days posttreatment, slow tumor growth recurred but this could be prevented for an additional 40-day period by a second administration of a 75 mu Ci dose at day 49. We conclude that [Y-90]-CHX-A ''-DTPA-19G9 is a novel antibody conjugate that has considerable promise for therapy of metastatic prostate cancer in androgen-unresponsive patients.