The immunoconjugate "icon" targets aberrantly expressed endothelial tissue factor causing regression of endometriosis

Am J Pathol. 2010 Feb;176(2):1050-6. doi: 10.2353/ajpath.2010.090757. Epub 2009 Dec 30.

Abstract

Endometriosis is a major cause of chronic pain, infertility, medical and surgical interventions, and health care expenditures. Tissue factor (TF), the primary initiator of coagulation and a modulator of angiogenesis, is not normally expressed by the endothelium; however, prior studies have demonstrated that both blood vessels in solid tumors and choroidal tissue in macular degeneration express endothelial TF. The present study describes the anomalous expression of TF by endothelial cells in endometriotic lesions. The immunoconjugate molecule (Icon), which binds with high affinity and specificity to this aberrant endothelial TF, has been shown to induce a cytolytic immune response that eradicates tumor and choroidal blood vessels. Using an athymic mouse model of endometriosis, we now report that Icon largely destroys endometriotic implants by vascular disruption without apparent toxicity, reduced fertility, or subsequent teratogenic effects. Unlike antiangiogenic treatments that can only target developing angiogenesis, Icon eliminates pre-existing pathological vessels. Thus, Icon could serve as a novel, nontoxic, fertility-preserving, and effective treatment for endometriosis.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • CHO Cells
  • Cricetinae
  • Cricetulus
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Endometriosis / metabolism
  • Endometriosis / pathology
  • Endometriosis / therapy*
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoconjugates / administration & dosage
  • Immunoconjugates / pharmacology*
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / administration & dosage
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / pharmacology
  • Immunotherapy / methods
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Middle Aged
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / metabolism
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / therapy*
  • Peritoneal Diseases / metabolism
  • Peritoneal Diseases / pathology
  • Peritoneal Diseases / therapy*
  • Thromboplastin / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Thromboplastin / immunology*
  • Thromboplastin / metabolism
  • Transplantation, Heterologous

Substances

  • Immunoconjugates
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments
  • Thromboplastin