Identification of antibody-drug conjugate payloads which are substrates of ATP-binding cassette drug efflux transporters

Aim Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) feature an antibody recognizing a specific protein joined to a potent toxic payload. Numerous antibody-drug conjugates have received FDA approval; however, clinical resistance arises. Resistance mechanisms include decreased expression or mutation of the antibody target, impaired payload release, or increased expression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) efflux transporters associated with multidrug resistance. We therefore sought to characterize the interactions of ABC multidrug transporters with ADC payloads. Methods We performed a high-throughput screen with 27 common ADC payloads using cells lines expressing ABC transporters P-glycoprotein (P-gp, encoded by ABCB1 ) or ABCG2 (encoded by ABCG2 ). Confirmatory assays were also performed using cells transfected to express P-gp, ABCG2, or MRP1 (encoded by ABCC1 ). Results Several commonly used ADC payloads were substrates of P-gp, including calicheamicin gamma1, monomethyl auristatin E, DM1, and DM4. All the pyrrolobenzodiazepines tested—SJG136, SGD-1882, SG2057, and SG3199—were substrates of P-gp, ABCG2, and MRP1. The modified anthracyclines nemorubicin and its metabolite PNU-159682 were poorly transported by both ABCB1 and ABCG2 and displayed nanomolar to picomolar toxicity. Further, we found that the efficacy of the FDA-approved ADC mirvetuximab soravtansine, with DM4 as the toxic payload, was decreased in cell lines expressing P-gp. Duocarmycin DM and PNU-159682 were exquisitely toxic to a panel of 99 cancer cell lines of varying origins. Conclusion Several commonly used ADC payloads can be transported by ABC transporters, potentially leading to transporter-mediated drug resistance in patients. Future ADCs should be developed using payloads that are not ABC transporter substrates.