<scp>LGALS3BP</scp> is a potential target of <scp>antibody</scp>‐<scp>drug</scp> conjugates in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Ilaria Cela, Vito Carlo Alberto Caponio, Emily Capone, Morena Pinti, Marco Mascitti, Lucrezia Togni, Lorenzo Lo Muzio, Corrado Rubini, Vincenzo De Laurenzi, Rossano Lattanzio, Vittoria Perrotti, Gianluca Sala
Abstract
Abstract Objective The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression of intracellular and vesicular LGALS3BP in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients and available cell lines to explore its potential as a target for antibody‐drug conjugate (ADC) therapy. Methods Free and vesicular LGALS3BP expression levels were evaluated in cancer tissues from a cohort of OSCC patients as well as in a panel of OSCC cell lines through immunohistochemistry, qRT‐PCR, Western Blot analysis, and ELISA. Results LGALS3BP resulted in being highly expressed in the cytoplasm of tumour cells in OSCC patient tissues. A strong correlation was found between high LGALS3BP expression levels and aggressive histological features of OSCC. Biochemistry analysis performed on OSCC cell lines showed that LGALS3BP is expressed in all the tested cell lines and highly enriched in cancer‐derived extracellular vesicles. Moreover, LGALS3BP high‐expressing HOC621 and CAL27 OSCC cell lines showed high sensitivity to the ADC‐payload DM4, with an IC 50 around 0.3 nM. Conclusions The present study highlights that LGALS3BP is highly expressed in OSCC suggesting a role as a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for ADC‐based therapy.