[en] Full text of publication follows. We have developed the use of Sac7d archaeal polypeptide and its homologues as a non-antibody scaffold from which artificial affinity proteins (Affitins) can be derived with a number of favorable properties. Affitins show affinity (sub-nanomolar) and specificity that compare well with those of antibodies [Ref.1]. They are thermally (up to 90 C. degrees) and chemically stable (pH 0-12+, denaturants), well expressed in E. coli (up to 200 mg/L), lack disulfide bridge and have a size compatible with chemical synthesis (7 kDa). We have demonstrated their use as reagents for intra-cellular inhibition [Ref.1], affinity purification [Ref.2], immuno-localization [Ref.3], protein chip array [Ref.4] and biosensors [Ref.5]. We have also shown that Affitins are plastic enough to tolerate several mutagenesis schemes while their fold and their favorable properties are conserved [Ref.6]. Compared to Affitins, monoclonal antibodies are 20 times larger, less stable and more complex molecules. Furthermore, the remarkable stability properties of Affitins make them suited for demanding labeling protocols that are usually used for peptides. All together, these results show that Affitins should be well suited for biomedical applications where fine tuning of the affinity reagent properties is needed. References: [Ref.1] Mouratou, B. et al., (2007), Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 104, 17983-17988; [Ref.2] Krehenbrink, M. et al. (2008), J Mol Biol 383, 1058-1068; [Ref.3] Buddelmeijer, N. et al. (2009), J Bacteriol 191, 161-168; [Ref.4] Cinier, M. et al. (2009), Bioconjug. Chem. 20, 2270-2277; [Ref.5] Miranda, F. F. et al. (2011), Biosens. Bioelectron. 26, 4184-4190; [Ref.6] Behar G.et al. (2013), Protein Eng Des Sel. 26(4):267-75. (authors)

[en] Introduction: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a B-cell malignancy of terminally differentiated plasma cells within the bone marrow. Despite intense research to develop new treatments, cure is almost never achieved. Alpha-radioimmunotherapy (RIT) has been shown to be effective in vivo in a MM model. In order to define where alpha-RIT stands in MM treatment, the aim of this study was to compare Melphalan, MM standard treatment, with alpha-RIT using a [213Bi]-anti-mCD138 antibody in a syngeneic MM mouse model. Methods: C57BL/KaLwRij mice were grafted with 1 × 10"6 5T33 murine MM cells. Luciferase transfected 5T33 cells were used for in vivo localization. The first step of the study was to assess the dose-response of Melphalan 21 days after engraftment. The second step consisted in therapeutic combination: Melphalan followed by RIT at day 22 or day 25 after engraftment. Toxicity (animal weight, blood cell counts) and treatment efficacy were studied in animals receiving no treatment, injected with Melphalan alone, RIT alone at day 22 or day 25 (3.7 MBq of [213Bi]-anti-CD138) and Melphalan combined with alpha-RIT. Results: Fifty percent of untreated mice died by day 63 after MM engraftment. In mice treated with Melphalan alone, only the 200 μg dose improved median survival. No animal was cured after Melphalan treatment whereas 60% of the mice survived with RIT alone at day 22 after tumor engraftment with only slight and reversible hematological radiotoxicity. No therapeutic effect was observed with alpha-RIT 25 days after engraftment. Melphalan and alpha-RIT combination does not improve overall survival compared to RIT alone, and results in increased leukocyte and red blood cell toxicity. Conclusions: Alpha-RIT seems to be a good alternative to Melphalan. Association of these two treatments provides no benefit. The perspectives of this work would be to evaluate RIT impact on the regimens incorporating the novel agents bortezomide, thalidomide and lenalidomide