Targeting C-Met on Gastric Cancer Cells Through a Fully Human Fab Antibody Isolated from a Large Naive Phage Antibody Library

Purpose: The aberrant Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/ mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (c-Met) signaling pathway in various malignancies and its correlation with tumor invasion and poor prognosis has validated c-Met as a compelling therapeutic target. Up to now, several monoclonal antibodies and small molecule inhibitors targeting c-Met have been introduced with different outcomes, none are yet clinically approved. Toward the generation of novel fully human anti-c-Met molecules, we generated a large naïve Fab antibody library using phage display technology, which subsequently screened for novel Fabs against c-Met.

Methods: A phage library, with a functional size of 5.5 × 10 individual antibody clones, was prepared using standard protocols and screened for c-Met-specific Fabs by successive rounds of panning. A panel of Fabs targeting c-Met were isolated, from which four clones were selected and further characterized by DNA sequencing. The c-Met binding ability of our selected Fabs was evaluated by c-Met ELISA assay and flow cytometry techniques.

Results: Among the confirmed anti-c-Met Fabs, clone C16, showed the highest affinity (K: 0.3 × 10 M), and 63% binding to MKN45 cells (a human gastric adenocarcinoma cell-line) as compared to c-Met negative T47D cell-line (9.03%).

Conclusion: Together, our study presents a single-pot antibody library, as a valuable source for finding a range of antigen-specific Fab antibodies, and also, a fully human, high affinity and specific anti c-Met Fab antibody, C16, which has the potential of developing as a therapeutic or chemotherapeutic delivery agent for killing c-Met-positive tumor cells.