Development and in vitro validation of anti-mesothelin biobodies that prevent CA125/Mesothelin-dependent cell attachment

Preventing peritoneal implantation of carcinoma cells could prolong ovarian cancer patient remission and survival. Peritoneal cells constitutively express mesothelin, a ligand for CA125 that is expressed by tumor cells. Thus blocking CA125/mesothelin-dependent cell attachment may prevent or delay peritoneal metastatic recurrence. We developed a high-throughput screening system for reagents able to block CA125/mesothelin-dependent cell attachment with a sensitive quantitative readout. Using a novel yeast-expression system to produce secreted, in vivo biotinylated proteins and biobodies (Bbs), we generated anti-mesothelin Bbs. Anti-mesothelin Bbs derived from high affinity yeast-display scFv detected both membrane-bound and soluble mesothelins and inhibited CA125/mesothelin-dependent cell attachment.