Identification and characterization of mammaglobin-A epitope in heterogenous breast cancers for enhancing tumor-targeting therapy

Although targeted therapy has been extensively investigated for breast cancers, a molecular target with broad application is currently unavailable due to the high heterogeneity of these cancers. Mammaglobin-A (Mam-A), which is overexpressed in most breast carcinomas, has been proposed as a promising target. However, the lack of specific targeting moieties due to uncertain binding epitopes hampers further translational study. Here, seven potential epitopes of Mam-A were disclosed, and a unique epitope was then identified in most types of breast cancers, despite the genotypic heterogeneity. With phage display technology, the epitope was determined to be N-terminal amino acids 42–51 of Mam-A (N 42–51 ). Then, the N 42–51 epitope-specific monoclonal antibody, mAb785, was conjugated to poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles loaded with therapeutic agents, thereby enhancing the drug uptake and therapeutic efficacy in different genotypes of breast cancers. The computer simulation of the N 42–51 epitope and the mAb785 structures, as well as their interactions, further revealed the specific targeting mechanism of the mAb785-conjugated nanoparticles to breast cancers.