Mutated humanized 12G4 antibodies and the fragments thereof against the human anti-Mullerian hormone receptor type II

1. A nucleic acid comprising or consisting of a sequence encoding for the light chain of a mutated humanized 12G4 monoclonal antibody and/or a sequence encoding for the heavy chain of said mutated humanized 12G4 monoclonal antibody, said mutated humanized 12G4 monoclonal antibody comprising or consisting of:

a) a light chain comprising or consisting of: a variable region (VL) according to amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 4, said VL consisting of three regions determining antigen recognition (CDR) surrounded by four framework regions (FR), and a constant region according to amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 6 or a sequence having at least 80% homology with SEQ ID NO: 6 , and

b) a heavy chain comprising or consisting of: a variable region (VH) according to amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 8 or SEQ ID NO: 10, and a constant region according to amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 12 or a sequence having at least 80% homology with SEQ ID NO: 12,

wherein said mutated humanized 12G4 monoclonal antibody comprises at least one mutation selected from the group consisting of:

a mutation located in one of the CDR regions of the VL that is a substitution of at least one amino acid selected from the group consisting of S179P, one of E184K, E184G, or E184D, and S182F,

a mutation located in one of the FR regions of VL that is a substitution of at least one amino acid selected from the group consisting of: I177T, I132T, A143T, T150A, S158P, L175Q, Y178H, V187A, S192T, G197D, and F212S, and

a mutation located in the heavy chain that is a substitution of at least one amino acid selected from the group consisting of: Q1E, Q3E or Q3R, Q6E, A9T, V11A, K12R, K13R, K19E, V20A, one of A24G, A24V or A24T, Q39E, A40V, S31G, L45P, D56N, A76T, A79T, R87G, T58A, Q62R, V67M, I70N, T74A, S77P, A79T, S88P, E89D, F102S, A1031, L110P, and S114T, and

said mutated humanized 12G4 monoclonal antibody has a KD for human anti-Müllerian hormone type II receptor (AMHRII) at least equal to that of the chimeric 12G4 monoclonal antibody, comprising or consisting of:

a) a light chain consisting of: a variable region according to amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 14, and a constant region according to amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 6,

b) a heavy chain consisting of: a variable region according to amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 18, and a constant region according to amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 12, for said receptor below 10 −7 M.

2. The nucleic acid according to claim 1 , wherein the sequence encoding for the light chain comprises or consists of the following sequences:

a) a sequence encoding for the variable region of the light chain of SEQ ID NO: 53 in which a substitution of at least one codon permitting the substitution, in one of the CDRs, of one or more of the following amino acids: S179P, E184K, E184G, E184D, S182F has been carried out, or,

b) a sequence encoding for the variable region of the light chain of SEQ ID NO: 53 in which:

at least one substitution of a codon permitting the substitution, in one of the CDRs, of one or more of the following amino acids: S179P, E184K, E184G, E184D, S182F has been carried out, and

at least one substitution of at least one codon permitting the substitution, in one of the FRs, of one or more of the following amino acids: I177T, I132T, A143T, T150A, S158P, L175Q, Y178H, V187A, S192T, G197D, F212S, has been carried out,

and a sequence encoding for the constant region represented by SEQ ID NO: 5.

3. The nucleic acid according to claim 1 , in which the sequence encoding for the heavy chain comprises or consists of the following sequences:

SEQ ID NO: 57 in which a substitution of at least one codon permitting the substitution of one or more of the following amino acids: Q1E, Q3E, Q3R, Q6E, A9T, V11A, K12R, K13R, K19E, V20A, A24G, A24V, A24T, Q39E, A40V, S31G, L45P, D56N, A76T, A79T, R87G, T58A, Q62R, V67M, I70N, T74A, S77P, A79T, S88P, E89D, F102S, A103T, L110P, S114T has been carried out.

4. The nucleic acid according to claim 1 comprising:

a light chain encoded by a sequence comprising or consisting of the following sequences:

a) a sequence for the variable region of the light chain represented by SEQ ID NO: 53 in which a substitution of at least one codon permitting the substitution, in one of the CDRs, of one or more of the following amino acids:

S179P, E184K, E184G, E184D, S182F has been carried out, or

b) a sequence encoding for the variable region of the light chain represented by SEQ ID NO: 53 in which:

at least one substitution of a codon permitting the substitution, in one of the CDRs, of one or more of the following amino acids: S179P, E184K, E184G, E184D, S182F has been carried out, and

at least one substitution of at least one codon permitting the substitution, in one of the FRs, of one or more of the following amino acids: I177T, I132T, A143T, T150A, S158P, L175Q, Y178H, V187A, S192T, G197D, F212S, has been carried out, and

a heavy chain encoded by the sequence comprising or consisting of the following sequences: SEQ ID NO: 57 in which a substitution of at least one codon permitting the substitution of one or more of the following amino acids: Q1E, Q3E, Q3R, Q6E, A9T, V11A, K12R, K13R, K19E, V20A, A24G, A24V, A24T, Q39E, A40V, S31G, L45P, D56N, A76T, A79T, R87G, T58A, Q62R, V67M, I70N, T74A, S77P, A79T, S88P, E89D, F102S, A103T, L110P, S114T has been carried out.

5. The nucleic acid according to claim 1 , wherein the sequence encoding for the light chain comprises or consists of a sequence encoding for a variable region and a sequence encoding for a constant region selected from the following:

a) variable region:

SEQ ID NO: 21 or SEQ ID NO: 23, or

SEQ ID NO: 29 or SEQ ID NO: 31, or

SEQ ID NO: 33 or SEQ ID NO: 35, or

SEQ ID NO: 45 or SEQ ID NO: 47, or

b) constant region

SEQ ID NO: 5.

6. The nucleic acid according to claim 1 , wherein the sequence encoding for the heavy chain comprises or consists of a sequence encoding for a variable region and a sequence encoding for a constant region selected from the following:

a) variable region:

SEQ ID NO: 25 or SEQ ID NO: 27, or

SEQ ID NO: 7 or SEQ ID NO: 9, or

SEQ ID NO: 37 or SEQ ID NO: 39, or

SEQ ID NO: 41 or SEQ ID NO: 43, or

SEQ ID NO: 49 or SEQ ID NO: 51,

b) constant region

SEQ ID NO: 11.

7. The nucleic acid according to claim 1 , wherein the sequence encoding for the light chain is selected from the following sequences:

SEQ ID NO: 69 or SEQ ID NO: 71, or

SEQ ID NO: 77 or SEQ ID NO: 79, or

SEQ ID NO: 81 or SEQ ID NO: 83, or

SEQ ID NO: 93 or SEQ ID NO: 95, and the sequence encoding for the heavy chain is selected from the following sequences:

SEQ ID NO: 73 or SEQ ID NO: 75, or

SEQ ID NO: 57 or SEQ ID NO: 59, or

SEQ ID NO: 85 or SEQ ID NO: 87, or

SEQ ID NO: 89 or SEQ ID NO: 91, or

SEQ ID NO: 97 or SEQ ID NO: 99.

8. The nucleic acid according to claim 1 , in which the sequence encoding for the light chain and the sequence encoding for the heavy chain are as follows:

a) sequence encoding for the light chain SEQ ID NO: 69 or SEQ ID NO: 71, and

b) sequence encoding for the heavy chain SEQ ID NO: 73 or SEQ ID NO: 75, or,

a) sequence encoding for the light chain SEQ ID NO: 77 or SEQ ID NO: 79, and

b) sequence encoding for the heavy chain SEQ ID NO: 57 or SEQ ID NO: 59, or,

a) sequence encoding for the light chain SEQ ID NO: 81 or SEQ ID NO: 83, and

b) sequence encoding for the heavy chain SEQ ID NO: 85 or SEQ ID NO: 87, or,

a) sequence encoding for the light chain SEQ ID NO: 77 or SEQ ID NO: 79, and

b) sequence encoding for the heavy chain SEQ ID NO: 89 or SEQ ID NO: 91, or,

a) sequence encoding for the light chain SEQ ID NO: 93 or SEQ ID NO: 95, and

b) sequence encoding for the heavy chain SEQ ID NO: 97 or SEQ ID NO: 99.

9. An expression vector comprising at least one nucleic acid according to claim 1 , said nucleic acid being under the control of the elements permitting its expression.

10. An expression vector according to claim 9 , comprising a first nucleic acid selected from the nucleic acids with the following sequences: SEQ ID NO 71, 79, 83, or 95, said first nucleic acid being under the control of the elements permitting its expression, and a second nucleic acid selected from the nucleic acids with the following sequences: SEQ ID NO 59, 75, 87, 91, or 99, said second nucleic acid being under the control of the elements permitting its expression.

11. A host cell or cell line transformed by a nucleic acid according to claim 1 and/or an expression vector comprising at least one of said nucleic acid, said nucleic acid being under the control of the elements permitting its expression.

12. A pharmaceutical composition, and in particular vaccine composition, comprising at least

a nucleic acid according to claim 1 , or

a vector comprising at least one of said nucleic acid, said nucleic acid being under the control of the elements permitting its expression,

together with a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.

13. A method of treating ovarian cancer associated with the human anti-Müllerian hormone type II receptor, comprising administering to a subject in need there-of an effective amount of:

1) a nucleic acid comprising or consisting of a sequence encoding for the light chain of a mutated humanized 12G4 monoclonal antibody and comprising or consisting of a sequence encoding for the heavy chain of said mutated humanized 12G4 monoclonal antibody, said mutated humanized 12G4 monoclonal antibody comprising or consisting of:

a) a light chain comprising or consisting of: a variable region (VL) according to amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 4, said VL consisting of three regions determining antigen recognition (CDR) surrounded by four framework regions (FR), and a constant region according to amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 6 or a sequence having at least 80% homology with SEQ ID NO: 6, and

b) a heavy chain comprising or consisting of: a variable region (VH) according to amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 8 or SEQ ID NO: 10, and a constant region according to amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 12 or a sequence having at least 80% homology with SEQ ID NO: 12,

wherein said mutated humanized 12G4 monoclonal antibody comprises at least one mutation selected from the group consisting of:

a mutation located in one of the CDR regions of the VL that is a substitution of at least one amino acid selected from the group consisting of S179P, one of E184K, E184G, or E184D, and S182F,

a mutation located in one of the FR regions of VL that is a substitution of at least one amino acid selected from the group consisting of: I177T, I132T, A143T, T150A, S158P, L175Q, Y178H, V187A, S192T, G197D, and F212S, and

a mutation located in the heavy chain that is a substitution of at least one amino acid selected from the group consisting of: Q1E, Q3E or Q3R, Q6E, A9T, V11A, K12R, K13R, K19E, V20A, one of A24G, A24V or A24T, Q39E, A40V, S31G, L45P, D56N, A76T, A79T, R87G, T58A, Q62R, V67M, I70N, T74A, S77P, A79T, S88P, E89D, F102S, A103T, L110P, and S114T, and

said mutated humanized 12G4 monoclonal antibody has a KD for human anti-Müllerian hormone type II receptor (AMHRII) at least equal to that of the chimeric 12G4 monoclonal antibody, comprising or consisting of:

a) a light chain consisting of: a variable region according to amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 14, and a constant region according to amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 6,

b) a heavy chain consisting of: a variable region according to amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 18, and a constant region according to amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 12, for said receptor below 10 −7 M,

2) a vector comprising at least one of said nucleic acid, said nucleic acid being under the control of the elements permitting its expression, or

3) a cell transformed by said nucleic acid and/or an expression vector comprising at least one of said nucleic acid, said nucleic acid being under the control of the elements permitting its expression.

14. A kit comprising at least:

a nucleic acid according to claim 1 , or

a vector comprising at least one of said nucleic acid, said nucleic acid being under the control of the elements permitting its expression, or

a cell transformed by said nucleic acid and/or an expression vector comprising at least one of said nucleic acid, said nucleic acid being under the control of the elements permitting its expression,

for use in diagnosing a pathology associated with the human anti-Müllerian hormone type II receptor, in particular ovarian cancer.

15. The nucleic acid according to claim 1 , wherein:

a) the light chain of said mutated humanized 12G4 monoclonal antibody comprises or consists of a variable region according to amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:2 in which said at least one substitution in said CDR region is selected from the group consisting of S179P, one of E184K, E184G, or E184D, and S182F,

or the light chain comprises or consists of a variable region according to amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:2 in which said at least one substitution in said CDR region is selected from the group consisting of: S179P, one of E184K, E184G, or E184D, and S182F, and said at least one substitution in the FR regions of VL is a substitution of at least one amino acid selected from the group consisting: of I177T, I132T, A143T, T150A, S158P, L175Q, Y178H, V187A, S192T, G197D, and F212S, and a constant region according to amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO : 6, and

b) the heavy chain of said mutated humanized 12G4 monoclonal antibody comprises or consists of a variable region according to amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 8 in which said at least one substitution is selected from the group consisting of: Q1E, Q3E or Q3R, Q6E, A9T, V11A, K12R, K13R, K19E, V20A, one of A24G, A24V or A24T, Q39E, A40V, S31G, L45P, D56N, A76T, A79T, R87G, T58A, Q62R, V67M, I70N, T74A, S77P, A79T, S88P, E89D, F102S, A1031, L110P, and S114T.

16. The nucleic acid according to claim 1 , wherein:

a) the light chain of said mutated humanized 12G4 monoclonal antibody comprises or consists of a variable region according to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

SEQ ID NO: 22 or SEQ ID NO: 24,

SEQ ID NO: 30 or SEQ ID NO: 32,

SEQ ID NO: 34 or SEQ ID NO: 36, and

SEQ ID NO: 46 or SEQ ID NO: 48, and of a constant region according to amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 6 , and

b) the heavy chain of said mutated humanized 12G4 monoclonal antibody comprises or consists of a variable region according to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

SEQ ID NO: 38 or SEQ ID NO: 40,

SEQ ID NO: 26 or SEQ ID NO: 28,

SEQ ID NO: 8 or SEQ ID NO: 10,

SEQ ID NO: 42 or SEQ ID NO: 44, and

SEQ ID NO: 50 or SEQ ID NO: 52, and of a constant region the according to amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO : 12.

17. The nucleic acid according to claim 1 , wherein the combination of the light chain and the heavy chain of said mutated humanized 12G4 monoclonal antibody is selected from the group consisting of:

the light chain consisting of SEQ ID NO: 70 or SEQ ID NO: 72, and the heavy chain consisting of SEQ ID NO: 74 or SEQID NO: 76,

the light chain consisting of SEQ ID NO: 78 or SEQ ID NO: 80, and the heavy chain consisting of SEQ ID NO: 58 or SEQ ID NO: 60,

the light chain consisting of SEQ ID NO: 82 or SEQ ID NO: 84, and the heavy chain consisting of SEQ ID NO: 86 or SEQ ID NO: 88,

the light chain consisting of SEQ ID NO: 78 or SEQ ID NO: 80, and the heavy chain consisting of SEQ ID NO: 90 or SEQ ID NO: 92, and

the light chain consisting of SEQ ID NO: 94 or SEQ ID NO: 96, and the heavy chain consisting of SEQ ID NO: 98 or SEQ ID NO: 100.