Cross-Validation of a Multiplex LC-MS/MS Method for Assaying mAbs Plasma Levels in Patients with Cancer: A GPCO-UNICANCER Study

Background: Different liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) methods have been published for quantification of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in plasma but thus far none allowed the simultaneous quantification of several mAbs, including immune checkpoint inhibitors. We developed and validated an original multiplex LC–MS/MS method using a ready-to-use kit to simultaneously assay 7 mAbs (i.e., bevacizumab, cetuximab, ipilimumab, nivolumab, pembrolizumab, rituximab and trastuzumab) in plasma. This method was next cross-validated with respective reference methods (ELISA or LC–MS/MS). Methods: The mAbXmise kit was used for mAb extraction and full-length stable-isotope-labeled antibodies as internal standards. The LC–MS/MS method was fully validated following current EMA guidelines. Each cross validation between reference methods and ours included 16–28 plasma samples from cancer patients. Results: The method was linear from 2 to 100 µg/mL for all mAbs. Inter- and intra-assay precision was <14.6% and accuracy was 90.1–111.1%. The mean absolute bias of measured concentrations between multiplex and reference methods was 10.6% (range 3.0–19.9%). Conclusions: We developed and cross-validated a simple, accurate and precise method that allows the assay of up to 7 mAbs. Furthermore, the present method is the first to offer a simultaneous quantification of three immune checkpoint inhibitors likely to be associated in patients.