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Targeted toxins as anticancer agents
Author(s) -
Siegall Clay B.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19940801)74:3+<1006::aid-cncr2820741506>3.0.co;2-v
Subject(s) - immunotoxin , cytotoxic t cell , receptor , cancer research , antigen , antibody , growth factor receptor , epidermal growth factor receptor , growth factor receptor inhibitor , epidermal growth factor , immunology , monoclonal antibody , biology , medicine , biochemistry , in vitro
Transformed cells, such as those found in breast cancer, often overexpress a variety of cell surface receptors and antigens. Antibodies or growth factors that specifically recognize these membrane‐bound structures can be linked with protein toxins, resulting in cell‐specific cytotoxic reagents. Many of these cytotoxic molecules have been produced and are referred to as oncotoxins, mitotoxins, or immunotoxins, depending on the components of the chimeric molecule. These bifunctional reagents are constructed as either chemical conjugates or fusion proteins between a ligand/antibody and a toxin. This report focuses on the use of cytotoxic proteins targeted to epidermal growth factor receptors, fibroblast growth factor receptors, erbB‐2/ HER ‐2, and tumor‐associated carbohydrate antigens. Using immunotoxin therapy, total regression of established tumors in animal xenograft models have been demonstrated. These results suggest that immunotoxin molecules offer exciting opportunities for the treatment of human cancer.