Single chain antibody variable regions.
The use of antibodies or antibody fragments for targeting tumors (either for tumor imaging or as carriers for drugs or toxins), has encountered problems of clearance, and non-specific or inefficient binding in clinical trials. A novel approach, linking two antibody variable fragments (Fvs), with a short peptide to generate a continuous polypeptide chain, may be able to overcome some of these problems. Since these single chain antibody variable regions (scFvs), are transcribed from constructed 'genes', large-scale production in, for example, E. coli, should be straightforward.
Molecular Oncology, Inc., Gaithersburg, MD 20878.
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Walker
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000737:chemistry*; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains / Q000737:chemistry*; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000922:Immunotoxins / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D015202:Protein Engineering / Q000379:methods*
D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D000922:Immunotoxins