title: Targeted inhibition of tumour cell growth by a bispecific single-chain toxin containing an antibody domain and TGF alpha.
abstract: Overexpression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and ErbB-2 has been observed in a variety of human tumours, making these receptors promising targets for directed tumour therapy. Since many tumour cells express both ErbB-2 and EGFR and these receptors synergise in cellular transformation, therapeutic reagents simultaneously binding to ErbB-2 and EGFR might offer advantages for tumour therapy. We have previously described the potent anti-tumoral activity of a bispecific antibody toxin that contains ErbB-2- and EGFR-specific single-chain Fv (scFv) domains. Here we report the construction and functional characterisation of a novel bispecific recombinant toxin, scFv(FRP5)-TGF alpha-ETA. The fusion protein consists of the antigen-binding domain of the ErbB-2-specific MAb, FRP5, and the natural EGFR ligand, TGF alpha, inserted at different positions in truncated Pseudomonas exotoxin A. ScFv(FRP5)-TGF alpha-ETA protein displayed binding to EGFR and ErbB-2, thereby inducing activation of the receptors, which was dependent on the cellular context and the level of EGFR and ErbB-2 expression. The bispecific molecule was cytotoxic in vitro for tumour cells expressing various levels of the target receptors. In vivo scFv(FRP5)-TGF alpha-ETA potently inhibited the growth of established A431 tumour xenografts in nude mice.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wels
mesh_terms: D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases; D000818:Animals; D018033:Antibodies, Bispecific / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D005098:Exotoxins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D000922:Immunotoxins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051379:Mice; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000628:therapy; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000276:immunology*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000276:immunology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D037521:Virulence Factors; D000097668:Pseudomonas aeruginosa Exotoxin A
chemical_list: D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases; D018033:Antibodies, Bispecific; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D005098:Exotoxins; D000922:Immunotoxins; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D037521:Virulence Factors; D000097668:Pseudomonas aeruginosa Exotoxin A