title: Transferrin receptor ligand-targeted toxin conjugate (Tf-CRM107) for therapy of malignant gliomas.
abstract: The authors review the preclinical and clinical results of the ligand-targeted toxin conjugate Transferrin-CRM107 (Tf-CRM107), for the treatment of malignant gliomas. Tf-CRM107 is a conjugate protein of diphtheria toxin with a point mutation (CRM107) linked by a thioester bond to human transferrin (Tf). This conjugate exhibits potent cytotoxicity in vitro against mammalian cells expressing the transferrin receptor with activity at picomolar concentrations. Phase I clinical trial results demonstrated that Tf-CRM107, delivered via a high-flow convection method utilizing stereotactically placed catheters, produced tumor response in patients with malignant brain tumors refractory to conventional therapy without severe neurologic or systemic toxicity. The results of a Phase II study are also summarized. Tf-CRM107 treatment results in complete and partial tumor response without severe toxicity in 35% of the evaluable patients. These data warrant a Phase III study as well as continued research in the field of targeted toxin therapy. Future directions of research include optimizing Tf-CRM107 delivery to targeted brain regions, and improving the treatment efficacy by combining with other toxin conjugates targeted to different receptors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140-5103, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.forename: Douglas W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Laske
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005910:Glioma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D014168:Transferrin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; C404391:Tf-CRM107; D014168:Transferrin