Induction of apoptosis by tumor cell-targeted toxins.
Targeted toxins are fusion proteins that combine a targeting molecule that selectively binds to and enters tumor cells with a protein toxin that kills the target cells. These molecules represent an exciting approach to develop effective cancer-specific therapeutics that have few side effects on normal tissues and numerous such toxins are in various stages of pre-clinical and clinical development to treat a wide variety of tumors. In this review, we discuss this strategy, describe ways that the toxins activate the apoptosis machinery and discuss future developments in this field.
Thorburn
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A
Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd., Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA. athorbur@wfubmc.edu
Thorburn
J
J
Frankel
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AE
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis; D004167:Diphtheria Toxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004167:Diphtheria Toxin; D014118:Toxins, Biological