Interstitial diphtheria toxin-epidermal growth factor fusion protein therapy produces regressions of subcutaneous human glioblastoma multiforme tumors in athymic nude mice.
OBJECTIVE
The novel fusion protein, DAB389EGF, composed of the catalytic and translocation domains of diphtheria toxin (DAB389) fused with a His-Ala linker to human epidermal growth factor (EGF) was tested for antiglioma efficacy in an in vivo model of human glioma.


METHODS
Female athymic nude mice (ages 4-6 weeks) were inoculated s.c. with 10 million U87MG human glioma cells in the right flank. When tumor volumes reached approximately 100 mm3 (approximately 6-8 days), i.t. injections of saline, DAB389IL2, or DAB389EGF 1, 3, 5 or 10 microg in 50 microL were given every other day for three to six doses. Animals were monitored twice daily and tumor measurements were made by calipers.


RESULTS
The maximal tolerated dose (MTD) of DAB389EGF was 3 microg every other day. Above the MTD, animals experienced loss of activity, reduced oral intake, and dehydration. Blood chemistries confirmed elevated blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, aspartate transaminase, and alanine transaminase. Histopathology revealed renal tubular necrosis. At the MTD, tumor regression was seen in all animals. Relapses occurred in 4 of 16 (25%) of animals after 1 month. These tumors contained EGF receptor, were sensitive in vitro to DAB389EGF, and responded to a second course of i.t. DAB389EGF.


CONCLUSIONS
DAB389EGF fusion protein shows in vivo antiglioma efficacy in a s.c. tumor model and warrants further preclinical testing in an i.c. tumor model for eventual treatment of patients with recurrent or refractory EGF receptor-positive glioblastoma multiforme.
Liu
Tie Fu
TF
Department of Medicine, Pathology, and Surgery, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA.
Hall
Philip D
PD
Cohen
Kimberley A
KA
Willingham
Mark C
MC
Cai
Jiaozhong
J
Thorburn
Andrew
A
Frankel
Arthur E
AE
D000818:Animals; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004167:Diphtheria Toxin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005910:Glioma / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009336:Necrosis; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
C487796:DAB389EGF protein, human; D004167:Diphtheria Toxin; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D009584:Nitrogen