title: Volociximab  in cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Volociximab is a first-in-class chimeric monoclonal antibody that targets α5β1 integrin. Preclinical studies have shown the ability of volociximab to inhibit tumor neoangiogenesis by blocking the interaction between α5β1 and fibronectin. Volociximab's safety profile, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics have been established. Ongoing clinical trials are evaluating its efficacy in the treatment of different types of solid tumors as a single agent or in combination with chemotherapy. In this review we focus on the biological effect of volociximab and results of completed clinical trials.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review summarizes the structures and functions of integrin α5β1 and its ligand fibronectin, provides an overview of the early development of volociximab, a targeted monoclonal antibody that specifically binds and inhibits activation of integrin α5β1, and discusses the relevant data from pre-clinical and clinical studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Volociximab has been well tolerated as monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy. It has shown promising activity in different types of cancer. Randomized trials are required to validate those early results.
authors.affiliation: Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Salah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Almokadem
authors.forename: Chandra P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Belani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic / Q000379:methods; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D039081:Integrin alpha5beta1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005353:Fibronectins; D039081:Integrin alpha5beta1; C516631:volociximab