title: Biting back: BiTE antibodies as a promising therapy for acute myeloid leukemia.
abstract: The experience with gemtuzumab ozogamicin has highlighted both the potential value and limitations of antibodies in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Recently, bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) antibodies have emerged as a means to harness polyclonal cytotoxic T-cells and cause highly efficient lysis of targeted tumor cells. Promising early results have been obtained with the CD19-directed BiTE antibody, blinatumomab, in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. A first candidate for AML is the CD33/CD3 molecule, AMG 330, for which several recent preclinical studies demonstrated high potency and efficacy in destroying CD33(+) human AML cells. Many questions remain to be addressed, but BiTE antibodies may offer an exciting new tool in a disease for which the outcomes in many patients remain unsatisfactory.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, D2-190, Seattle, WA 98109-1024, USA.
authors.forename: Roland B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Walter
mesh_terms: D018033:Antibodies, Bispecific / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D018033:Antibodies, Bispecific; C510808:blinatumomab
keywords: AMG 330; acute myeloid leukemia; antibody; bispecific; bite; cd3; cd33; gemtuzumab ozogamicin; immunotherapy