title: Advances in anticancer immunotoxin therapy.
abstract: Immunotoxins are a novel class of antibody-conjugated therapeutics currently in clinical development for a variety of malignancies. They consist of an antibody-based targeting domain fused to a bacterial toxin payload for cell killing. Immunotoxins kill cells by inhibiting protein synthesis, a unique mechanism of action that is toxic to both dividing and nondividing cells. Recent advances in the design and administration of immunotoxins are overcoming historical challenges in the field, leading to renewed interest in these therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alewine
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Raffit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA pastani@mail.nih.gov.
authors.forename: Ira
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pastan
mesh_terms: D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D000922:Immunotoxins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D000922:Immunotoxins
keywords: Antibody conjugate; Antidrug antibody; Recombinant immunotoxin; Vascular leak syndrome