Clinical trials of targeted toxins

Semin Cancer Biol. 1995 Oct;6(5):307-17. doi: 10.1006/scbi.1995.0039.

Abstract

Immunotoxins (monoclonal antibodies chemically coupled to peptide toxins) and fusion toxins (peptide ligands fused genetically to peptide toxins) have been used to treat a variety of malignancies over the last 20 years. Problems with normal tissue toxicities (vascular leak syndrome, hepatotoxicity, and neurotoxicities), poor penetration to tumor interstitum, and humoral immune responses have limited clinical efficacy. Higher response rates were observed with systemic therapy of leukemias and lymphomas and regional therapy of primary brain tumors. Ongoing studies are examining the role of targeted toxins in combination with chemoradiotherapy and in minimal residual disease settings.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • ADP Ribose Transferases*
  • Bacterial Toxins*
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Diphtheria Toxin / therapeutic use
  • Exotoxins / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Immunotoxins / therapeutic use*
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa Exotoxin A
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / therapeutic use*
  • Ricin / therapeutic use
  • Virulence Factors*

Substances

  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Diphtheria Toxin
  • Exotoxins
  • Immunotoxins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Virulence Factors
  • Ricin
  • ADP Ribose Transferases