home   genetic news   bioinformatics   biotechnology   literature   journals   ethics   positions   events   sitemap
 
  HUM-MOLGEN -> Genetic News | search  
 

Safer Magic Bullets

 
  March, 17 2003 9:54
your information resource in human molecular genetics
 
     
Researchers have found a way that could potentially avoid the debilitating side effects seen in patients taking a type of experimental cancer therapy. Although natural toxins hooked up to antibodies (termed immunotoxins) have promised efficacious and targeted therapies for use in cancer, until now, some have been plagued by a potentially lethal side-effect in humans called vascular leak syndrome (VLS). In the April issue of Nature Biotechnology, scientists at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center have isolated and modified key residues in the toxin ricin to eliminate its ability to cause severe side effects without compromising its power to kill tumor cells in mice.

Ricin is a natural toxin found in castor beans. Ricin toxin A chain (RTA) linked to an antibody that targets lymphoma has been investigated in clinical trials, but VLS limited the efficacy of the treatment. If VLS can be minimized, permitting the safe dose escalation of immunotoxins, this should significantly improve their therapeutic profile.

To eliminate these side effects, Ellen Vitetta and coworkers first determined that several proteins that cause VLS contain similar sequences. Next, they engineered RTA-based immunotoxins to alter these sequences. They used a model of VLS in mice to show that the modified RTA-containing immunotoxins kill tumor cells but induce significantly less VLS than unmodified immunotoxins. The toxicity of the immunotoxins is reduced about five-fold. Because several therapeutics can cause VLS, a solution to this problem may facilitate clinical development of other drugs.

Author contact:

Ellen S. Vitetta
Cancer Immunobiology Center
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
TX, USA
Tel: +1 214 648 1200
E-mail: ellen.vitetta@utsouthwestern.edu

Also available online.

(C) Nature Biotechnology press release.


Message posted by: Trevor M. D'Souza

print this article mail this article
Latest News
Variants Associated with Pediatric Allergic Disorder

Mutations in PHF6 Found in T-Cell Leukemia

Genetic Risk Variant for Urinary Bladder Cancer

Antibody Has Therapeutic Effect on Mice with ALS

Regulating P53 Activity in Cancer Cells

Anti-RNA Therapy Counters Breast Cancer Spread

Mitochondrial DNA Diversity

The Power of RNA Sequencing

‘Pro-Ageing' Therapy for Cancer?

Niche Genetics Influence Leukaemia

Molecular Biology: Clinical Promise for RNA Interference

Chemoprevention Cocktail for Colon Cancer

more news ...

Generated by News Editor 2.0 by Kai Garlipp
WWW: Kai Garlipp, Frank S. Zollmann.
7.0 © 1995-2023 HUM-MOLGEN. All rights reserved. Liability, Copyright and Imprint.