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Induction of apoptosis by tumor cell-targeted toxins

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Abstract

Targeted toxins are fusion proteins that combine a targeting molecule that selectively binds to and enters tumor cells with a protein toxin that kills the target cells. These molecules represent an exciting approach to develop effective cancer-specific therapeutics that have few side effects on normal tissues and numerous such toxins are in various stages of pre-clinical and clinical development to treat a wide variety of tumors. In this review, we discuss this strategy, describe ways that the toxins activate the apoptosis machinery and discuss future developments in this field.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd., Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157, USA

    A. Thorburn, J. Thorburn & A. E. Frankel

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  1. A. Thorburn
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  2. J. Thorburn
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  3. A. E. Frankel
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Correspondence to A. Thorburn.

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Thorburn, A., Thorburn, J. & Frankel, A.E. Induction of apoptosis by tumor cell-targeted toxins. Apoptosis 9, 19–25 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:APPT.0000012118.95548.88

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:APPT.0000012118.95548.88

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