dCD133KDEL

dCD133KDEL is a recombinant biologic immunotoxin developed by the Masonic Cancer Center at the University of Minnesota for the treatment of advanced solid tumors. It is a fusion protein consisting of a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) that targets both glycosylated and unglycosylated forms of CD133, a membrane-bound pentaspan glycoprotein frequently expressed on cancer stem cells. The scFv is fused to a deimmunized version of Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PE38KDEL). Upon binding to CD133 and subsequent internalization into the target cell, the toxin moiety induces ADP-ribosylation of elongation factor 2 (EF-2). This action leads to the irreversible inhibition of protein synthesis and subsequent cell death. The drug is currently being evaluated in Phase I clinical trials for patients with refractory solid tumors, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, and breast carcinoma.

Other names

CD133KDELCD-133KDELCD 133KDELdeimmunized CD133KDELstem-cell directed deimmunized CD133KDEL toxin