Recombinant immunotoxins and chimeric toxins for a targeted therapy in oncology

Immunotoxins and chimeric toxins are hybrid molecules constituted of antibodies, growth factor or cytokines coupled to peptide toxins. They are designed to selectively eliminate tumor cells. Some of these chimera have been shown to induce complete tumor regressions of human tumor xenografts in immunodeficient mire. In clinical trials, higher anti tumor response were observed in lymphoma, brain tumor, breast and colon cancers. Problems arised with normal tissue toxicity and the production of neutralising antibodies. Should the latest recombinant toxins conceived by rationale designed solved there problems, chimeric toxins would be an alternative approach to target tumor cells and vascular endothelial cells in solid tumors.