Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Analysis of Targeted Viral Protein Nanoparticles Delivered to HER2+ Tumors
Published on: June 18, 2013
A targeted immunotherapy approach for HER2/neu transformed tumors by coupling an engineered effector domain with
Hongtao Zhang1, Lian Lam1, Yasuhiro Nagai1
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Abstract:
Despite substantial clinical progress with targeted therapies, current antibody-based approaches have limited efficacy at controlling HER2/neu-positive breast cancers, especially in the absence of chemotherapies. Previously, we showed that the combination of IFNγ and anti-HER2/neu antibody synergistically reduces tumor growth in an in vivo implanted mammary tumor model. Here, we report a recombinant approach to produce an anti-HER2/neu scFv and IFNγ fusion protein using an engineered effector domain (EED) scaffold. The new molecule induces in vitro apoptosis in an IFNγ receptor-dependent manner. At a very low dose in the in vivo xenografted tumor models, the new EED-IFNγ fusion protein demonstrates superior activity over the anti-HER2/neu antibody and is even active on tumors that are resistant to anti-HER2/neu antibody therapy. Examination of tumor infiltrated macrophages and lymphocytes reveals that the fusion protein can induce changes in tumor microenvironment to support immune reactivity against tumors. Our studies have defined a targeted immunotherapy approach for the treatment of cancers.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Tumor Immunotherapy
G-protein Coupled Receptors
Conservation of Protein Domains Over Different Proteins
A limited set of protein domains often duplicate and recombine during evolution. These domains can be organized in different combinations to...
Bacterial Transformation
Griffith made an unexpected discovery when he killed the pathogenic strain and mixed its remains with the live, non-pathogenic strain. Not only did the mixture kill host mice, but it also contained living pathogenic bacteria that...
Three Developmental Domains
Physical Development
Physical processes, also known as maturation, encompass the biological changes that occur across an individual's life. These changes begin with genetic inheritance and continue through various stages, including growth in height and weight,...
Membrane Domains
Protein Domains
The membrane comprises a group of distinct proteins responsible for carrying out a cell's specific function. For example, the plasma membrane of the human sperm, or a single germ cell, contains a unique set of proteins in the...

