Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 23, 2025

Initial Evaluation of Antibody-conjugates Modified with Viral-derived Peptides for Increasing Cellular Accumulation and Improving Tumor Targeting
11:58

Initial Evaluation of Antibody-conjugates Modified with Viral-derived Peptides for Increasing Cellular Accumulation and Improving Tumor Targeting

Published on: March 8, 2018

7.7K

AB Toxins as High-Affinity Ligands for Cell Targeting in Cancer Therapy

Ana Márquez-López1, Mónica L Fanarraga1,2

  • 1The Nanomedicine Group, Institute Valdecilla-IDIVAL, 39011 Santander, Spain.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|July 14, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Novel cancer therapies leverage bacterial AB toxins, genetically engineered proteins with high affinity for tumor cell receptors, to overcome resistance to conventional treatments. These toxins offer precise targeting for advanced oncology applications.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Conventional cancer therapies face limitations, including acquired resistance.
  • Bacterial AB toxins are highly poisonous molecules with nanomolar affinity for cell receptors.
  • AB toxins can be genetically engineered into high-affinity therapeutic compounds.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the potential of bacterial AB toxins as a novel targeted therapy for cancer.
  • To review the structure, mechanisms of action, and applications of Diphtheria, Anthrax, Shiga, and Cholera toxins in oncology.
  • To discuss advances and future directions for engineered recombinant AB toxins in cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Review of the structure and mechanisms of action of Diphtheria (Dtx), Anthrax (Atx), Shiga (Stx), and Cholera (Ctx) toxins.
  • Analysis of tumor cell surface receptors recognized by AB toxins.
  • Evaluation of genetic engineering strategies for developing recombinant AB toxins.

Main Results:

  • AB toxins possess high affinity for target cell receptors, making them suitable ligands.
  • Tumor cells often express surface receptors recognized by AB toxins.
  • Engineered AB toxins show promise for precise anticancer targeting.

Conclusions:

  • Bacterial AB toxins represent a promising alternative to conventional targeted cancer therapies.
  • Engineered recombinant AB toxins offer innovative and precise applications in oncology.
  • Further development of AB toxin-based therapies could overcome treatment resistance and improve outcomes.
Keywords:
bacterial AB toxinscoated pitsdrug deliveryhigh-affinityimaging agentsneovasculaturereceptorstargeted therapiestranslocation

More Related Videos

A Flow Cytometry-Based Cell Surface Protein Binding Assay for Assessing Selectivity and Specificity of an Anticancer Aptamer10:46

A Flow Cytometry-Based Cell Surface Protein Binding Assay for Assessing Selectivity and Specificity of an Anticancer Aptamer

Published on: September 13, 2022

3.7K
Analyzing Tumor and Tissue Distribution of Target Antigen Specific Therapeutic Antibody07:36

Analyzing Tumor and Tissue Distribution of Target Antigen Specific Therapeutic Antibody

Published on: May 16, 2020

5.4K

Related Concept Videos

Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
7.7K
Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
567
Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors01:27

Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors

Enzyme-linked receptors are cell-surface receptors acting as an enzyme or associating with an enzyme intracellularly. They make excellent drug targets. Drugs can bind to the extracellular ligand-binding domain or directly affect their enzymatic domain and alter their activity.
Major types that are helpful drug targets include:
2.5K
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response01:27

Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response

Cytotoxic T cells are a vital component of the immune system. They have the remarkable ability to identify and target antigens on infected or abnormal cells. These antigens often originate from intracellular pathogens such as viruses or abnormal proteins cancer cells produce.
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
985
Targets for Drug Action: Overview01:26

Targets for Drug Action: Overview

Drugs target macromolecules to modify ongoing cellular processes. Primary drug targets include receptors, ion channels, transporters, and enzymes.
Receptors are either membrane-spanning or intracellular proteins, which upon binding a ligand, get activated and transmit the signal downstream to elicit a response. Drugs bind receptors, either mimicking the action of endogenous ligands or blocking the receptor activity to bring about a modified response. Nearly 35% of approved drugs target the G...
6.4K
Drug Distribution: Tissue Binding01:21

Drug Distribution: Tissue Binding

Upon entering the systemic circulation, drugs can distribute into the interstitial and intracellular fluid of various tissue cells. This distribution is facilitated by the binding of drugs to different cellular components within tissues, which may lead to drug accumulation in specific areas. Drugs bound to tissue components serve as reservoirs that release free drugs back into the system, prolonging the drug's overall action. However, this accumulation can also result in local toxicity.
For...
2.7K