A diphtheria toxin-epidermal growth factor fusion protein is cytotoxic to human glioblastoma multiforme cells

Tie Fu Liu, Kimberley A. Cohen, Jason G. Ramage, Mark C. Willingham, Andrew M. Thorburn, Arthur E. Frankel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

47 Scopus citations

Abstract

The cytotoxicity of a diphtheria toxin-human epidermal growth factor fusion protein (DAB389EGF) was tested against 14 human glioma cell lines. After cells were cultured for 48 h with various concentrations of DAB389EGF, the percentage reduction in thymidine incorporation was determined. For 13 of 14 cell lines, potent cytotoxicity was observed, with IC50s of 0.4-50 pM. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) density of these cell lines was determined by immunofluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, and radioligand binding. These assays correlated well with each other and demonstrated EGFR levels of 15,000-230,000/cell for 13 of 14 cell lines. The cell line U138MG, which lacked EGFR, was the only cell line insensitive to DAB389EGF. Linear regression analysis showed a good correlation between EGFR density and DAB389EGF sensitivity (P < 0.001) and between results of flow cytometry and radiolabeled binding assays of EGFR density (P = 0.01). DAB389EGF may have potential for intracranial therapy of EGFR-positive glioblastomas.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1834-1837
Number of pages4
JournalCancer research
Volume63
Issue number8
StatePublished - Apr 15 2003

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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