Construction, expression, and activity of a novel immunotoxin comprising a humanized antiepidermal growth factor receptor scFv and modified Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A

Abstract

Overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays a significant role in the development and metastasis of many solid tumors. Strategies based on anti-EGFR immunotoxins have shown promising results in several studies, but immunogenicity of antibody and toxin moieties is a limitation of this type of therapeutics. In the present study, a novel humanized anti-EGFR immunotoxin (huscFv-PE25) was developed by genetic fusing of a humanized anti-EGFR single-chain variable fragment (huscFv) with a modified Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A (PE25KDEL). The reactivity and toxicity of this immunotoxin with tumor cells were assessed by dot-blot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and MTT procedures. Results of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and dot-blot assay indicated that the immunotoxin recognizes and efficiently binds to EGFR-overexpressing tumor cells. MTT assay showed a specific growth-inhibitory effect of huscFv-PE25 on EGFR-overexpressing A431 cells, without any inhibitory effect on EGFR-negative cells. In conclusion, the results of this study indicated that huscFv-PE25 can recognize and exert an inhibitory effect on EGFR-overexpressing cancer cells, despite its smaller size and lower immunogenicity. This may provide a basis for the development of novel clinical therapeutic agents against EGFR-overexpressing tumor cells. Copyright (C) 2017 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.