A wortmannin-cetuximab as a double drug

Bioconjug Chem. 2009 Nov;20(11):2185-9. doi: 10.1021/bc900176a.

Abstract

Double drugs are obtained when two pharmacologically active entities are covalently joined to improve potency. We conjugated the viridin Wm with a self-activating linkage to cetuximab and demonstrated the retention of immunoreactivity by the conjugate. Though cetuximab lacked a growth inhibitory activity against A549 cells, the Wm-cetuximab conjugate had an antiproliferative IC(50) of 155 nM in vitro. The chemistry of attaching a self-releasing Wm to clinically approved antibodies is general and, in selected instances, may yield antibody-based double drugs with improved efficacy.

MeSH terms

  • Androstadienes / chemistry*
  • Androstadienes / pharmacology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / chemistry*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cetuximab
  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • Drug Design*
  • Drug Synergism
  • Humans
  • Immunoconjugates
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Wortmannin

Substances

  • Androstadienes
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • Immunoconjugates
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Cetuximab
  • Wortmannin