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Toxicity of diphtheria toxin for lymphoblastoid cells is increased by conjugation to antilymphocytic globulin

Nature volume 271, pages 752–755 (1978)Cite this article

A Corrigendum to this article was published on 01 March 1978

Abstract

THERE is a pressing need in medicine for cytotoxic agents with tissue specificity. It may be possible to produce such agents by conjugating cytotoxic materials, themselves lacking inherent specificity, to antibodies directed against surface antigens peculiar to target cells. Various agents, including cytotoxic drugs1–7, radioactive materials8, radiosensitising agents9 and enzymes10–11 have been covalently coupled to antitumour antibodies in attempts to produce such antitumour agents but so far these have not consistently produced cures in tumour-bearing animals. We, like others12–16, have chosen to use diphtheria toxin because we consider that the paucity of tumour-specific antigens, accentuated, perhaps, by their restricted accessibility in solid tumours, necessitates the use of the most potent cytotoxins available.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chester Beatty Research Institute, Institute of Cancer Research, Royal Cancer Hospital, Fulham Road, London, SW3, UK

    P. E. THORPE, W. C. J. Ross, A. J. CUMBER, C. A. HINSON, D. C. EDWARDS & A. J. S. DAVIES

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  1. P. E. THORPE
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THORPE, P., Ross, W., CUMBER, A. et al. Toxicity of diphtheria toxin for lymphoblastoid cells is increased by conjugation to antilymphocytic globulin. Nature 271, 752–755 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/271752a0

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