Showing papers by "Ira Pastan published in 2001"

Efficacy of the Anti-CD22 Recombinant Immunotoxin BL22 in Chemotherapy-Resistant Hairy-Cell Leukemia

Abstract: Background Hairy-cell leukemia that is resistant to treatment with purine analogues, including cladribine, has a poor prognosis. We tested the safety and efficacy of an immunotoxin directed against a surface antigen that is strongly expressed by leukemic hairy cells. Methods RFB4(dsFv)-PE38 (BL22), a recombinant immunotoxin containing an anti-CD22 variable domain (Fv) fused to truncated pseudomonas exotoxin, was administered in a dose-escalation trial by intravenous infusion every other day for a total of three doses. Results Of 16 patients who were resistant to cladribine, 11 had a complete remission and 2 had a partial remission with BL22. The three patients who did not have a response received low doses of BL22 or had preexisting toxin-neutralizing antibodies. Of the 11 patients in complete remission, 2 had minimal residual disease in the bone marrow or blood. During a median follow-up of 16 months (range, 10 to 23), 3 of the 11 patients who had a complete response relapsed and were retreated; all of t...

MRP8, a new member of ABC transporter superfamily, identified by EST database mining and gene prediction program, is highly expressed in breast cancer.

Abstract: With the completion of the human draft genome sequence, efforts are now devoted to identifying new genes. We have developed a computer-based strategy that utilizes the EST database to identify new genes that could be targets for the immunotherapy of cancer or could be involved in the multistep process of cancer. Utilizing our computer-based screening strategy, we identified a cluster of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) that are highly expressed in breast cancer. Northern blot and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses demonstrated the tissue specificity of the computer-generated cluster and comparison with the human genome sequence assisted in isolating a full-length cDNA clone. We identified a new gene that is highly expressed in breast cancer. This gene is expressed at moderate levels in normal breast and testis and at very low levels in liver, brain, and placenta. The gene has two major transcripts of 4.5 kb and 4.1 kb. The 4.5-kb transcript is very abundant in breast cancer, and has an open reading frame of 1382 amino acids. The predicted protein sequence of the 4.5-kb transcript reveals that it has high homology with MRP5, a member of multidrug resistant-associated protein family (MRP). There are seven reported members in the MRP family; we designate this gene as MRP8 (ABCC11). The 4.5-kb MRP8 transcript consists of 31 exons and is located in a genomic region of over 80.4 kb on chromosome 16q12.1. The smaller 4.1-kb transcript of MRP8 is found in testis and may initiate within intron 6 of the gene. The selective expression of MRP8 (ABCC11), a new member of ATP-binding cassette transporter super-family could be a molecular target for the treatment of breast cancer.

Designed heterodimerizing leucine zippers with a ranger of pIs and stabilities up to 10(-15) M.

Abstract: We have designed a heterodimerizing leucine zipper system to target a radionuclide to prelocalized noninternalizing tumor-specific antibodies. The modular nature of the leucine zipper allows us to iteratively use design rules to achieve specific homodimer and heterodimer affinities. We present circular-dichroism thermal denaturation measurements on four pairs of heterodimerizing leucine zippers. These peptides are 47 amino acids long and contain four or five pairs of electrostatically attractive g ↔ e′ (i, i′ +5) interhelical heterodimeric interactions. The most stable heterodimer consists of an acidic leucine zipper and a basic leucine zipper that melt as homodimers in the micro (Tm = 28°C) or nanomolar (Tm = 40°C) range, respectively, but heterodimerize with a Tm >90°C, calculated to represent femtamolar affinities. Modifications to this pair of acidic and basic zippers, designed to destabilize homodimerization, resulted in peptides that are unstructured monomers at 4 μM and 6°C but that heterodimerize with a Tm = 74°C or Kd(37) = 1.1 × 10−11 M. A third heterodimerizing pair was designed to have a more neutral isoelectric focusing point (pI) and formed a heterodimer with Tm = 73°C. We can tailor this heterodimerizing system to achieve pharmacokinetics aimed at optimizing targeted killing of cancer cells.

Increased sensitivity to cocaine by cholinergic cell ablation in nucleus accumbens

Abstract: Chronic exposure to cocaine causes long-lasting behavioral changes associated with cocaine reinforcement and addiction. An important neural substrate for cocaine addiction is the nucleus accumbens (NAc), which receives dopaminergic input from the ventral tegmental area. Although the neural circuit of the NAc is controlled by several other neurotransmitters, their involvement in cocaine addiction remains elusive. In this investigation, we ablated cholinergic interneurons from the adult NAc with immunotoxin-mediated cell targeting and examined the role of acetylcholine transmitter in adaptive behavioral changes associated with cocaine reinforcement and addiction. Acute exposure to cocaine induced abnormal rotation in unilaterally cholinergic cell-eliminated mice. This abnormal turning was enhanced by repeated exposure of cocaine. In bilaterally cholinergic cell-eliminated mice, chronic cocaine administration induced a prominent and progressive increase in locomotor activity. Moreover, these mice showed robust conditioned place preference with a lower dose of cocaine, compared with wild-type littermates. This investigation demonstrates that acetylcholine in the NAc plays a key role in both acute and chronic actions of cocaine.

Lowering the isoelectric point of the Fv portion of recombinant immunotoxins leads to decreased nonspecific animal toxicity without affecting antitumor activity.

Abstract: Recombinant immunotoxins are genetically engineered proteins in which the Fv portion of an antibody is fused to a toxin. Our laboratory uses a 38-kDa form of Pseudomonas exotoxin A termed PE38 for this purpose. Clinical studies with immunotoxins targeting CD25 and CD22 have shown that dose-limiting side effects are attributable to liver damage and other inflammatory toxicities. We recently showed that mutating exposed surface neutral residues to acidic residues in the framework region of the Fv portion of an immunotoxin targeting CD25 [anti-Tac(scFv)-PE38] lowered its isoelectric point (pI) and decreased its toxicity in mice without impairing its cytotoxic or antitumor activities. We have now extended these studies and made mutations that change basic residues to neutral or acidic residues. Initially the pI of the mutant Fv (M1) of anti-Tac(scFv)-PE38 was decreased further. Subsequently, mutations were made in two other immunotoxins, SS1(dsFv)-PE38 targeting ovarian cancer and B3(dsFv)-PE38 targeting colon and breast cancers. We have found that all these mutant molecules fully retained specific target cell cytotoxicity and antitumor activity but were considerably less toxic to mice. Therefore, lowering the pI of the Fv may be a general approach to diminish the nonspecific toxicity of recombinant immunotoxins and other Fv fusion proteins without losing antitumor activity.

High expression of the proliferation and apoptosis associated CSE1L/CAS gene in hepatitis and liver neoplasms: Correlation with tumor progression

Abstract: The CSE1L/CAS protein (CAS) is a Ran-binding protein with a function as nuclear transport (export) factor. Like recently observed for ran and other ran-binding proteins, CSE1L/CAS simultaneously plays a role in the mitotic spindle checkpoint, which assures genomic stability during cell division. This checkpoint is frequently disturbed in neoplasias of various origin, including hepatic tumors. We have evaluated by immunohistology the expression of CAS in adult and embryonic liver, hepatitis, and in liver hyperplasias. Normal hepatocytes revealed no CAS expression while embryonic liver showed strong expression in all parenchymal cells. Bile ducts stained positive with anti-CAS antibodies, and strong CAS expression was also detected at the interface between bile ducts and hepatocytes under conditions associated with regenerative proliferation. The localization of these CAS expressing cells correlated with the distribution of putative liver stem-cells. In active viral (but not in inactive) hepatitis, strong hepatocytal CAS expression correlates in site and intensity with degree of inflammation. Neoplastic liver demonstrated different degrees of CAS expression: no remarkable expression in adenomas, moderate expression in a narrow rim of hepatocytes and in periseptal cholangiolar proliferations in focal nodular hyperplasia, and strong CAS expression in hepatocellular carcinoma. Less differentiated tumors stain stronger than well differentiated. Cholangio-cellular carcinomas show even stronger CAS expression than hepatocellular carcinomas. Our observation of strong expression of CAS in liver cells that are committed for proliferation among them possibly liver stem cells, and in liver neoplasms, is consistant with the fact that CAS functions not solely as a nuclear transport factor but that it is also essential for cell proliferation, particularly for the mitotic spindle checkpoint. Interestingly, genomic instability is frequently observed in hepatic tumors which we have shown here to express large amounts of CAS. Since the degree of CAS-expression correlates with the grade of tumor dedifferentiation, we suggest that CAS should also be further investigated as prognostic marker for hepatic neoplasms.

Reduction of the nonspecific animal toxicity of immunotoxins by mutating the framework regions of the Fv to lower the isoelectric point

Abstract: The invention provides recombinant immunotoxins that have been modified from a parental immunotoxin to lower liver toxicity. The immunotoxins are created by specifically mutating charged residues in the framework regions of the heavy chain, the light chain, or both, of the antibody portion or antigen-binding fragment thereof of the parental immunotoxin to reduce the pI of the antibody or fragment. In preferred forms, the antibody portion of the parental is an anti-Tac, anti-mesothelin, or anti-LewisY antigen antibody or antigen-binding fragment, and in particularly preferred forms the antibody portion is an M16 dsFv, a St6 dsFv or a Mt9 dsFv, or a sequence that has at least 90% sequence identity to one of these molecules but retain the particular mutations that lower pI without affecting antibody activity. The invention further provides nucleic acids encoding the recombinant immunotoxins of the invention, expression cassettes comprising the nucleic acids, and host cells comprising the expression cassettes. The invention also provides a method for killing a cell comprising an antigen on the surface of the cell, the method comprising contacting the cell with a recombinant immunotoxin of the invention that has an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that binds specifically to the antigen on the surface of the cell, and uses of immunotoxins of the invention for the manufacture of medicaments.

PRAC: A novel small nuclear protein that is specifically expressed in human prostate and colon.

Abstract: BACKGROUND The database of human Expressed Sequence Tags (dbEST) provides a potential source for identification of tissue-specific genes. This database contains sequences that originate from cDNA libraries from particular tumors, organs or cell types. In this report, we have used the EST database to identify PRAC, a novel gene specifically expressed in human Prostate, prostate cancer, Rectum And distal Colon. METHODS Using a computer based analysis, a cluster of sequence homologous ESTs was identified which contained ESTs derived only from human prostate cDNA libraries. The tissue specificity was examined by multiple tissue RNA dot blots and RT-PCR. The PRAC transcript and protein was identified using Northern blot analysis, RACE-PCR, primer extension, and western blot. RESULTS PRAC encode a 382 nucleotide RNA found in prostate, rectum, distal colon, and in three prostate cancer cell lines; LNCaP, PC-3 and DU145. This transcript encodes a 6 kDa nuclear protein. The PRAC gene is located on chromosome 17 at position 17q21, about 4 kbp downstream from the homeodomain Hoxb-13 gene. CONCLUSIONS Our data proves that the EST database can be a useful tool for discovery of prostate-specific genes. The nuclear localization, identification of potential phosphorylation sites, and possible cotranscription with the Hoxb-13 gene suggest that PRAC may have a regulatory role in the nucleus. Prostate 47:125–131, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

T-Cell Receptor γ Chain Alternate Reading Frame Protein (TARP) Expression in Prostate Cancer Cells Leads to an Increased Growth Rate and Induction of Caveolins and Amphiregulin

Abstract: Previously, we showed that prostate and prostate cancer cells express a truncated T-cell receptor gamma chain mRNA that uses an alternative reading frame to produce a novel nuclear T-cell receptor gamma chain alternate reading frame protein (TARP). TARP is expressed in the androgen-sensitive LNCaP prostate cancer cell line but not in the androgen-independent PC3 prostate cancer cell line, indicating that TARP may play a role in prostate cancer progression. To elucidate the function of TARP, we generated a stable PC3 cell line that expresses TARP in a constitutive manner. Expression of TARP in PC3 cells resulted in a more rapid growth rate with a 5-h decrease in doubling time. cDNA microarray analysis of 6538 genes revealed that caveolin 1, caveolin 2, amphiregulin, and melanoma growth stimulatory activity alpha were significantly up-regulated, whereas IL-1beta was significantly down-regulated in PC3 cells expressing TARP. We also demonstrated that TARP expression is up-regulated by testosterone in LNCaP cells that express a functional androgen receptor. These results suggest that TARP has a role in regulating growth and gene expression in prostate cancer cells.

Cse1l is essential for early embryonic growth and development.

Abstract: The CSE1L gene, the human homologue of the yeast chromosome segregation gene CSE1, is a nuclear transport factor that plays a role in proliferation as well as in apoptosis. CSE1 and CSE1L are essential genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and mammalian cells, as shown by conditional yeast mutants and mammalian cell culture experiments with antisense-mediated depletion of CSE1L. To analyze whether CSE1L is also essential in vivo and whether its absence can be compensated for by other genes or mechanisms, we have cloned the murine CSE1L gene (Cse1l) and analyzed its tissue- and development-specific expression: Cse1l was detected at embryonic day 7.0 (E7.0), E11.0, E15.0, and E17.0, and in adults, high expression was observed in proliferating tissues. Subsequently, we inactivated the Cse1l gene in embryonic stem cells to generate heterozygous and homozygous knockout mice. Mice heterozygous for Cse1l appear normal and are fertile. However, no homozygous pups were born after interbreeding of heterozygous mice. In 30 heterozygote interbreeding experiments, 50 Cse1l wild-type mice and 100 heterozygotes were born but no animal with both Cse1l alleles deleted was born. Embryo analyses showed that homozygous mutant embryos were already disorganized and degenerated by E5.5. This implicates with high significance (P < 0.0001, Pearson chi-square test) an embryonically lethal phenotype of homozygous murine CSE1 deficiency and suggests that Cse1l plays a critical role in early embryonic development.

GDEP, a new gene differentially expressed in normal prostate and prostate cancer.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The database of human expressed sequence tags (dbEST) is a potential source for the identification of tissue specific genes. The database contains sequences that originate from cDNA libraries from different tissues cell types and tumors. METHODS: Computer based analysis identified a cluster of sequence homologous ESTs, containing ESTs derived only from human prostate cDNA libraries. The tissue specificity was examined by multiple tissue RNA dot blots and RT-PCR. The new RNA transcript was characterized using northern blot analysis, RACE-PCR, and a ribonuclease protection assay. RESULTS: We have identified a gene differentially expressed in prostate using EST database analysis and experimental studies. We name the gene GDEP for gene differentially expressed in prostate. The major GDEP transcript is about 520 bp long. GDEP RNA was detected in nine prostate tissue samples, four normal and five cancer. Expression in prostate epithelial cells was established by in situ hybridization. Weak expression was detected in the prostate cancer cell line LNCaP. In vitro transcription/translation indicate that the RNA encodes a small 34 amino acid protein. The major transcript consists of two exons with one large intron (> 15 kb). The GDEP gene was mapped to chromosome 4q21.1 by radiation hybrid mapping. CONCLUSIONS: Our data proves that tissue specific genes can be identified by EST database mining. The prostate specificity of GDEP expression indicates that GDEP may be useful in the diagnosis or treatment of prostate cancer.

Bivalent Disulfide-stabilized Fragment Variable Immunotoxin Directed against Mesotheliomas and Ovarian Cancer

Abstract: We have used protein engineering to generate a stable bivalent fragment variable (Fv) molecule from the antimesothelin antibody SS, in which the VH and VL domains of the Fv are linked to each other by a disulfide bond, and the two Fvs are connected by a flexible 15-amino acid (Gly4-Ser)3 linker. The SS (dsFv)2 molecule is fused to a M(r) 38,000 truncated form of Pseudomonas exotoxin to generate a bivalent, disulfide stabilized, (dsFv)2 immunotoxin. The immunotoxin was expressed in Escherichia coli, refolded in vitro, and purified to approximately 95% purity with a high yield of > 10%. Binding studies demonstrated that the (dsFv)2 molecule has 40 times higher apparent affinity for recombinant mesothelin than a monovalent dsFv molecule. The (dsFv)2 immunotoxin was 4-10-fold more cytotoxic to three mesothelin antigen-positive cell lines than the monovalent dsFv immunotoxin. However, when tested in mice bearing tumor cells expressing mesothelin, the antitumor activity of the bivalent immunotoxin is very similar to the activity of the lower affinity monovalent immunotoxin. Our data indicate that increasing affinity of an antibody fragment does not necessarily lead to higher antitumor activity of an immunotoxin in vivo.

Isolation of new anti-CD30 scFvs from DNA-immunized mice by phage display and biologic activity of recombinant immunotoxins produced by fusion with truncated pseudomonas exotoxin.

Abstract: To target CD30 on Hodgkin's disease and anaplastic large-cell lymphoma, anti-CD30 single-chain antibodies were obtained by DNA immunization of mice with the complete human CD30 cDNA. Spleens were isolated from mice with high anti-CD30 titer, and the RNA was used for the production of an scFv-displaying phage library. Specific phages were enriched by 3 rounds of panning on soluble CD30 or CD30+ K562 cells. Recombinant immunotoxins (rITs) were made from 3 ELISA-positive scFv phages by fusion to a 38 kDa truncated mutant of Pseudomonas exotoxin (PE38) with or without a KDEL mutant sequence at the C terminus. In vitro cytotoxicity of purified anti-CD30 rITs was measured on CD30-transfected A431 cells. IC50 values ranged from 3 to 7 ng/ml (50–110 pM) for PE38 rITs and 0.1 ng/ml (2 pM) for the PE38-KDEL IT on A431-CD30 cells. The parental A431 cells were resistant, indicating that the cytotoxicity was specific and CD30-mediated. rITs were tested for anti-tumor activity in a nude mouse model. A431-CD30 cells were injected s.c. on day 0; then, mice bearing measurable tumors were treated beginning on day 4 with 3 alternate daily doses i.v. Anti-tumor activity was dose-dependent and not found when irrelevant ITs were administered or when CD30– tumors were treated. Our data show that DNA immunization and antibody phage display may be useful in producing new rITs against hematologic malignancies. Published 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

A divalent recombinant immunotoxin formed by a disulfide bond between the extension peptide chains.

Abstract: Recombinant immunotoxin for the treatment of cancer was made by connecting toxins to 'carcinoma-specific' antibodies that selectively bind to cancer cells, then kills them without harming the normal cells. The divalent recombinant immunotoxin, [B3(Fab)-ext-PE38]2, is a derivative of B3(Fab)-PE38. B3(Fab)-PE38 was made by fusing the Fab domain of the monoclonal antibody (MAb) B3 to PE38, a truncated mutant form of Pseudomonas exotoxin (PE). In this study, B3(Fab)-ext-PE38 was constructed, which has the hinge region of the B3(Fab)-PE38 extended with the peptide extension, G4C(G4S)2, and connected to the C3 connector. The Cys residue of the extension peptide chain makes the disulfide bond between the two Fab domains. The extension sequence (ext) makes the dimerization of B3(Fab)-ext-PE38 easier to form the divalent immunotoxin, because it decreases the steric hindrance between the two PE38s. The constructed genes were expressed in E. coli as inclusion bodies. Polypeptides that were obtained from the inclusion body were refolded, and the active forms were purified. The ID50 values of the divalent molecule, [B3(Fab)-ext-PE38]2, were about 4 ng/ml on A431 cell lines, about 1 ng/ml on CRL1739 cell lines, and 5 ng/ml on MCF-7 cell lines. The [B3(Fab)-ext-PE38]2 showed about a 12-fold higher cytotoxicity on CRL1739 cell lines than B3(scFv)-PE40 did.

Cytotoxicity of antiosteosarcoma recombinant immunotoxins composed of TP-3 Fv fragments and a truncated Pseudomonas exotoxin A.

Abstract: Regrowth of drug-resistant tumor cells is responsible for approximately half of an unselected osteosarcoma population still dying of the disease despite aggressive combination therapy. Two monoclonal antibodies, TP-1 (immunoglobulin 2a) and TP-3 (immunoglobulin 2b) are available, which specifically recognize an antigen on osteosarcoma cells. In this work, we have fused the variable (V) genes of TP-3 to a truncated fragment of Pseudomonas exotoxin A, referred to as PE38. Two immunotoxins were made that differed in the Fv portion: TP-3(scFv)-PE38, which contains a peptide linker, and TP-3(dsFv)-PE38, which contains a disulfide bond for stabilization of the association between the V domains. Recombinant TP-3 immunotoxins were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified from inclusion bodies. We describe the design and expression of these immunotoxins, and their properties with regard to antigen binding, stability, and cytotoxicity. Toxicity studies were done in mice. We found that the immunotoxins exhibited very similar in vitro properties, whereas in vivo TP-3(dsFv)-PE38 was much better tolerated than TP-3(scFv)-PE38.

An episomally maintained MDR1 gene for gene therapy.

Abstract: Potential applications of the MDR1 multidrug transporter in gene therapy include protecting sensitive bone marrow cells against cytotoxic drugs during cancer chemotherapy and serving as a dominant selectable marker when coexpressed with a corrective passenger gene. To address safety concerns associated with integrating viral systems, such as retroviruses, we tested the feasibility of maintaining a nonvirally delivered MDR1 gene (pEpiHaMA) episomally. An MDR1 vector containing the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) origin of replication (OriP) and its nuclear retention protein (EBNA-1) was transfected into human (KB-3-1) cells. MDR1 was expressed at a higher level in cells carrying the episomal vector, pEpiHaMA, compared with the vector lacking sequences needed for episomal maintenance (pHaMA). Furthermore, more drug-resistant KB-3-1 colonies were obtained on selection after transfection with pEpiHaMA. These observations correlated with longer maintenance of episomes in cells transfected with pEpiHaMA. In addition, ...

Efficient ablation by immunotoxin‐mediated cell targeting of the cell types that express human interleukin‐2 receptor depending on the internal ribosome entry site

Abstract: Background Immunotoxin-mediated cell targeting (IMCT) is a technique for conditional genetic ablation of specific cell types. IMCT provides a useful approach for generating animal models for human neurodegenerative disorders. The strategy of IMCT depends on the cytotoxic activity of anti-Tac-based recombinant immunotoxins that selectively target cells expressing the human interleukin-2 receptor α-subunit (IL-2Rα). Transgenic mice were generated that express the IL-2Rα under the control of an appropriate tissue-specific gene promoter, and they were treated with the recombinant immunotoxins resulting in the ablation of the target cell types. To restrict the expression of IL-2Rα transgene in the cell types of interest, it is useful to knock-in the IL-2Rα expression cassette into the specific marker gene locus with gene targeting. Moreover, the knock-in of the IL-2Rα cassette located downstream of an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) into the 3′-untranslated region of the marker gene enables IL-2Rα expression in the restricted cell types while preserving the intact marker gene expression. However, there is a possibility that IRES-dependent expression of the receptor may be less efficient than cap-dependent expression. Methods and results The efficiency of IRES-dependent IL-2Rα expression and immunotoxin responsiveness of the cells expressing the receptor were examined. The IL-2Rα gene fused to green fluorescence protein (GFP) (IL-2R/GFP) was used as the target receptor. Embryonic stem cell clones were isolated that carry two types of bicistronic vectors in which the IL-2R/GFP fusion gene or the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene was connected upstream or downstream of IRES. The expression level of IL-2R/GFP protein in the cell clones was evaluated by GFP fluorescence detection and Western blot analysis. The IRES-dependent expression produced the same level of receptor protein as cap-dependent expression. The immunotoxin responsiveness of the cloned cells was evaluated by measuring the colony-forming efficiency in medium containing various amounts of a recombinant immunotoxin. The colony-forming efficiency of the cells expressing IL-2R/GFP through IRES-dependent expression was reduced together with increasing immunotoxin concentration in a similar dose-dependent manner to the cells expressing the receptor through cap-dependent expression. Conclusions The present results indicate that it is possible to effectively use the IRES-dependent expression system for IMCT. The system permits expression of the target receptor in selective cell types by introducing the IRES-driven expression cassette into the 3′-untranslated region of the marker gene locus. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A Divalent Immunotoxin Formed by the Disulfide Bond between Hinge Regions of Fab Domain

Abstract: Recombinant immunotoxins are hybrid cytotoxic proteins designed to selectively kill cancer cells. A divalent immunotoxins, [B3(FabH1)-PE38] 2 , was constructed by recombining Fab domain of B3 antibody as a cell-targeting domain and Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PE) as a cytotoxic domain. Monoclonal antibody, B3, is the murine antibody (IgG1 κ) directed against Lewis Y -related carbohydrate antigens, which are abundant on the surface of many carcinomas. Fab fragment of this antibody was used in this study with the modified hinge sequence where last two cysteines out of three were mutated to serine. PE is a 66 kDa bacterial toxin that kills eukaryotic cells by inhibiting protein synthesis with ADP ribosylation of ribosomal elongation factor 2 (EF2). Fc region of B3 antibody was substituted with the truncated form of PE (38 kDa, PE38) on DNA level. [B3(FabH1)-PE38] 2 was formed by disulfide bond between cysteines in the modified hinge region of B3(FabH1)-PE38. Each polypeptide for recombinant immunotoxins was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and collected as inclusion bodies. Each inclusion body was solubilized and refolded, and cytotoxic effects were measured. Divalent immunotoxins, [B3(FabH1)-PE38] 2 , had ID 5 0 values of about 10 ng/mL on A431 cell lines and about 4 ng/mL on CRL1739 cell lines. Control immunotoxins, B3(scFv)-PE40, had ID 5 0 values of about 28 ng/mL on A431 cell lines and about 41 ng/mL on CRL1739 cell lines. Divalent immunotoxins, [B3(FabH1)-PE38] 2 , had higher cytotoxic effects than B3(scFv)-PE40 control immunotoxins.