Engineered bifunctional proteins and stem cells: next generation of targeted cancer therapeutics

Discov Med. 2016 Sep;22(120):157-166.

Abstract

Redundant survival signaling pathways and their crosstalk within tumor and/or between tumor and their microenvironment are key impediments to developing effective targeted therapies for cancer. Therefore developing therapeutics that target multiple receptor signaling pathways in tumors and utilizing efficient platforms to deliver such therapeutics are critical to the success of future targeted therapies. During the past two decades, a number of bifunctional multi-targeting antibodies, fusion proteins, and oncolytic viruses have been developed and various stem cell types have been engineered to efficiently deliver them to tumors. In this review, we discuss the design and efficacy of therapeutics targeting multiple pathways in tumors and the therapeutic potential of therapeutic stem cells engineered with bifunctional agents.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Bispecific / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Bispecific / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Delivery Systems / trends*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy / methods*
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy / trends
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Oncolytic Virotherapy / methods
  • Oncolytic Viruses / genetics
  • Protein Engineering / trends
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Stem Cells*
  • Tumor Microenvironment / drug effects*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bispecific
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins