Recent article in Oncogene from Kristian Berg's PCI research group
Maria EB Berstad and Anette Weyergang in Kristian Bergs Photochemical internalisation (PCI) research group are the first and last authors of a recent publication in Oncogene (journal impact factor 8.6) on design and evaluation of an EGFR targeting toxin for photochemical delivery.
The authors summarize the findings:
The amount of clinical available EGFR targeting drugs has been continuously increasing the recent years. The limited toxicity of these antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is, however, one of the main reasons why prolonged treatment with subsequent development of resistance is a major obstacle for clinical efficacy. In the present study an EGFR targeting fusion toxin, rGel/EGF was designed and produced for delivery with photochemical internalization (PCI). PCI of rGel/EGF was shown to be highly effective and EGFR-specific in a panel of cancer cell lines. Apoptosis, necrosis and authophagy was indicated as mechanisms of action following treatment. PCI of rGel/EGF was further demonstrated to induce a significant tumor growth delay and inhibition of tumor perfusion (MRI) in two models in vivo. The results were found highly promising and warrant further evaluation in preclinical models.
Links:
Design of an EGFR-targeting toxin for photochemical delivery: in vitro and in vivo selectivity and efficacy.
Berstad MB, Cheung LH, Berg K, Peng Q, Fremstedal AS, Patzke S, Rosenblum MG, Weyergang A.
Oncogene. 2015 Feb 16. doi: 10.1038/onc.2015.15.
Direct link to article
Anette Weyergang's CV and publications
Maria EB Berstad's publications
Home page of Kristian Berg's Photochemical internalization group