Anti-CD3 Recombinant Diphtheria Immunotoxin Therapy of Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma

A.   E.   Frankel; S.   L.   Zuckero; A.   A.   Mankin; M.      Grable; K.      Mitchell; Y.   J.   Lee; D.   M.   Neville; J.   H.   Woo

doi:10.2174/138945009787354539

Abstract

The recombinant CD3 immunotoxin, A-dmDT390-bisFv(UCHT1), composed of the catalytic and translocation domains of diphtheria toxin fused to two single chain Fv fragments of an anti-CD3η monoclonal antibody was administered to five patients with cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) by eight 15 min intravenous infusions over four days. Side effects were fever, chills, nausea, hypoalbuminemia, transaminasemia and reactivation of EBV and CMV. Half-life of drug was 40 min. Anti-immunotoxin antibodies developed in all patients after two weeks. Two patients had partial remissions lasting 1 and 6+ months. The agent is undergoing further dose escalation and shows promising results in this disease.

Keywords: Immunotoxin, diphtheria toxin, cutaneous T cell lymphoma