Cross-Reacting Material 197, a Specific Inhibitor of HB-EGF, and Its Anticancer Effects

Abstract

Genetic heterogeneity accompanied by metastasis are the most important factors which have faced cancer treatment with the challenge. Recent studies have introduced a mutant of diphtheria toxin, cross-reacting materials 197 (CRM197), as a promising new biological anticancer drug to improve cancer therapy in patients who have previously resistant to chemotherapy. The weak toxicity of CRM197 accounts for the stimulation of cell apoptosis and the antitumor effect. Increasing evidence has indicated that the expression of Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like (HB-EGF) growth factor enhanced in most of the cancer cells and CRM197 is the specific inhibitor of it. The current study has focused on the structure, properties, and anticancer activity of CRM197.

Keywords

• cross-reacting materials (CRM197)
• diphtheria toxin (DT)
• heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF)
• epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)
• cancer