Complete regression of established human glioblastoma tumor xenograft by interleukin-4 toxin therapy

No curative therapy is available for malignant gliomas. We have discovered that human glioblastoma cells express high affinity interleukin-4 receptor (IL-4R), which is an attractive target for receptor-directed IL-4 toxin therapy. The IL-4 toxin, IL-4(38-37)-PE38KDEL, is a fusion protein containing translocation and enzymatic domains of Pseudomonas exotoxin and a circularly permuted human IL-4. The IL-4 toxin binds specifically to the IL-4R and is highly cytotoxic to glioblastoma cells, as determined by clonogenic and protein synthesis inhibition assays. Intratumoral administration of the IL-4 toxin given on alternate days for 3-4 doses into U251 glioblastoma flank tumors in nude mice, showed a complete remission of small (approximately 13 mm3) and large (approximately 60 mm3) tumors in all animals, without any evidence of toxicity. A significant antitumor activity was also observed when the IL-4 toxin was administered via i.p. and i.v. routes. These results demonstrate that the IL-4 toxin may be a new therapeutic drug for the treatment of human glioblastoma. Therefore, we have begun a Phase I clinical trial with IL-4(38-37)-PE38KDEL for treatment of human glioblastoma.