| abstract |
The present application relates to compositions of modified diphtheria toxin and fusion proteins containing modified diphtheria toxin that reduce binding to vascular endothelium or vascular endothelial cells, and therefore, reduce the incidence of Vascular Leak Syndrome, as well as methods of making the compositions. The present application also relates to a polypeptide toxophore from a modified diphtheria toxin, where the modification is at least one amino acid residue at the amino acid residues 6-8, 28-30 or 289-291 of an unmodified native diphtheria toxin. Also described are fusion proteins which contain a modified diphtheria toxin and a non-diphtheria toxin fragment which contains a cell binding portion. The modified diphtheria toxins described can be used for the treatment of a malignant disease or a non-malignant disease. |