Potential future clinical applications for the GPIIb/IIIa antagonist, abciximab in thrombosis, vascular and oncological indications

[摘要] Abciximab (ReoPro®) is a mouse-human chimeric monoclonal antibody Fab fragment of the parent murine monoclonal antibody 7E3, and was the first of these agents approved for use as adjunct therapy for the prevention of cardiac ischemic complications in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Abciximab binds with high avidity to both the non-activated and activated form of the GPIIb/IIIa receptor of platelets, the major adhesion receptor involved in aggregation. Additional cardio-vascular indications for abciximab are unstable angina, carotid stenting, ischemic stroke and peripheral vascular diseases. Abciximab also interacts with two other integrin receptors; the α_vβ₃ receptor, which is present in low numbers on platelets but in high density on activated endothelial and smooth muscle cells, and αMβ2 integrin which is present on activated leukocytes. Cell types that express integrins GPIIb/IIIa and α_vβ₃ such as platelets, endothelial and tumor cells have been implicated in angiogenesis, tumor growth and metastasis. Since abciximab interacts with high avidity to integrins GPIIb/IIIa and α_vβ₃, it is reasonable to assume that it may possess anti-angiogenic properties in angiogenesis-related diseases, as well as anti-metastastatic properties in case of disseminating tumors expressing the target integrin receptors.

[学科分类] 生理学与病理学

[关键词] tumor metastasis