A dimeric mutant of human pancreatic ribonuclease with selective cytotoxicity toward malignant cells.

Monomeric human pancreatic RNase, devoid
of any biological activity other than its RNA degrading
ability, was engineered into a dimeric protein with a cytotoxic
action on mouse and human tumor cells, but lacking any
appreciable toxicity on mouse and human normal cells. This
dimeric variant of human pancreas RNase selectively sensitizes
to apoptotic death cells derived from a human thyroid
tumor. Because of its selectivity for tumor cells, and because
of its human origin, this protein represents a potentially very
attractive, novel tool for anticancer therapy.