Ever increasing number of data suggests that tumor blood vessels are a convenient target of anticancer therapies. Destroying these vessels leads to the ensuing necrosis of cancer cells found in the vicinity of such damaged vessels. This effect has been intensely exploited in anticancer therapy. Some drugs that are capable of selectively recognizing cells of tumor blood vessels may also feature another distinct functional domain, one that induces apoptosis in these cells. We designed and carried out the synthesis of such a drug. Its tumor blood vessel cell-recognizing domain is formed by VEGF121, whereas the effector, apoptosis-inducing domain is secured by A chain of abrin, a potent plant toxin. Thus, the drug recognizes endothelial cells lining tumor blood vessels, is internalized by them and induces their apoptosis. Therapeutic experiments in rodents demonstrated the drug’s potent tumor-growth inhibitory effect. We believe that this drug can be used in various combined therapeutic strategies also involving conventional chemotherapeutic agents known to specifically destroy cancer cells.

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