Peptabody for cancer treatment

A recombinant fusion peptabody, which binds to the epidermal growth factor receptor ErbB-1 comprising:

• (a) a portion of a cartilage oligomer matrix polypeptide;
• (b) a peptide enhancer sequence for increasing protein production, located at the N terminus of the portion of the cartilage oligomer matrix polypeptide and having a sequence selected from the group consisting of YSFE, YSFEDL, YSFEDLY, YSFEDLYR, and YSFEDLYRR;
• (c) a portion of a hinge region of an immunoglobulin polypeptide located at the C terminus of the portion of the cartilage oligomer matrix polypeptide;
• and
• (d) an epidermal growth factor receptor ligand located at the C terminus of the hinge region,
• wherein said recombinant fusion peptabody is capable of inducing cellular death in a cell expressing the epidermal growth factor receptor.

A monomer of a peptabody comprising

• (a) a portion of a cartilage oligomer matrix polypeptide;
• (b) an enhancer peptide sequence located at the N terminus of the portion of the cartilage oligomer matrix polypeptide;
• (c) a portion of a hinge region of an immunoglobulin polypeptide located at the C terminus of the portion of the cartilage oligomer matrix polypeptide;
• and
• (d) an epidermal growth factor receptor ligand located at the C terminus of the hinge region, wherein the epidermal growth factor receptor ligand binds to an epidermal growth factor receptor selected from the group consisting of ErbB-1, ErbB-3 or ErbB-4.

An isolated and recombinant fusion peptabody, which binds to an epidermal growth factor receptor selected from the group consisting of ErbB-1, ErbB-3, and ErbB-4, comprising:

• (a) a portion of a humanized or human cartilage oligomer matrix polypeptide;
• (b) a peptide enhancer sequence for increasing protein production located at the N terminus of the portion of the cartilage oligomer matrix polypeptide;
• (c) a portion of a hinge region of an immunoglobulin polypeptide located at the C terminus of the portion of the cartilage oligomer matrix polypeptide;
• and
• (d) an epidermal growth factor receptor ligand located at the C terminus of the hinge region,
• wherein said isolated and recombinant fusion peptabody is capable of inducing cellular death in a cell expressing said epidermal growth factor receptor.