RESUMO
Maytansine, a highly cytotoxic natural product, failed as an anticancer agent in human clinical trials because of unacceptable systemic toxicity. The potent cell killing ability of maytansine can be used in a targeted delivery approach for the selective destruction of cancer cells. A series of new maytansinoids, bearing a disulfide or thiol substituent were synthesized. The chain length of the ester side chain and the degree of steric hindrance on the carbon atom bearing the thiol substituent were varied. Several of these maytansinoids were found to be even more potent in vitro than maytansine. The targeted delivery of these maytansinoids, using monoclonal antibodies, resulted in a high, specific killing of the targeted cells in vitro and remarkable antitumor activity in vivo.
Assuntos
Antineoplásicos/síntese química , Maitansina/análogos & derivados , Maitansina/síntese química , Animais , Anticorpos Monoclonais/química , Antineoplásicos/química , Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Dissulfetos/síntese química , Dissulfetos/química , Dissulfetos/farmacologia , Portadores de Fármacos , Sistemas de Liberação de Medicamentos , Ensaios de Seleção de Medicamentos Antitumorais , Feminino , Humanos , Maitansina/química , Maitansina/farmacologia , Camundongos , Camundongos SCID , Transplante de Neoplasias , Relação Estrutura-Atividade , Compostos de Sulfidrila/síntese química , Compostos de Sulfidrila/química , Compostos de Sulfidrila/farmacologia , Transplante HeterólogoRESUMO
The use of drug-antibody conjugates affords a method for the targeted delivery of anticancer drugs specifically to cancer cells. Monoclonal antibodies alone usually do not possess high therapeutic efficacy, however, they are capable of targeting tumor markers selectively. We have prepared taxoids with significantly higher cytotoxicity than paclitaxel and docetaxel. These taxoids now meet the high potency required for use in a targeted-delivery approach using monoclonal antibodies. The synthesis and biological evaluation of these taxoids are reported.