A SUMMARY OF MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY-ENZYME PRODRUG/

A great deal of research has surrounded the use of monoclonal antibody -enzyme conjugates for the activation of anticancer prodrugs. This is a two-step approach to cancer chemotherapy in which monoclonal antibod ies are used to deliver enzymes to tumor cell surfaces. The enzymes ar e chosen for their abilities to convert relatively non-cytotoxic prodr ugs into active anticancer agents. This review provides a summary of t he in vitro and in vivo activities obtained from several promising mon oclonal antibody-enzyme/prodrug combinations. Pharmacokinetic data is also presented that provides mechanistic insight into the antitumor ac tivities obtained.