BIOSYNTHETIC ANTHRACYCLINES

This review summarizes the structure, the occurrence and the available data concerning the bioactivity of biosynthetic anthracyclines. The a nthracyclines represent an important family of natural products produc ed by microorganisms of Streptomyces and related genera and include cl inically useful agents for the medical treatment of human cancer. Chem ically, the anthracyclines are glycosides characterized by a quinone t etracyclic aglycone and one or more deoxysugar units, mostly belonging to the L-hexopyranoside series, comprising generally an aminosugar. T he different compounds belonging to this family are structurally relat ed as they share a common biosynthetic pathway. Although some statemen ts concerning structure activity relationships and molecular requireme nts for activity can be made, published data are not adequate for the comparative evaluation of potential antitumor efficacy of biosynthetic anthracyclines. This family of natural products is therefore still op en for pharmacological investigation.