Paclitaxel immunoconjugate for the specific treatment of ovarian cancer invitro

A paclitaxel derivative was used for the preparation of a drug immunoconjug ate for the specific targeting to ovarian cancer cells by the BCM43/2E5 mon oclonal antibody. To determine the efficiency of conjugation we developed t wo reproducible immunoassays. Paclitaxel was detected on the conjugate by a paclitaxel immunoassay and the activity of the antibody was determined by a competition assay with BCM43/2E5 antibody. Paclitaxel-BCM43/2E5 immnnocon jugate was tested on five human cell lines. This conjugate was cytotoxic fo r ovarian teratocarcinoma cells, ovarian adenocarcinoma and breast cancer c ells, while the activity was negligible for normal cells. These results des cribe, for the first time, the synthesis of a soluble tumor specific-paclit axel immunoconjugate which may establish a new mode for the use of this dru g in cancer therapy for limiting side effects.