title: Chemical derivatization as a strategy to enhance detectability of agents used in cancer management.
abstract: The bioanalysis of drugs used in the management of cancer is often complicated by the lack of selectivity and sensitivity. Chemical derivatization of these drugs prior to their chromatographic analysis represents a viable strategy to improve chromatographic resolution and to enhance detectability. This review provides examples of how this approach can meet these objectives. Derivatization of racemic cyclophosphamide with a chiral acylating agent, following hydroxyalkylation to introduce a reactive centre into the molecule, provides the basis for its stereospecific analysis. The analysis of dianhydrogalactitol is described, in which diethyldithiocarbamate is used as a nucleophilic derivatizing agent that improves chromatographic behaviour and analytical sensitivity. The final example that is described is the design and preparation of improved fluorogenic reagents (o-phthalaldehyde analogues) for the derivatization of peptides and application of these reagents to the trace analysis of leu-enkephalin in plasma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Sternson
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Stobaugh
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de Montigny