Polymer-drug conjugates as modulators of cellular apoptosis.
The successful clinical application of polymer-protein conjugates (PEGylated enzymes and cytokines) and the promising results arising from clinical trials with polymer-bound chemotherapy (eg, doxorubicin or paclitaxel) have established their potential to reduce toxicity and improve activity in chemotherapy-refractory patients. Furthermore, and more important, they have also provided a firm foundation for more sophisticated second-generation constructs that deliver the newly emerging target-directed bioactive agents (eg, modulators of apoptosis, cell cycle, anti-angiogenic drugs) in addition to polymer-based drug combinations (eg, endocrine therapy and chemotherapy). This review will focus on polymer-drug conjugate modulators of cellular apoptosis to be used as single pro-apoptotic (eg, cancer) or anti-apoptotic (eg, ischemia) agents or as a combination therapy.
Vicent
María J
MJ
Polymer Therapeutics Laboratory, Medicinal Chemistry Unit, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, E-46013 Valencia, Spain. mjvicent@cipf.es
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*
D004337:Drug Carriers; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D011108:Polymers