796073-76-2Relevant academic research and scientific papers
Semisynthetic Maytansine analogues for the targeted treatment of cancer
Widdison, Wayne C.,Wilhelm, Sharon D.,Cavanagh, Emily E.,Whiteman, Kathleen R.,Leece, Barbara A.,Kovtun, Yelena,Goldmacher, Victor S.,Xie, Hongsheng,Steeves, Rita M.,Lutz, Robert J.,Zhao, Robert,Wang, Lintao,Bl?ttler, Walter A.,Chari, Ravi V. J.
, p. 4392 - 4408 (2007/10/03)
Maytansine, a highly cytotoxic natural product, failed as an anticancer agent in human clinical trials because of unacceptable systemic toxicity. The potent cell killing ability of maytansine can be used in a targeted delivery approach for the selective destruction of cancer cells. A series of new maytansinoids, bearing a disulfide or thiol substituent were synthesized. The chain length of the ester side chain and the degree of steric hindrance on the carbon atom bearing the thiol substituent were varied. Several of these maytansinoids were found to be even more potent in vitro than maytansine. The targeted delivery of these maytansinoids, using monoclonal antibodies, resulted in a high, specific killing of the targeted cells in vitro and remarkable antitumor activity in vivo.
Cytotoxic agents comprising new maytansinoids
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Page 27, (2008/06/13)
New thiol and disulfide-containing maytansinoids bearing a mono or di-alkyl substitution on the α-carbon atom bearing the sulfur atom are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for the synthesis of these new maytansinoids and methods for the linkage of these new maytansinoids to cell-binding agents. The maytansinoid-cell-binding agent conjugates are useful as therapeutic agents, which are delivered specifically to target cells and are cytotoxic. These conjugates display vastly improved therapeutic efficacy in animal tumor models compared to the previously described agents.
