Investigations with monoclonal antibody drug (anthracycline) conjugates.

The development of monoclonal antibody-drug (anthracycline) conjugates (immunocytostatics) that has emerged during the last decade is briefly reviewed. Stress is layed on the various procedures that have been employed for the chemical attachment of daunorubicin (daunomycin) and doxorubicin (adriamycin) to spacers, high-molecular weight carrier molecules, and immunoglobulins. Anthracycline conjugates that have proved effective in mice with respect to the treatment of cancer are especially evaluated. Also a new method developed for the conjugation of rhodosaminyl anthracyclinones via a hydrolysable spacer, developed in our laboratories, is briefly communicated. Finally, import aspects for further developments of monoclonal antibody-drug conjugates are discussed.