Macrophage activation by MDP bound to neoglycoproteins: metastasis eradication in mice.

Neoglycoproteins, which bind to membrane lectins of macrophages and are selectively endocytosed, were substituted with N-acetyl-muramyldipeptide (MDP). Such MDP-conjugates are shown to be able to induce macrophage tumoricity both in vitro and in vivo in a way much more efficient than free MDP does. These MDP-neoglycoprotein conjugates are shown to protect mice against metastatic growth.