[Preparation of conjugates of adriamycin with antibodies to alpha-fetoprotein and their properties].

For its selective accumulation into tumor cells, the antitumor drug adriamycin (ADM) was attached to specific antibodies reactive against alpha-fetoprotein, a carcinoembryonic protein, and the antibody and antitumor activities of the resulting conjugate were investigated. Using the glutaraldehyde or carbodiimide binding methods, preparations containing 4-5 moles of ADM per mole of antibody were obtained. They retained 60-75% of the original antibody activity. Upon incubation of AH-66 ascites hepatoma cells with the conjugates, an increased number of dead cells and inhibited uptake of 3H-thymidine by the cells were observed. The conjugates were more effective against tumor cells than the free drug, and it was further presumed that the cytotoxic action of ADM on normal cells could be reduced by binding it to a macromolecular protein.