Site-directed delivery of anthracyclines for treatment of cancer

The efficacy of cancer treatment is often limited by the lack of selectivity of anticancer agents for malignant cells. A promising approach for increasing both the efficacy and therapeutic index of anticancer agents is to utilize antibodies, directed against tumor‐associated antigens, to selectively deliver anticancer agents to tumor cells. Antibodies have been used to deliver a variety of anticancer agents including chemotherapeutic drugs, plant and bacterial toxins, and radionuclides. This review concentrates on the chemistry and preclinical biology of immunoconjugates made with members of the anthracycline group of antibiotics. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.