Prodrugs of anthracyclines for chemotherapy via enzyme-monoclonal antibody conjugates.

New prodrugs of daunorubicin, 1c, 1e and 2c, including a galactopyranosyl residue linked to the N-3' of the daunosaminyl moiety through substituted o- or p-benzyloxycarbonyl groups were synthesized. Their low cytotoxicity and high stability in plasma fulfil the conditions for antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT). Enzymatic hydrolysis using alpha-D-galactosidase gives rise to daunorubicin by subsequent self-elimination of the spacers. However, elimination clearly depends on the aromatic substitution pattern, as demonstrated especially by comparison with non-substituted analogues.