Mutual Prodrugs of 5-Fluorouracil: From a Classic Chemotherapeutic Agent to Novel Potential Anticancer Drugs |
| |
Authors: | Valeria Ciaffaglione Prof Maria N Modica Prof Valeria Pittalà Prof Giuseppe Romeo Prof Loredana Salerno Dr Sebastiano Intagliata |
| |
Affiliation: | Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy |
| |
Abstract: | The development of potent antitumor agents with a low toxicological profile against healthy cells is still one of the greatest challenges facing medicinal chemistry. In this context, the “mutual prodrug” approach has emerged as a potential tool to overcome undesirable physicochemical features and mitigate the side effects of approved drugs. Among broad-spectrum chemotherapeutics available for clinical use today, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is one of the most representative, also included in the World Health Organization model list of essential medicines. Unfortunately, severe side effects and drug resistance phenomena are still the primary limits and drawbacks in its clinical use. This review describes the progress made over the last ten years in developing 5-FU-based mutual prodrugs to improve the therapeutic profile and achieve targeted delivery to cancer tissues. |
| |
Keywords: | Mutual prodrugs 5-Fluorouracil 5-FU hybrids 5-FU conjugates Anticancer agents |
|
|