Early clinical development in the field of targeted delivery of cytotoxic drugs to tumors was
not successful because the limitations imposed by the pharmacokinetic and
pharmacodynamic properties of monoclonal antibodies were not fully appreciated. Recently,
development of this concept has been reinvigorated by the approval of gemtuzumab
ozogamicin for treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. Other conjugates of calicheamicin and
conjugates of potent tubulin poisons (maytansinoids auristatins and taxoids) are undergoing …