Abstract

STUDIES OF PRODRUG APPROACH IN ANTICANCER DRUGS

Rutuja Bhumkar* and Anuruddha Rajaram Chabukswar

Abstract

A prodrug is pharmacologically inactive, meaning it needs to be converted into an active drug by enzyme or chemical processes that are metabolized in the body that are designed to increase the amount of active drug at the site of action. Prodrugs in anticancer treatment can help to reduce side effects and limitations of conventional anticancer treatment because conventional drugs have high systemic toxicity and lack tumor selectivity. Natural products can also address cancer, but because of systemic toxicity or lack of tumor selectivity, a prodrug strategy will help in overcoming these limitations. To get a more effective outcome in cancer therapy, try combining nanoparticles or photouncaging methods with a prodrug. Human carcinogenesis is caused by CYP1A1, therefore inhibition of its activity may result in chemoprevention. Lipophilic prodrugs combined with nanotechnology can be used to design liposomes that overcome drawbacks. We will provide a summary of recent research article reports on anticancer prodrugs.

Keywords: Anticancer drug, Amphiphilic nano theranostic, Curcumin, Camptothecin, Emetine, Gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy.