Poly(L-glutamic acid) - anticancer drug conjugates

Chemotherapy has had limited success in the treatment of cancer over the years, due, in part, to the untoward toxicity of the therapeutic agent to normal cells. The design of tailor-made polymer conjugates provides a synthetic approach that can overcome some of the problems. Several synthetic polymer-based anticancer drug conjugates have entered clinical studies. This report reviews the chemistry, physicochemical properties, and therapeutic applications in cancer therapy of polymeric chemotherapeutic agents based on poly(L-glutamic acid). Targeted delivery of anticancer agents using poly(L-glutamic acid) as the drug carrier is also discussed with emphasis on the design of innovative polymeric constructs. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.