Click chemistry uses endogenous acrolein to activate cancer prodrug

An image showing the drug

Source: © Katsunori Tanaka/Riken

Strategy could reduce chemotherapy side effects by selecting for cancerous cells

Japan-based chemists have developed a strategy for activating an anticancer prodrug that takes advantage of elevated levels of endogenous acrolein at tumour sites. This could reduce side effects, which are often serious drawbacks of cancer therapy, by targeting the drug release directly into the cancerous tissue to avoid healthy cells.