Prodrug-based drug delivery approaches in cancer combination therapy

Abstract

Prodrugs have been used to develop the selectivity and efficacy of many diseases, especially cancer therapy, by targeting specialized markers. Herein, different strategies are utilized and new treatments are constantly being improved. In this chapter, a view of the types of prodrug strategies in targeted cancer therapy is provided. The advantages of some of these strategies have been discussed. Among them, gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy, antibody–drug conjugates, and antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy are the most commonly used. Moreover, the combination of prodrugs and nanotechnological applications and other newly developed approaches were detailed. Finally, this chapter has tried to provide a glimpse into the future of gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy by describing the field’s current status, built upon many years of work and the continuing research innovation. © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.