The use of α-fetoprotein for the delivery of cytotoxic payloads to cancer cells

Abstract

One approach to improving the activity of anticancer drugs is to bind them to the human α-fetoprotein (HAFP) that recognizes the tumor-associated cell-surface HAFP receptor. A drug can be bound to the HAFP by covalent conjugation or within a non-covalent complex. Specially designed linkers couple cytotoxins to the HAFP and ensure the stability of the HAFP–drug conjugate in the circulation and the activation of the drug in the cancer cell. On the other hand, AFP–drug non-covalent complexes can exploit the natural role of the AFP as a nutrition delivery “shuttle”. In this article we review the design of HAFP–drug conjugates and AFP–drug complexes and their potential uses.