Table 2

Enzyme-prodrug systems under investigation for genetic prodrug activation therapy applications

Enzyme

Prodrug

Cytotoxic product

Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase

Ganciclovir

Ganciclovir triphosphate

Cytosine deaminase

5-Fluorocytosine

5-Fluorouracil

Varicella zoster virus thymidine kinase

6-Methoxypurine arabinose

Adenine arabinonucleoside triphosphate

Nitroreductase

CB1954

5-Aziridinyl-4-hydroxylamino-2-nitrobenzamide

Cytochrome p450

Cyclophosphamide

Acrolein and phosphoramide mustard

Thymidine phosphorylase

5' -Deoxy-5-fluorouridine

5-Fluorouracil

Purine nucleoside phosphorylase

6-Methylpurine-deoxyriboside

6-Methylpurine

Alkaline phosphatase

Etoposide phosphate

Etoposide

Carboxypeptidase A

Methotrexate-alanine

Methotrexate

Carboxypeptidase G2

Benzoic acid mustard-glucuronide

Benzoic acid mustard

Linamarase

Linamarin

Cyanide

Xanthine oxidase

Xanthine

Oxygen radicals

β -Lactamase

Cephalosporin-mustard-carbamate

Nitrogen mustard

Vassaux and Lemoine Breast Cancer Res 2000 2:22   doi:10.1186/bcr25