Therapeutics: DNA

Cell culture and mouse studies suggest a doxorubicin-alendronate conjugate could help treat bone cancer with fewer side effects than unconjugated doxorubicin. The generic chemotherapeutic doxorubicin was linked to alendronate by a hydrazone bond that would hydrolyze in the acidic microenvironment of bone tumors to release free doxorubicin. In mice with xenograft bone tumors, IV injection of the conjugate increased bone levels of doxorubicin, decreased tumor growth and decreased doxorubicin-induced pathology in the heart and kidneys compared with unconjugated doxorubicin. Next steps could include testing the conjugate in mice bearing patient-derived xenograft bone tumors...