Conventional attempts to control cell behaviour and function are often marred by the toxicity of the drugs used, their premature waste or inactivation or by their inability to interact with or reach target sites efficiently. New trends in pharmacology empha­ size the development of methods for the optimization of drug action, for instance by the delivery of drugs, enzymes, hormones, antigens, genetic material, ets. through carrier systems selectively to re­ levant cellular and subcellular sites. A wide assortment of carriers was discussed in the first NATO Advanced Studies Institute (ASI) "Targeting of Drugs," the proceedings of which were published by Plenum Press in 1982 (eds., G. Gregoriadis, J. Senior and A. Trouet). This book, containing the proceedings of the 2nd NATO ASI "Receptor-Mediated Targeting of Drugs" held again at Cape Sounion, Greece during 20 June-l July 1983, deals with drug delivery through systems possessing ligands which can recognize and interact with receptors on the target's surface. Receptor-recognizing carriers that have recently given promise of realistic expectations in targeting include monoclonal antibodies, certain proteins that home to specific cells in the body and liposomes either as such (when they can trigger specific reactions in the reticuloendothelial system) or in association with targeting macromolecules. Each of these are discussed extensively by leading authorities, in terms of applications in biology and medicine and related methodologies.

Inhalt

Drug Targeting in Human Cancer Chemotherapy.- Toxic Conjugates of Epidermal Growth Factor and Asialofetuin.- Saccharide Receptor-Mediated Drug Delivery.- Study of the Transferrin Receptor Using a Cytotoxic Human Transferrin-Ricin a Chain Conjugate.- How do Protein Toxins Kill Cells?.- Role of the B-Chain in the Cytotoxic Action of Antibody-Ricin and Antibody Abrin Conjugates.- Monoclonal Antibodies as Cell Targeted Carriers of Covalently and Non-Covalently Attached Toxins.- Long-Term Kinetics of Antibody-Toxin Conjugates Show Resistant Cells.- Significance of the Kinetics of Immunotoxin Cytotoxicity.- The Use of Ricin a Chain-Containing Immunotoxins to Kill Neoplastic B Cells.- Selective Cytotoxicity of Ricin a Chain-Anti Carcinoembryonic Antibody Conjugates to Human Adenocarcinoma Cells.- Development of Monoclonal Antibodies with Specificity for Human Epithelial Cells.- Attempted Therapy of a Human Xenograft Colonic Cancer HT29 Using 131I-Labelled Monoclonal Antibodies.- Fate of Liposomes In Vivo: Control Leading to Targeting.- Interactions of Liposomes with Lipoproteins and Liver Cells In Vivo and In Vitro Studies.- Endocytosis of Liposomes and Intracellular Fate of Encapsulated Molecules: Strategies for Enhanced Cytoplasmic Delivery.- Liposomes in Leishmaniasis: The Lysosome Connection.- Thrombogenic Potential of Phosphatidylserine-Containing Liposomes.- The Use of Liposomes in Diagnostic Imaging.- Unexpected Tissue Distribution of Liposomes Coated with Amylopectin Derivatives and Successful Use in the Treatment of Experimental Legionnaires' Diseases.- Alteration of Liposomal-Surface Properties with Synthetic Glycolipids.- Antibody-Bearing Liposomes as Probes of Receptor-Mediated Endocytosis.- Antibody-Targeted Liposomes: Development of a Cell-Specific Drug Delivery System.- Targeting and Lysosomal Handling of Polymethacrylamide-Oligopeptide Conjugates.- Drug Targeting in Cancer Therapy.- Photo.- Contributors.- Indes.