The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 271 No 7266 p316
13 September 2003

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New target for cancer cells

American and English researchers are using nitroreductase to target cytotoxic agents to cancer cells. A gene for nitroreductase is introduced into tumour cells which then express this enzyme, making them an easy target for cytotoxic prodrugs. Preclinical testing on human ovarian cancer cells have shown promising results.