A common mechanism by which cancer cells acquire resistance to chemotherapeutics is through the overexpression of efflux pumps, but platinum anticancer agents that crosslink DNA and interact with proteins are poor efflux pump substrates. Here, the authors design dual warhead drug conjugates by tethering a platinum pharmacophore to the doxorubicin backbone, which exhibit the activity of both parent anticancer compounds and can overcome drug efflux effectively due to covalent binding to intracellular biomolecules.
- Fang Wang
- Jonathan Braverman
- Ömer H. Yilmaz
