Patent attributes
This invention relates to vitamin-mitomycin conjugates, to a method of using the conjugates to selectively eliminate a population of pathogenic cells in a host animal harboring the pathogenic cells, and to a method of preparation of the conjugates. The conjugate is of the general formulaB-L-Xwherein the group B is a vitamin, or an analog or a derivative thereof, that binds to a surface accessible vitamin receptor that is uniquely expressed, overexpressed, or preferentially expressed by a population of pathogenic cells, wherein the group L comprises a cleavable linker, and wherein the group X comprises a mitomycin compound, or an analog or a derivative thereof. An additional therapeutic agent, such as a chemotherapeutic agent, can be administered in combination with the conjugate.