Preclinical evaluation of the cardiotoxicity of PK2: a novel HPMA copolymer-doxorubicin-galactosamine conjugate antitumour agent.

PK2 is a polymeric anticancer conjugate composed of an N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymer backbone and pendant doxorubicin (DOX) linked via a Gly-Phe-Leu-Gly peptide spacer. Additionally galactose residues are present to facilitate liver targeting. To justify clinical evaluation of PK2 it was necessary to determine its late cardiotoxicity compared to that of free DOX.