The Biocatalysis in Cancer Therapy

Biocatalysis can be defined as the use of isolated enzymes or enzymes inside cells to convert substrates into products. The term "biocatalysis" is often used in modern organic synthesis in connection with the environmentally friendly manufacture of chemicals and pharmaceuticals, where biocatalysis has achieved great success in recent years. Here, we review the potential use of biocatalysis in cancer therapy. We summarize the common biocatalytic reactions for activation of anticancer prodrugs, generation of excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), and deletion of essential/immunosuppressive components in cancer therapy. We also describe the biocatalytic release of small molecule drugs from antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) and the application of biocatalysis in living cells for cancer treatment. The diverse application of biocatalysis is an exciting and ongoing strategy that holds great promise for cancer therapy.