Patent ID: 7465734

Claim:
A method for inhibiting the proliferation of a hyperproliferative cell, comprising contacting the cell with a prodrug alone that is selectively converted to a toxin in the cell by an endogenous, intracellular enzyme and wherein the enzyme is overexpressed and amplified as a result of selection in vivo by chemotherapy, wherein the prodrug is an L- or D-compound of the formula: and wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of Br, I, O-alkyl, O-aryl, O-heteroaryl, S-alkyl, S-aryl, S-heteroaryl, CN, OCN, SCN, NH 2 , NH-alkyl, N(alkyl) 2 , NHCHO, NHOH, NHO-alkyl, NH 2 CONHO, NHNH 2 , halovinyl and N 3 ; wherein Q is selected from the group consisting of sugar groups, thio-sugar groups, carbocyclic groups, and 5′-monophosphate derivatives thereof; and the compound being in any enantiomeric, diasteriomeric, stereoisomeric or anomeric form, including α- or β-anomeric forms.