Interleukin-2 Prodrug ODC-IL2

**Semantic type:** Amino Acid, Peptide, or Protein|Immunologic Factor|Pharmacologic Substance

**Definition:** An engineered fusion protein and conditionally activated prodrug of the cytokine interleukin-2 (IL-2) in which IL-2 is linked to a cytokine-inhibitory moiety via a short peptide motif, with potential immunoregulatory and antineoplastic activities. Upon intravenous administration, the IL-2 prodrug ODC-IL2 is pharmacologically inactive and IL-2 does not become active until cleaved by specific proteases in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Upon proteolytic cleavage, unbound and active IL-2 locally binds to the IL-2 receptor beta (CD122) and gamma (CD132) subunits (IL2Rb/g) that are expressed on CD8+ T effector cells and natural killer (NK) cells, thereby activating IL2R-mediated signaling within these immune cells. The activation of T- and NK cells mediate cytolytic immune responses against tumor cells causing tumor cell destruction and inhibition of tumor cell proliferation. The selective activation in the TME enhances the IL-2-mediated cytolytic responses against tumor cells while sparing the unwanted effects of systemic, peripheral immune activation.

**Synonyms:** - IL-2 Prodrug ODC-IL2 - ODC IL2 - ODC-IL2 - ODCIL2 - On-Demand-Cytokine (TM)-IL2 - Protease-activatable IL-2 Prodrug ODC-IL2