Derivatives of muramyl dipeptide (MDP) are considered as immunostimulants and adjuvants in the immunotherapy of cancer and infections. The interest in these compounds is mainly related to a high variety of their structure and biological properties. Here, we describe the synthesis and biological activity of several recently developed classes of MDP analogues. We also report potential of these analogues in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases in experimental systems and cancer patients.
Keywords: Muramyl dipeptide, MDP, MDP analogues, adjuvant, synthesis, cancer immunotherapy, innate immunity