Premium
Therapeutic efficacy of IL‐2‐loaded hydrogels in a mouse tumor model
Author(s) -
De Groot Cornelis J.,
Cadée Jenny A.,
Koten JanWillem,
Hennink Wim E.,
Den Otter Willem
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.10167
Subject(s) - self healing hydrogels , dextran , in vitro , medicine , pharmacology , therapeutic effect , drug , interleukin , therapeutic index , chemistry , immunology , cytokine , biochemistry , organic chemistry
Interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) is a highly effective anticancer drug if it is applied locally for 5 consecutive days. In most cases this requires 5 invasive treatments, which is not usually acceptable for either the patient or the clinician. For this reason we have developed dextran‐based hydrogels from which the required amount of encapsulated IL‐2 (1–4 × 10 6 IU of IL‐2) is gradually released during 5–10 days. Initially IL‐2‐containing macroscopic cylinder‐shaped gels (implants), and later IL‐2‐containing injectable microspheres, were developed. These preparations were characterized in vitro , and the therapeutic activity was tested in DBA/2 mice with SL2 lymphosarcoma. The therapy was given to mice with a large and extensively metastasized tumor load (at least 5% of the body weight). If 1–4 × 10 6 IU of IL‐2 was slowly released from the hydrogels over a period of 5–10 days, the therapeutic effects were very good and comparable to the effects of free IL‐2 injections for 5 consecutive days. In conclusion, dextran‐based hydrogels are promising systems for the controlled release of IL‐2. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.