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Chemotherapy of glioblastoma in rats using doxorubicin‐loaded nanoparticles
Author(s) -
Steiniger Sebastian C.J.,
Kreuter Jörg,
Khalansky Alexander S.,
Skidan Igor N.,
Bobruskin Alexey I.,
Smirnova Zoya S.,
Severin Sergey E.,
Uhl Reiner,
Kock Martin,
Geiger Kathrin D.,
Gelperina Svetlana E.
Publication year - 2004
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.20048
Subject(s) - doxorubicin , chemotherapy , apoptosis , in vivo , pharmacology , toxicity , medicine , blood–brain barrier , polysorbate , cancer research , pathology , chemistry , biology , central nervous system , biochemistry , pulmonary surfactant , microbiology and biotechnology
Glioblastomas belong to the most aggressive human cancers with short survival times. Due to the blood‐brain barrier, they are mostly inaccessible to traditional chemotherapy. We have recently shown that doxorubicin bound to polysorbate‐coated nanoparticles crossed the intact blood‐brain barrier, thus reaching therapeutic concentrations in the brain. Here, we investigated the therapeutic potential of this formulation of doxorubicin in vivo using an animal model created by implantation of 101/8 glioblastoma tumor in rat brains. Groups of 5–8 glioblastoma‐bearing rats (total n = 151) were subjected to 3 cycles of 1.5–2.5 mg/kg body weight of doxorubicin in different formulations, including doxorubicin bound to polysorbate‐coated nanoparticles. The animals were analyzed for survival (% median increase of survival time, Kaplan‐Meier). Preliminary histology including immunocytochemistry (glial fibrillary acidic protein, ezrin, proliferation and apoptosis) was also performed. Rats treated with doxorubicin bound to polysorbate‐coated nanoparticles had significantly higher survival times compared with all other groups. Over 20% of the animals in this group showed a long‐term remission. Preliminary histology confirmed lower tumor sizes and lower values for proliferation and apoptosis in this group. All groups of animals treated with polysorbate‐containing formulations also had a slight inflammatory reaction to the tumor. There was no indication of neurotoxicity. Additionally, binding to nanoparticles may reduce the systemic toxicity of doxorubicin. This study showed that therapy with doxorubicin bound to nanoparticles offers a therapeutic potential for the treatment of human glioblastoma. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.