Nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery to tumor vasculature suppresses metastasis

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Jul 8;105(27):9343-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0803728105. Epub 2008 Jul 7.

Abstract

Integrin alphanubeta3 is found on a subset of tumor blood vessels where it is associated with angiogenesis and malignant tumor growth. We designed an alphanubeta3-targeted nanoparticle (NP) encapsulating the cytotoxic drug doxorubicin (Dox) for targeted drug delivery to the alphanubeta3-expressing tumor vasculature. We observed real-time targeting of this NP to tumor vessels and noted selective apoptosis in regions of the alphanubeta3-expressing tumor vasculature. In clinically relevant pancreatic and renal cell orthotopic models of spontaneous metastasis, targeted delivery of Dox produced an antimetastatic effect. In fact, alphanubeta3-mediated delivery of this drug to the tumor vasculature resulted in a 15-fold increase in antimetastatic activity without producing drug-associated weight loss as observed with systemic administration of the free drug. These findings reveal that NP-based delivery of cytotoxic drugs to the alphanubeta3-positive tumor vasculature represents an approach for treating metastatic disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Doxorubicin / administration & dosage*
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacology
  • Doxorubicin / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Delivery Systems*
  • Endothelium / drug effects
  • Endothelium / pathology
  • Integrin alphaVbeta3 / metabolism
  • Kidney Neoplasms / pathology
  • Mice
  • Nanoparticles*
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / blood supply*
  • Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / pathology
  • Oligopeptides / pharmacology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / blood supply
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Integrin alphaVbeta3
  • Oligopeptides
  • arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid
  • Doxorubicin