Effective delivery of an angiogenesis inhibitor by neovessel-targeted liposomes

Int J Pharm. 2008 Aug 6;360(1-2):219-24. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2008.04.046. Epub 2008 May 13.

Abstract

Angiogenesis is critical for tumor growth and metastasis, and several angiogenesis inhibitors have been developed for the treatment of cancer. Previously, we identified angiogenic vessel-homing peptide, Ala-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly (APRPG), by use of a phage-displayed peptide library. APRPG peptide-modified liposomes have been revealed to be useful for the delivery of encapsulated drugs to angiogenic vasculature in tumor-bearing animals. In the present study, to assess the usefulness of APRPG-PEG-modified liposomes as a carrier of angiogenesis inhibitors in vitro and in vivo, we designed and validated APRPG-PEG-modified liposomal angiogenesis inhibitor. SU1498, an inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor tyrosine kinase, was successfully encapsulated into the liposomes. APRPG-PEG-modified liposomal SU1498 inhibited VEGF-stimulated endothelial cell proliferation in vitro. Moreover, APRPG-PEG-modified liposomal SU1498 significantly decreased tumor microvessel density in Colon26 NL-17 cell-bearing mice and prolonged the survival time of the mice. These findings suggest that APRPG-PEG-modified liposomes effectively deliver SU1498 to angiogenic endothelial cells in tumors and thus inhibit tumor-induced angiogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / pharmacokinetics*
  • Animals
  • Capillaries / drug effects
  • Capillaries / growth & development
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cinnamates / administration & dosage
  • Cinnamates / pharmacokinetics*
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Liposomes
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / pathology
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / drug therapy*
  • Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / biosynthesis
  • Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / genetics
  • Survival Analysis

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Cinnamates
  • Liposomes
  • SU 1498
  • Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor