Targeting anticancer drug delivery to pancreatic cancer cells using a fucose-bound nanoparticle approach

PLoS One. 2012;7(7):e39545. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0039545. Epub 2012 Jul 11.

Abstract

Owing to its aggressiveness and the lack of effective therapies, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma has a dismal prognosis. New strategies to improve treatment and survival are therefore urgently required. Numerous fucosylated antigens in sera serve as tumor markers for cancer detection and evaluation of treatment efficacy. Increased expression of fucosyltransferases has also been reported for pancreatic cancer. These enzymes accelerate malignant transformation through fucosylation of sialylated precursors, suggesting a crucial requirement for fucose by pancreatic cancer cells. With this in mind, we developed fucose-bound nanoparticles as vehicles for delivery of anticancer drugs specifically to cancer cells. L-fucose-bound liposomes containing Cy5.5 or Cisplatin were effectively delivered into CA19-9 expressing pancreatic cancer cells. Excess L-fucose decreased the efficiency of Cy5.5 introduction by L-fucose-bound liposomes, suggesting L-fucose-receptor-mediated delivery. Intravenously injected L-fucose-bound liposomes carrying Cisplatin were successfully delivered to pancreatic cancer cells, mediating efficient tumor growth inhibition as well as prolonging survival in mouse xenograft models. This modality represents a new strategy for pancreatic cancer cell-targeting therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / genetics
  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism
  • Adenocarcinoma / mortality
  • Adenocarcinoma / therapy*
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
  • Carbocyanines
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / metabolism
  • Cisplatin / administration & dosage
  • Drug Delivery Systems*
  • Female
  • Fucose / metabolism*
  • Fucosyltransferases / genetics
  • Fucosyltransferases / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Liposomes / chemistry*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / mortality
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism
  • Survival Rate
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • CY5.5 cyanine dye
  • Carbocyanines
  • Liposomes
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • galactose receptor
  • Fucose
  • Fucosyltransferases
  • Cisplatin