Optimizing Antitumor Efficacy and Adverse Effects of Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin by Scheduled Plasmapheresis: Impact of Timing and Dosing

Title:Optimizing Antitumor Efficacy and Adverse Effects of Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin by Scheduled Plasmapheresis: Impact of Timing and Dosing

Volume: 15 Issue: 9

Author(s): Romeo Ngoune, Christine Contini, Michael M. Hoffmann, Dominik von Elverfeldt, Karl Winkler and Gerhard Putz*

Affiliation:

• Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Freiburg,Germany

Keywords: Cancer therapy, EPR-effect, liposomes, pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, toxicity, adverse events, plasmapheresis.

Abstract: Background: Nanoscale drug delivery systems accumulate in solid tumors preferentially by the enhanced permeation and retention effect (EPR-effect). Nevertheless, only a miniscule fraction of a given dosage reaches the tumor, while >90% of the given drug ends up in otherwise healthy tissues, leading to the severe toxic reactions observed during chemotherapy. Once accumulation in the tumor has reached its maximum, extracorporeal elimination of circulating nanoparticles by plasmapheresis can diminish toxicities.

Objective: In this study, we investigated the effect of dosing and plasmapheresis timing on adverse events and antitumor efficacy in a syngeneic rat tumor model.

Methods: MAT-B-III cells transfected with a luciferase reporter plasmid were inoculated into female Fisher rats, and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) was used for treatment. Plasmapheresis was performed in a discontinuous manner via centrifugation and subsequent filtration of isolated plasma.

Results: Bioluminescence measurements of tumor growth could not substitute caliper measurements of tumor size. In the control group, raising the dosage above 9 mg PLD/kg body weight did not increase therapeutic efficacy in our fully immunocompetent animal model. Plasmapheresis was best done 36 h after injecting PLD, leading to similar antitumor efficacy with significantly less toxicity. Plasmapheresis 24 h after injection interfered with therapeutic efficacy, while plasmapheresis after 48 h led to fewer side effects but also to increased weight loss.

Conclusion: Long-circulating nanoparticles offer the unique possibility to eliminate the excess of circulating particles after successful accumulation in tumors by EPR, thereby reducing toxicities and likely toxicity-related therapeutic limitations.

Cite this article as:

Ngoune Romeo , Contini Christine , Hoffmann M. Michael , von Elverfeldt Dominik , Winkler Karl and Putz Gerhard *, Optimizing Antitumor Efficacy and Adverse Effects of Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin by Scheduled Plasmapheresis: Impact of Timing and Dosing, Current Drug Delivery 2018; 15 (9) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1567201815666180518125839