Drug development in oncology assisted by noninvasive optical imaging

Int J Pharm. 2009 Sep 11;379(2):309-16. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2009.05.034. Epub 2009 May 23.

Abstract

Early and accurate detection of tumors, like the development of targeted treatments, is a major field of research in oncology. The generation of specific vectors, capable of transporting a drug or a contrast agent to the primary tumor site as well as to the remote (micro-) metastasis would be an asset for early diagnosis and cancer therapy. Our goal was to develop new treatments based on the use of tumor-targeted delivery of large biomolecules (DNA, siRNA, peptides, or nanoparticles), able to induce apoptosis while dodging the specific mechanisms developed by tumor cells to resist this programmed cell death. Nonetheless, the insufficient effectiveness of the vectorization systems is still a crucial issue. In this context, we generated new targeting vectors for drug and biomolecules delivery and developed several optical imaging systems for the follow-up and evaluation of these vectorization systems in live mice. Based on our recent work, we present a brief overview of how noninvasive optical imaging in small animals can accelerate the development of targeted therapeutics in oncology.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Diagnostic Imaging / methods*
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods
  • Drug Discovery / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence / methods
  • Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Optical Devices*
  • Radiation Oncology / methods

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents