Local targeted therapy of liver metastasis from colon cancer by galactosylated liposome encapsulated with doxorubicin

PLoS One. 2013 Sep 11;8(9):e73860. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0073860. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Since regional drug administration enables to maintain a high drug concentration within tumors, we compared the plasma concentration and biodistribution of doxorubicin (Dox) from drug-loaded conventional liposomes by local or systemic administration. The results demonstrated that drug concentration was substantially improved in liver as well as a decrease in blood and other organs by spleen injection mimicking portal vein perfusion (regional administration). To further investigate the targeted therapeutic effect of galactosylated liposome encapsulated doxorubicin (Dox) by regional administration, liver targeting liposomes were prepared by incorporating galactosylated-DPPE to conventional liposomes. Liposome uptake and targeting were verified in vitro and in vivo by fluorescence microscopy and xenogen IVIS imaging system, respectively. The results showed that galactose targeted liposomes presented a stronger specific cell uptake by human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells compared to the non-targeted liposomes. In vivo fluorescence imaging showed that the intra-hepatic deposition of conventional and galactosylated liposomes via spleen injection was more than that via tail vein administration, and galactosylated liposomes had higher fluorescent intensity over conventional liposomes in the liver post spleen administration. The anti-tumor effect of various drug administration routes for both liposomal formulations was evaluated using a murine liver metastasis model of colon cancer. The results indicated that tumor progression in the liver and mesenteric lymph nodes was significantly suppressed by Dox-loaded galactosylated liposomes via spleen injection, while no significance was observed in non-targeted formulations. Our data indicated that local perfusion of galactosylated liposomal doxorubicin had a great promise for the treatment of liver metastasis from colon cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / administration & dosage*
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / chemistry
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / metabolism
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / pharmacokinetics
  • Asialoglycoprotein Receptor / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Colonic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Colonic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Doxorubicin / administration & dosage
  • Doxorubicin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Doxorubicin / chemistry
  • Doxorubicin / metabolism
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacokinetics
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Liver Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Mice
  • Polyethylene Glycols / administration & dosage
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry
  • Polyethylene Glycols / metabolism
  • Polyethylene Glycols / pharmacokinetics
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
  • Asialoglycoprotein Receptor
  • liposomal doxorubicin
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Doxorubicin

Grants and funding

This research was supported by National Basic Research Program of China 2011CB911004, Beijing Natural Science Foundation of China 7122150 and National Novel Drug Development Foundation of China 2009ZX09303-008. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.