BackgroundChemotherapy for glioblastoma (GBM) patients is compromised in part by poor perfusion in the tumor. The present study evaluates how treatment with liposomal formulation of irinotecan (Irinophore C™), and other liposomal anticancer drugs, influence the tumor vasculature of GBM models grown either orthotopically or subcutaneously.MethodsLiposomal vincristine (2 mg/kg), doxorubicin (Caelyx®; 15 mg/kg) and irinotecan (Irinophore C™; 25 mg/kg) were injected intravenously (i.v.; once weekly for 3 weeks) in Rag2M mice bearing U251MG tumors. Tumor blood vessel function was assessed using the marker Hoechst 33342 and by magnetic resonance imaging-measured changes in vascular permeability/flow (Ktrans). Changes in CD31 staining density, basement membrane integrity, pericyte coverage, blood vessel diameter were also assessed.ResultsThe three liposomal drugs inhibited tumor growth significantly compared to untreated control (p < 0.05-0.001). The effects on the tumor vasculature were determined 7 days following the last drug dose. There was a 2-3 fold increase in the delivery of Hoechst 33342 observed in subcutaneous tumors (p < 0.001). In contrast there was a 5-10 fold lower level of Hoechst 33342 delivery in the orthotopic model (p < 0.01), with the greatest effect observed following treatment with Irinophore C. Following treatment with Irinophore C, there was a significant reduction in Ktrans in the orthotopic tumors (p < 0.05).ConclusionThe results are consistent with a partial restoration of the blood-brain barrier following treatment. Further, treatment with the selected liposomal drugs gave rise to blood vessels that were morphologically more mature and a vascular network that was more evenly distributed. Taken together the results suggest that treatment can lead to normalization of GBM blood vessel the structure and function. An in vitro assay designed to assess the effects of extended drug exposure on endothelial cells showed that selective cytotoxic activity against proliferating endothelial cells could explain the effects of liposomal formulations on the angiogenic tumor vasculature.

Purpose: To assess the pharmacokinetics, tumor drug accumulation, and therapeutic activity of

We have recently developed a liposomal nanoparticle (LNP) formulation of irinotecan based on loading method that involves formation of a complex between copper and the water soluble camptothecin. The loading methodology developed for irinotecan was evaluated to develop a LNP topotecan formulation (referred to herein as Topophore C) and test its activity in pre-clinical model of ovarian carcinoma. Topotecan was encapsulated into preformed liposomes containing 300 mM copper sulfate and the divalent metal ionophore A23187. Formulation optimization studies included assessments of loading efficiency, influence of temperature on drug loading and in vitro stability of the resulting formulation. In vivo assessments included drug and liposome pharmacokinetics, drug levels within plasma and the peritoneal cavity following intravenous (i.v.) administration in mice and efficacy studies on ES2 ovarian cancer model. Topotecan loading into liposomes was optimized with encapsulation efficiency of >98 % at a final drug-to-lipid (D/L) mole ratio of 0.1. Higher D/L ratios could be achieved, but the resulting formulations were less stable as judged by in vitro drug release studies. Following Topophore C administration in mice the topotecan plasma half-life and AUC were increased compared to free topotecan by 10-and 22-fold, respectively. Topophore C was 2-to 3-fold more toxic than free topotecan, however showed significantly better anti-tumor activity than free topotecan administered at doses with no observable toxic effects. Topophore C is a therapeutically interesting drug candidate and we are particularly interested in developing its use in combination with liposomal doxorubicin for treatment of platinum refractory ovarian cancer.

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The PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is commonly over activated in glioblastoma (GBM), and Rictor was shown to be an important regulator downstream of this pathway. EGFR overexpression is also frequently found in GBM tumors, and both EGFR and Rictor are associated with increased proliferation, invasion, metastasis and poor prognosis. This research evaluated in vitro and in vivo whether the combined silencing of EGFR and Rictor would result in therapeutic benefits. The therapeutic potential of targeting these proteins in combination with conventional agents with proven activity in GBM patients was also assessed. In vitro validation studies were carried out using siRNA-based gene silencing methods in a panel of three commercially available human GBM cell lines, including two PTEN mutant lines (U251MG and U118MG) and one PTEN-wild type line (LN229). The impact of EGFR and/or Rictor silencing on cell migration and sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs in vitro was determined. In vivo validation of these studies was focused on EGFR and/or Rictor silencing achieved using doxycycline-inducible shRNA-expressing U251MG cells implanted orthotopically in Rag2M mice brains. Target silencing, tumor size and tumor cell proliferation were assessed by quantification of immunohistofluorescence-stained markers. siRNA-mediated silencing of EGFR and Rictor reduced U251MG cell migration and increased sensitivity of the cells to irinotecan, temozolomide and vincristine. In LN229, co-silencing of EGFR and Rictor resulted in reduced cell migration, and increased sensitivity to vincristine and temozolomide. In U118MG, silencing of Rictor alone was sufficient to increase this line’s sensitivity to vincristine and temozolomide. In vivo, while the silencing of EGFR or Rictor alone had no significant effect on U251MG tumor growth, silencing of EGFR and Rictor together resulted in a complete eradication of tumors. These data suggest that the combined silencing of EGFR and Rictor should be an effective means of treating GBM.