We describe an approach to generate patient-derived cancer cells from advanced prostate cancer and apply such cells to discover drugs that could be applied in clinical trials for castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Targeted delivery of anticancer drugs to brain tumors, especially glioblastoma multiforme, which is the most frequent and aggressive type, is one of the important objectives in nanomedicine. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor type II (VEGFR2) are promising targets because they are overexpressed by not only core tumor cells but also by migrated glioma cells, which are responsible for resistance and rapid progression of brain tumors. The purpose of the present study was to develop the liposomal drug delivery system combining enhanced loading capacity of cisplatin and high binding affinity to glioma cells. This was achieved by using of highly soluble cisplatin analogue, cis-diamminedinitratoplatinum(II), and antibodies against the native form of VEGF or VEGFR2 conjugated to liposome surface. The developed drug delivery system revealed sustained drug release profile, high affinity to antigens, and increased uptake by glioma C6 and U-87 MG cells. Pharmacokinetic study on glioma C6-bearing rats revealed prolonged blood circulation time of the liposomal formulation. The above features enabled the present drug delivery system to overcome both poor pharmacokinetics typical for platinum formulations and low loading capacity typical for conventional liposomal cisplatin formulations.

The aim of this study was to create a nanocontainer conjugated with monoclonal antibodies to connexin 43 (Cx43) that is actively expressed at the periphery of C6 glioma and in the astroglia roll zone. Stable vector nanogels with high (up to 35%) cisplatin load were synthesized. The antitumor effects of Cx43-modified cisplatin-loaded nanogels, free cisplatin, and nonspecific drugs were carried out on C6 glioma model. Vector nanogels reduced systemic toxicity of cisplatin, effectively inhibited tumor growth, and significantly prolonged the lifespan of animals with experimental tumors.