Sterically stabilized etoposide liposomes: evaluation of antimetastatic activity and its potentiation by combination with sterically stabilized pentoxifylline liposomes in mice

• Published in: Cancer biotherapy & radiopharmaceuticals Vol. 18; no. 5; p. 811
• Main Authors: Sant, Vinayak P, Nagarsenker, M S, Rao, S G Anand, Gude, Rajiv P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-10-2003
• Subjects: Animals; Cell Line, Tumor; Disease Models, Animal; Disease Progression; Drug Therapy, Combination; Etoposide - administration & dosage; Etoposide - therapeutic use; Female; Liposomes - administration & dosage; Liposomes - chemistry; Lung Neoplasms - drug therapy; Lung Neoplasms - secondary; Male; Melanoma - pathology; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Neoplasm Metastasis - drug therapy; Neoplasm Transplantation; Pentoxifylline - administration & dosage; Pentoxifylline - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 1084-9785
• DOI: 10.1089/108497803770418355

Cytotoxic activity of chemotherapeutic agents can be enhanced by site-specific delivery or by combination with other less toxic agents. In the present study, enhancement in the antimetastatic activity of etoposide (ETP) by encapsulation in sterically stabilized liposomes was evaluated in the murine experimental B16F10 melanoma model. Further, potentiation of its antimetastatic activity by combination with pentoxifylline (PTX) solution or sterically stabilized PTX liposomes was evaluated in the same animal model. Upon intravenous administration, ETP solution and ETP liposomes inhibited pulmonary tumor nodule formation in a dose-dependent manner. Encapsulation of ETP in liposomes resulted in significant enhancement in its antimetastatic activity at doses of 0.5 mg/kg and 0.75 mg/kg as compared to ETP solution at similar doses. In combination therapy, the effect of sequence of administration of the drugs, ETP and PTX, was evaluated. Enhancement of antimetastatic activity of ETP solution when used in combination with PTX solution was effected by the sequence in which the solutions were administered. However, a combination of ETP liposomes and PTX liposomes led to potentiation of antimetastatic activity in a sequence-independent manner. The results indicate that antimetastatic activity of ETP is significantly enhanced by encapsulation in liposomes. Administration of ETP liposomes with PTX liposomes further potentiated the activity, suggesting the usefulness of this combination in clinical practice for reducing the dose-limiting toxic effects of ETP.