Stealth nanodrugs fight cancer, reduce toxic effects of chemotherapy

A world-first study conducted by the University of South Australia has determined that frequently used chemotherapeutic drugs (5-FU or fluorouracil) are effective in targeting tumors (rather than surrounding tissue) when optimized liposome formulations are used.

Using a minimally invasive sampling technique known as microdialysis, this is the first time that the biodistribution of 5-FU liposomal formulations has been quantified in this way -- something that is currently not efficiently achievable using imaging methods

About 150,000 new cancer cases are diagnosed each year in Australia

Chemotherapy is often used to treat many cancers, and 5-FU is an important drug used in treatment

The study's lead researcher and co-director, Professor Clive Prestridge, said the discovery could change the way chemotherapy is administered, providing thousands of cancer patients with a better quality of life

"Chemotherapy is routinely used to treat many different types of cancer, including breast and colon cancer, but a major setback with 5-FU is that it does not distribute well to tumor problems and can lead to high levels of off-target damage," Professor Platzgey said

"As a result, many patients experience adverse effects and can become very ill during treatment

"Liposome formulations offer huge opportunities for safer and more effective cancer drugs, as they can extend the residence time of encapsulated drugs and better target tumors

"Our microdialysis method is the first to quantify how liposome-specific delivery of 5-FU reduces tumor growth with fewer toxic side effects, so it has the potential to dramatically change many cancer treatments, providing cancer patients with more Good result

Journal Reference :

1. Wen Wang, Paul Joyce, Kristen Bremmell, Robert Milne, Clive A.