Preclinical and clinical studies of anticancer drug-incorporated polymeric micelles.
Tumour-targeted delivery of therapeutic agents is a longstanding pharmacological goal to improve selectivity and Therapeutic Index. Most scientists have sought to use 'active' receptor-mediated tumour-targeting systems, however the 'passive' targeting afforded by the Enhanced Permeability and Retention (EPR) effects provides a versatile and non-saturable opportunity for tumour-selective delivery. Polymeric micelles are ideally suited to exploit the EPR effect, and they have been used for the delivery of a range of anticancer drugs in preclinical and clinical studies. Here I overview some of the more important approaches, assessing usefulness and seeking to identify the most promising ways to apply the phenomenon of passive targeting for improved clinical outcome.
Investigative Treatment Division, Research Center for Innovative Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba, Japan.
Yasuhiro
Y
Matsumura
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D006801:Humans; D008823:Micelles; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010539:Permeability; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008823:Micelles; D011108:Polymers