Antitumor effect of SN-38-releasing polymeric micelles, NK012, on spontaneous peritoneal metastases from orthotopic gastric cancer in mice compared with irinotecan.
7-Ethyl-10-hydroxy-camptothecin (SN-38), an active metabolite of irinotecan hydrochloride (CPT-11), has potent antitumor activity. Moreover, we have reported the strong antitumor activity of NK012 (i.e., SN-38-releasing polymeric micelles) against human cancer xenografts compared with CPT-11. Here, we investigated the advantages of NK012 over CPT-11 treatment in mouse models of gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination. NK012 or CPT-11 was i.v. administered thrice every 4 days at their respective maximum tolerable doses (NK012, 30 mg/kg/day; CPT-11, 67 mg/kg/day) to mice receiving orthotopic transplants of gastric cancer cell lines (44As3Luc and 58As1mLuc) transfected with the luciferase gene (n = 5). Antitumor effect was evaluated using the photon counting technique. SN-38 concentration in gastric tumors and peritoneal nodules was examined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) 1, 24, and 72 hours after each drug injection. NK012 or CPT-11 distribution in these tumors was evaluated using a fluorescence microscope on the same schedule. In both models, the antitumor activity of NK012 was superior to that of CPT-11. High concentrations of SN-38 released from NK012 were detected in gastric tumors and peritoneal nodules up to 72 hours by HPLC. Only a slight conversion from CPT-11 to SN-38 was observed from 1 to 24 hours. Fluorescence originating from NK012 was detected up to 72 hours, whereas that from CPT-11 disappeared until 24 hours. NK012 also showed antitumor activity against peritoneal nodules. Thus, NK012 showing enhanced distribution with prolonged SN-38 release may be ideal for cancer treatment because the antitumor activity of SN-38 is time dependent.
Nakajima
Takako Eguchi
TE
Investigative Treatment Division, Research Center for Innovative Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan.
Yanagihara
Kazuyoshi
K
Takigahira
Misato
M
Yasunaga
Masahiro
M
Kato
Ken
K
Hamaguchi
Tetsuya
T
Yamada
Yasuhide
Y
Shimada
Yasuhiro
Y
Mihara
Keichiro
K
Ochiya
Takahiro
T
Matsumura
Yasuhiro
Y
D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008823:Micelles; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D008823:Micelles; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002166:Camptothecin