Micellar delivery of cyclopamine and gefitinib for treating pancreatic cancer.
Hedgehog (Hh) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling are involved in pancreatic cancer progression. Targeting these pathways simultaneously with cyclopamine (Hh inhibitor) and gefitinib (EGFR inhibitor) is a promising approach for treating pancreatic cancer. However, the major limitation for effective clinical translation of these molecules is their low aqueous solubility. We have previously demonstrated that methoxy polyethyleneglycol-b-poly(carbonate-co-lactic acid) {mPEG-b-P(CB-co-LA)} copolymer solubilizes hydrophobic anticancer drugs and has the potential to deliver to tumors by an enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. In this study, using the nanoprecipitation method, cyclopamine and gefitinib were efficiently loaded into mPEG-b-P(CB-co-LA) micelles with encapsulation efficiencies of 94.4 and 88.6%, respectively. These micelles had a narrow particle size distribution with a mean particle size of 54.3 nm and a PDI of 0.14. Combination therapy showed a synergistic effect against L3.6pl cells but an additive effect against MIA PaCa-2 cells. Caspase 3/7 activity was also increased when this combination therapy was used, indicating apoptotic cell death. Gene and protein expression analysis indicated cross-talk between Hh and EGFR signaling. Furthermore, the combination decreased tumor growth rate in L3.6pl-derived xenograft mouse tumors. These data suggest the applicability of our micellar system to effectively load and deliver cyclopamine and gefitinib for combination chemotherapy.
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and ‡Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center , Memphis, Tennessee 38163, United States.
Deepak
D
Chitkara
Saurabh
S
Singh
Virender
V
Kumar
Michael
M
Danquah
Stephen W
SW
Behrman
Neeraj
N
Kumar
Ram I
RI
Mahato
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D000077156:Gefitinib; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008823:Micelles; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014704:Veratrum Alkaloids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D008823:Micelles; D011799:Quinazolines; D014704:Veratrum Alkaloids; D000077156:Gefitinib; C000541:cyclopamine