title: Polymeric micelles for multi-drug delivery in cancer.
abstract: Drug combinations are common in cancer treatment and are rapidly evolving, moving beyond chemotherapy combinations to combinations of signal transduction inhibitors. For the delivery of drug combinations, i.e., multi-drug delivery, major considerations are synergy, dose regimen (concurrent versus sequential), pharmacokinetics, toxicity, and safety. In this contribution, we review recent research on polymeric micelles for multi-drug delivery in cancer. In concurrent drug delivery, polymeric micelles deliver multi-poorly water-soluble anticancer agents, satisfying strict requirements in solubility, stability, and safety. In sequential drug delivery, polymeric micelles participate in pretreatment strategies that "prime" solid tumors and enhance the penetration of secondarily administered anticancer agent or nanocarrier. The improved delivery of multiple poorly water-soluble anticancer agents by polymeric micelles via concurrent or sequential regimens offers novel and interesting strategies for drug combinations in cancer treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, 4588 Parkview Place, St. Louis, Missouri, 63110-1088, USA, Hyunah.Cho@stlcop.edu.
authors.forename: Hyunah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Tsz Chung
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Keishiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tomoda
authors.forename: Glen S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Kwon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D004058:Diffusion; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008823:Micelles; D053769:Nanocapsules / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010316:Particle Size; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008823:Micelles; D053769:Nanocapsules; D011108:Polymers