Summary

Combination of NBTXR3 and cisplatin has been evaluated in vitro and in vivo. No specific toxicity was observed for the cells exposed only to NBTXR3. For the combined treatment, a marked and enhanced cell destruction when compared to the single agent. In vivo, NBTXR3 combined with low dose of cisplatin delayed tumor growth when compared to single agent cisplatin in combination with radiotherapy.

Summary

NBTXR3 has been evaluated in numerous in vivo models. The antitumor efficacy was systematically enhanced in terms of tumor growth delay for animals treated with NBTXR3 and exposed to radiotherapy when compared to radiotherapy alone. In this abstract the transferability of the treatment with NBTXR3 from one type of cancer to the other is described.

Summary

NBTXR3 exposed to irradiation enhanced cancer cells destruction and immunogenic cell death compared to irradiation alone, suggesting a strong potential for transforming tumor into an effective in situ vaccine. This may contribute to transform “cold” tumor into “hot” tumor and effectively be combined with most of the immunotherapeutic agents across oncology.

Summary

Congress: CLINAM, 23rd May 2011

Contents: The development of new activatable drug nanocarriers, with multiple functionalities, presents a promising approach for cancer treatment.

Improved drug delivery and controlled drug release at the tumor site may have considerable benefit by increasing treatment efficacy while reducing side effects and toxicity. Further, the possibility to monitor both nanocarrier accumulation and drug release via current clinical imaging techniques may be particularly relevant for an optimal treatment.

Within the European project “Sonodrugs”, we investigated the opportunity of triggering the drug release from new nanocarriers (temperature and pressure-sensitive) thanks to High Intensity Focused Ultrasounds (HIFU) and monitoring the release profile of the drug at the tumor site thanks to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) imaging.

A new versatile thermosensitive liposome has been designed and developed to efficiently encapsulate a drug (doxorubicin) and a contrast agent (superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles).

Summary

Congress: CLINAM, 23rd May 2011

Contents: The development of new activatable drug nanocarriers, with multiple functionalities, presents a promising approach for cancer treatment.

Improved drug delivery and controlled drug release at the tumor site may have considerable benefit by increasing treatment efficacy while reducing side effects and toxicity. Further, the possibility to monitor both nanocarrier accumulation and drug release via current clinical imaging techniques may be particularly relevant for an optimal treatment.

Within the European project “Sonodrugs”, we investigated the opportunity of triggering the drug release from new nanocarriers (temperature and pressure-sensitive) thanks to High Intensity Focused Ultrasounds (HIFU) and monitoring the release profile of the drug at the tumor site thanks to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) imaging.

A new versatile thermosensitive liposome has been designed and developed to efficiently encapsulate a drug (doxorubicin) and a contrast agent (superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles).

Summary

Nanotechnology is the engineering of objects at the nanometer scale with novel properties. Nanotechnology is being applied to medicine leading to novel diagnostic or treatment applications. Nanoscale objects are about one hundred to ten thousand times smaller than human cells. They are similar in size to large biological molecules (« biomolecules ») such as enzymes and receptors. As an example, hemoglobin, the molecule that carries oxygen in red blood cells, is approximately 5 nanometers in diameter. Nanoscale objects smaller than 100 nanometers can move out of blood vessels as they circulate through the body due to morphological features of the endothelium (fenestrae size). Those smaller than 7 nanometers can be cleared from the body by the kidney, as they circulate.

Nanotechnology devices are being developed for several cancer applications. EPR effect (Enhanced Permeability and Retention effect), originated from vascular permeability and lack of tumor lymphatic drainage allows accumulation of nanoparticles in the tumor. Therefore, nanoparticles could become important tools for tumor imaging and for tumor selective drug delivery. Furthermore, nanoparticles smaller than 50 nanometers can easily enter most cells.