Liposomal doxorubicin improves radiotherapy response in hypoxic prostate cancer xenografts

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Tumor vasculature frequently fails to supply sufficient levels of oxygen to tumor tissue resulting in radioresistant hypoxic tumors. To improve therapeutic outcome radiotherapy (RT) may be combined with cytotoxic agents.</p> &l...

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Main Authors: Røe Kathrine, Hagtvet Eirik, Olsen Dag R
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2011-10-01
Series:Radiation Oncology
Online Access:http://www.ro-journal.com/content/6/1/135
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author Røe Kathrine
Hagtvet Eirik
Olsen Dag R
author_facet Røe Kathrine
Hagtvet Eirik
Olsen Dag R
author_sort Røe Kathrine
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Tumor vasculature frequently fails to supply sufficient levels of oxygen to tumor tissue resulting in radioresistant hypoxic tumors. To improve therapeutic outcome radiotherapy (RT) may be combined with cytotoxic agents.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this study we have investigated the combination of RT with the cytotoxic agent doxorubicin (DXR) encapsulated in pegylated liposomes (PL-DXR). The PL-DXR formulation Caelyx<sup>® </sup>was administered to male mice bearing human, androgen-sensitive CWR22 prostate carcinoma xenografts in a dose of 3.5 mg DXR/kg, in combination with RT (2 Gy/day × 5 days) performed under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Hypoxic RT was achieved by experimentally inducing tumor hypoxia by clamping the tumor-bearing leg five minutes prior to and during RT. Treatment response evaluation consisted of tumor volume measurements and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE MRI) with subsequent pharmacokinetic analysis using the Brix model. Imaging was performed pre-treatment (baseline) and 8 days later. Further, hypoxic fractions were determined by pimonidazole immunohistochemistry of excised tumor tissue.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>As expected, the therapeutic effect of RT was significantly less effective under hypoxic than normoxic conditions. However, concomitant administration of PL-DXR significantly improved the therapeutic outcome following RT in hypoxic tumors. Further, the pharmacokinetic DCE MRI parameters and hypoxic fractions suggest PL-DXR to induce growth-inhibitory effects without interfering with tumor vascular functions.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We found that DXR encapsulated in liposomes improved the therapeutic effect of RT under hypoxic conditions without affecting vascular functions. Thus, we propose that for cytotoxic agents affecting tumor vascular functions liposomes may be a promising drug delivery technology for use in chemoradiotherapy.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-e3f990da7fee4ca68c022a2cd0a85ed32022-12-22T03:07:41ZengBMCRadiation Oncology1748-717X2011-10-016113510.1186/1748-717X-6-135Liposomal doxorubicin improves radiotherapy response in hypoxic prostate cancer xenograftsRøe KathrineHagtvet EirikOlsen Dag R<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Tumor vasculature frequently fails to supply sufficient levels of oxygen to tumor tissue resulting in radioresistant hypoxic tumors. To improve therapeutic outcome radiotherapy (RT) may be combined with cytotoxic agents.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this study we have investigated the combination of RT with the cytotoxic agent doxorubicin (DXR) encapsulated in pegylated liposomes (PL-DXR). The PL-DXR formulation Caelyx<sup>® </sup>was administered to male mice bearing human, androgen-sensitive CWR22 prostate carcinoma xenografts in a dose of 3.5 mg DXR/kg, in combination with RT (2 Gy/day × 5 days) performed under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Hypoxic RT was achieved by experimentally inducing tumor hypoxia by clamping the tumor-bearing leg five minutes prior to and during RT. Treatment response evaluation consisted of tumor volume measurements and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE MRI) with subsequent pharmacokinetic analysis using the Brix model. Imaging was performed pre-treatment (baseline) and 8 days later. Further, hypoxic fractions were determined by pimonidazole immunohistochemistry of excised tumor tissue.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>As expected, the therapeutic effect of RT was significantly less effective under hypoxic than normoxic conditions. However, concomitant administration of PL-DXR significantly improved the therapeutic outcome following RT in hypoxic tumors. Further, the pharmacokinetic DCE MRI parameters and hypoxic fractions suggest PL-DXR to induce growth-inhibitory effects without interfering with tumor vascular functions.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We found that DXR encapsulated in liposomes improved the therapeutic effect of RT under hypoxic conditions without affecting vascular functions. Thus, we propose that for cytotoxic agents affecting tumor vascular functions liposomes may be a promising drug delivery technology for use in chemoradiotherapy.</p>http://www.ro-journal.com/content/6/1/135
spellingShingle Røe Kathrine
Hagtvet Eirik
Olsen Dag R
Liposomal doxorubicin improves radiotherapy response in hypoxic prostate cancer xenografts
Radiation Oncology
title Liposomal doxorubicin improves radiotherapy response in hypoxic prostate cancer xenografts
title_full Liposomal doxorubicin improves radiotherapy response in hypoxic prostate cancer xenografts
title_fullStr Liposomal doxorubicin improves radiotherapy response in hypoxic prostate cancer xenografts
title_full_unstemmed Liposomal doxorubicin improves radiotherapy response in hypoxic prostate cancer xenografts
title_short Liposomal doxorubicin improves radiotherapy response in hypoxic prostate cancer xenografts
title_sort liposomal doxorubicin improves radiotherapy response in hypoxic prostate cancer xenografts
url http://www.ro-journal.com/content/6/1/135
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AT hagtveteirik liposomaldoxorubicinimprovesradiotherapyresponseinhypoxicprostatecancerxenografts
AT olsendagr liposomaldoxorubicinimprovesradiotherapyresponseinhypoxicprostatecancerxenografts