The chemotherapy drug in liposomes effectively destroys tumors and spares female fertility
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed an antitumor drug, the active ingredient of which is arsenic trioxide packed in nanoparticles, which are a tiny analogue of the "Trojan horse". These nanoparticles consist of tiny crystals of arsenic trioxide, tightly compressed and placed inside liposomes – bubbles with a lipid membrane.
The size of such nanoparticles is hundreds of times smaller than the size of an average human cell, which ensures their ability to penetrate through the pores in the walls of rapidly growing blood vessels of the tumor. The tumor microenvironment is usually characterized by slightly increased acidity, which contributes to the release of the toxic contents of nanoparticles directly in the malignant focus.
A few years ago, arsenic trioxide was approved as a drug for the treatment of certain types of blood cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma. Experiments have shown that, at least with regard to lymphoma, its new form is much more effective than the traditionally used drug. Moreover, the developers believe that it can be successfully used for the treatment of solid tumors. According to the results of an earlier preclinical (animal) study, nanoliposomes with arsenic trioxide effectively inhibit tumor growth in triple-negative breast cancer, which often does not respond to traditional chemotherapy drugs and is characterized by a poor prognosis for patient survival.
Unfortunately, arsenic trioxide, like many other anti-cancer drugs, among other side effects in the treatment of women of childbearing age (especially in the treatment of lymphoma) often causes temporary or permanent infertility.
To assess the effect of the new drug on women's fertility, the authors developed a rapid test using follicle culture. The results of the test demonstrated that the nanoform of arsenic trioxide is much less toxic to female fertility than the usual form of the drug.
Thus, the results of the work have two potential areas for practical application. Firstly, they demonstrate the increased effectiveness of the new form of the drug while reducing the toxic effect on women's ability to conceive. Secondly, the developed test can be used to assess the effect of both experimental and existing drugs on female fertility.
Article by Richard W. Ahn et al. Nano-Encapsulation of Arsenic Trioxide Enhances Efficacy against Murine Lymphoma Model while Minimizing Its Impact on Ovarian Reserve In Vitro and In Vivo is published in the journal PLoS ONE.
Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of ScienceDaily:
New Chemo Drug Gentler On Fertility, Tougher On Cancer.
28.03.2013