Liposome drug delivery system for murine neuroblastoma

Purpose: The effects of liposome-infused doxorubicin on C-1300 murine neuroblastoma were studied. The liposome surface was covered with polyethylene glycol to avoid migration toward the reticuloendothelial system and to prolong its presence in the bloodstream. Liposome-infused doxorubicin hydrochloride (DXR), an anthracycline was used as an anticancer antibiotic substance. Methods: Each A/J mouse was transplanted with 1 x 10(5) C-1300 murine neuroblastoma cells subcutaneously in the thigh. The experiment was conducted when the maximum tumor dimension was 1 cm. The control group was given only physiological saline solutions, the second group was given DXR alone, and the third group received liposome-infused DXR (Lip-DXR). The survival and doubling times were measured. One, 12, and 24 hours after the injection, the DXR concentration in the cardiac tissues was measured for statistical comparison. Results: The survival time of the mice was found to be 27 +/- 5.10 days in the control group, 31.40 +/- 3.15 days in the DXR group, and 43.86 +/- 2.13 days in the Lip-DXR group. The Lip-DXR group showed the longest survival time. The tumor-doubling time was found to be 9.07 +/- 2.30, 10.75 +/- 3.49, and 19.80 +/- 3.26 days, for each group, respectively. When comparing the DXR concentration in the heart tissues, the Lip-DXR-administered mice showed significantly lower DXR accumulation in the cardiac tissues after 1 and 12 hours than the DXR-administered mice. Conclusion: This study proved that liposome-infused DXR could be used effectively on murine neuroblastoma (C-1300 tumor cell model) and may reduce the incidence of cardiac toxicity as compared with DXR alone. Copyright (C) 1998 by W.B. Saunders Company.