Heterogeneous blood-tumor barrier permeability determines drug efficacy in experimental brain metastases of breast cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Brain metastases of breast cancer appear to be increasing in incidence, confer significant morbidity, and threaten to compromise gains made in systemic chemotherapy. The blood-tumor barrier (BTB) is compromised in many brain metastases; however, the extent to which this influences chemotherapeutic delivery and efficacy is unknown. Herein, we answer this question by measuring BTB passive integrity, chemotherapeutic drug uptake, and anticancer efficacy in vivo in two breast cancer models that metastasize preferentially to brain.

Experimental design

Experimental brain metastasis drug uptake and BTB permeability were simultaneously measured using novel fluorescent and phosphorescent imaging techniques in immune-compromised mice. Drug-induced apoptosis and vascular charac

SUBMITTER: Lockman PR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2999649 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature