Nanomedicine developments in the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer: focus on nanoliposomal irinotecan.

ABSTRACT: Nanoliposomal irinotecan (nal-IRI) was originally developed using an efficient and high-loading capacity system to encapsulate irinotecan within a liposomal carrier, producing a therapeutic agent with improved biodistribution and pharmacokinetic characteristics compared to free drug. Specifically, administration of nal-IRI results in prolonged exposure of SN-38, the active metabolite of irinotecan, within tumors, while at the same time offering the advantage of less systemic toxicity than traditional irinotecan. These favorable properties of nal-IRI, confirmed in a variety of tumor xenograft models, led to its clinical evaluation in a number of disease indications for which camptothecins have proven activity, including in colorectal, gastric, and pancreatic cancers. The culmination of thes

SUBMITTER: Ko AH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4821390 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature