Liposomal Doxorubicin Combined with Regional Hyperthermia: Reducing Systemic Toxicity and Improving Locoregional Efficacy in the Treatment of Solid Tumors

Summary

Incorporation of doxorubicin into polyethylene glycol-coated (pegylated) liposomes increases the therapeutic index, prolongs circulation time and enhances tumor localization. Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) is an established therapeutic agent in epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC), breast carcinoma or Kaposi’s sarcoma, and PLD administration results in reduction of toxicity. Addition of regional hyperthermia increases liposome extravasation, induces the doxorubicin release from the liposomes, and the combination of hyperthermia and doxorubicin itself may be supra-additive, resulting in enhanced antitumor efficacy in the heated region. Encouraging results have been reported for the combination of PLD and hyperthermia in EOC, breast carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Keyword:

• Breast cancer
• epithelial ovarian carcinoma
• hepatocellular carcinoma
• pegylated liposomal doxorubicin
• regional hyperthermia