Sonodynamic Therapy Based on Combined Use of Low Dose Administration of Epirubicin-Incorporating Drug Delivery System and Focused Ultrasound

Ultrasound Med Biol. 2017 Oct;43(10):2295-2301. doi: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2017.06.003. Epub 2017 Jul 10.

Abstract

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is currently considered as one of the promising minimally invasive treatment options for solid cancers. SDT is based on the combined use of a sonosensitizer drug and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) in and around neoplastic cells. Anthracycline drugs, including epirubicin (EPI), have been well known as effective sonosensitizers after interaction with focused ultrasound. Recently a new anticancer drug delivery system (DDS), NC-6300, has been developed that comprises EPI through an acid-labile hydrazone bond. In previous in vivo studies, NC-6300 showed basic drug safety and an excellent concentration property of EPI, and recently has been tested in clinical trials. For realizing minimally invasive cancer treatment, the present study demonstrated the effectiveness and feasibility of DDS-based SDT, which combined a small dose of NC-6300 and low energy of HIFU in mouse models of colon cancer and pancreatic cancer.

Keywords: Colon cancer; Drug delivery system (DDS); Epirubicin; High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU); In vivo; Micellar; Pancreatic cancer; Sonodynamic therapy (SDT).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / administration & dosage*
  • Combined Modality Therapy / methods
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods*
  • Epirubicin / administration & dosage*
  • Mice
  • Models, Animal
  • Ultrasonic Therapy / methods*

Substances

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
  • Epirubicin