Hyperthermia induces doxorubicin release from long-circulating liposomes and enhances their anti-tumor efficacy

Abstract

Purpose : To examine the possibility that hyperthermia would accelerate drug release from long-circulating liposomes, and enhance their antitumor activity. Methods and Materials : Liposomes were prepared by thin film hydration technique. Hyperthermia was induced by ultrasound apparatus and a water bath heating system. The antitumor efficacy of treatment against RIF-1 tumor in C3H mice was evaluated by the tumor growth delay assay. Results : In vitro drug release experiments demonstrated that increase in temperature from 37°C to 41°C resulted in about a sixfold increase in doxorubicin (DOX) release in a 1-h period. Increasing the temperature to 43°C, resulted in only a modest additional drug release. Drug uptake studies showed that local hyperthermic treatment immediately following the drug administration dramatically enhanced Stealth liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin (S-DOX) uptake by tumors, but did not do so for free DOX. At 42°C and at a dose of 10 mg/kg, the accumulation of S-DOX was about 10-fold and 2.5-fold higher than that with free drug and S-DOX at 37°C, respectively. The antitumor efficacy study confirmed our hypothesis that the addition of hyperthermia to the treatment of RIF-I tumors with doxorubicin encapsulated in long-circulating liposomes would enhance antitumor effects. Two hyperthermia treatments given at 24-h intervals appeared to be the most promising method of combining heat and long-circulating liposomes. The increased antitumor activity was not accompanied by increased toxicity, as determined by the body weight of the mice. Conclusion : Local hyperthermic treatment is able to accelerate DOX release from long-circulating liposomes, increase tumor uptake, and enhance their antitumor efficacy. The combination of local hyperthermia and long-circulating liposomes appears to show considerable promise in the treatment of localized diseases.