Abstract
Lipoproteins are a family of naturally occurring macromolecular complexes consisting amphiphilic apoproteins, phospholipids, and neutral lipids. The physiological role of mammalian plasma lipoproteins is to transport their apolar cargo (primarily cholesterol and triglyceride) to their respective destinations through a highly organized ligand-receptor recognition system. Current day synthetic nanoparticle delivery systems attempt to accomplish this task; however, many only manage to achieve limited results. In recent years, many research labs have employed the use of lipoprotein or lipoprotein-like carriers to transport imaging agents or drugs to tumors. The purpose of this review is to highlight the pharmacologic, clinical, and molecular evidence for utilizing lipoprotein-based formulations and discuss their scientific rationale. To accomplish this task, evidence of dynamic drug interactions with circulating plasma lipoproteins are presented. This is followed by epidemiologic and molecular data describing the association between cholesterol and cancer.
Highlights
Effective cancer therapy remains a daunting challenge for modern oncology due to the complexities governing tumorigenesis, tumor metastasis, and the limitations associated with current therapies.Over the last three decades colloidal nanocarriers have been implemented in oncology with the promise of providing targeted cancer treatment [1,2,3]
In this review we will highlight several lines of scientific reasoning that support the strategy for lipoprotein mediated drug delivery in oncology
There is a long history of investigations in human subjects examining the association of cancer and serum cholesterol levels
Summary
Effective cancer therapy remains a daunting challenge for modern oncology due to the complexities governing tumorigenesis, tumor metastasis, and the limitations associated with current therapies. The compartmentalized organization of these carriers that enables the transport of native molecules, makes them amenable for facile incorporation of exogenous compounds [10] This strategy for cancer drug delivery is not new, back in 1981 Gal et al proposed that low-density lipoproteins (LDL) could be used as a delivery vehicle for chemotherapeutics and radionucleotides in the management of gynecologic malignancies [11]. In this review we will highlight several lines of scientific reasoning that support the strategy for lipoprotein mediated drug delivery in oncology. These rationales will and preclinical animal studiesevidence have beenfor published demonstrating theinteractions feasibility and efficacy of these include:.
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