Local delivery of doxorubicin for the treatment of malignant brain tumors in rats

Maciej S. Lesniak, Urvashi Upadhyay, Rory Goodwin, Betty Tyler, Henry Brem

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

113 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Local delivery of carmustine (BCNU) via biodegradable polymers has been shown to improve survival in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). In the current study, we hypothesized that local delivery of an anthracycline antibiotic, doxorubicin (DOX), might act to improve the survival of animals bearing experimental intracranial glioma. Materials and Methods: Polyanhydride polymers (PCPP-SA), containing either 3% or 5% ADR by weight, were prepared using the mix-melt method. Forty male Fisher 344 rats received an intracranial challenge with a lethal dose of 9L gliosarcoma cells. Five days later, they received DOX or blank polymer. There were a total of four treatment groups: 1) blank polymer; 2) 3% DOX polymer; 3) 5% DOXpolymer, and 4) control group with no polymer. Results: Compared to control animals treated with no polymers or blank polymer, animals receiving DOX had significantly extended survival. The median survival for the control group was 21 days vs. 34 days (p<0.01) for the 3% DOX group and 45 days (p<0.0001) for the 5% DOX group. Conclusion: Doxorubicin, when delivered locally, is an effective monotherapeutic agent against experimental intracranial glioma.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3825-3831
Number of pages7
JournalAnticancer research
Volume25
Issue number6 B
StatePublished - Nov 2005

Keywords

  • Biodegradable polymer
  • Brain tumor
  • Doxorubicin
  • Interstitial chemotherapy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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