Study shows potential for nanotechnology-based therapy for ovarian cancer

Their findings were published in the August 2011 issue of the journal Biomaterials.

Andrew Wang, MD, assistant professor of radiation oncology and study senior author, explains, “Our study demonstrates the proof of principle of engineering ‘smart’ therapeutics that can preferentially deliver chemotherapeutic treatment to cancer. Such therapeutics were not possible until the development of nanoparticle therapeutic carriers. These tiny devices can be precisely engineered to carry therapeutic cargo and be targeted to cancer cells. We believe our preclinical study will facilitate the clinical development of these targeted nanoparticle-based treatments and eventually improve cancer treatment. “ Wang is a member of UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Peritoneal metastasis, when the cancer has spread to the lining of the abdomen, is a major cause of side effects and death in ovarian cancer, and while intraperitoneal chemotherapy and radiotherapy have shown good clinical results, both are limited by their non-targeted nature.

To develop the nanoparticle, the team used folate, a water-soluble form of Vitamin B9 because most ovarian cancers overexpress the folate receptor. The nanoparticles encapsulated the chemotherapy drug Paclitaxel and the yittrium-90 as the therapeutic radioisotope.

Provided by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine