Targeted paclitaxel nanoparticles modified with follicle-stimulating hormone β 81-95 peptide show effective antitumor activity against ovarian carcinoma.

Abstract

The majority of patients with advanced ovarian cancer will experience a relapse and ultimately die from refractory diseases. Targeted therapy shows promise for these patients. Novel therapeutic strategies should be developed on the basis of the molecular mechanisms involved in ovarian cancer and the steroid hormone environment of ovaries. The ovary is the main target organ of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which bind to its receptor with high affinity. In this study a FSH receptor-targeting ligand, FSH β 81-95 peptide, was used as a targeting moiety to synthesize an FSH receptor-mediated drug delivery system. FSH β 81-95 peptide-conjugated nanoparticles (FSH81-NPs) and paclitaxel-loaded FSH81-NPs (FSH81-NP-PTXs) were synthesized. In vitro studies showed that FSH β 81-95 peptide enabled the specific uptake of cytotoxic drugs and increased the intracellular paclitaxel concentration in FSH receptor-expressing cancer cells, resulting in enhanced cytotoxic effects. In vivo studies showed that FSH81-NP-PTXs possessed higher antitumor efficacy against FSH receptor-expressing tumors without any clinical signs of adverse side effects or body weight loss due to modification with FSH β 81-95 peptide. Therefore, FSH binding peptide-targeted drug delivery system exhibited high potential in the treatment of ovarian cancer, and tumor targeting via reproductive hormone receptors might improve the outcome of diseases.

• Authors: Xiaoyan Zhang, Jun Chen, Yu Kang, Shanshan Hong, Yufang Zheng, Hong Sun, Congjian Xu
• Journal: International journal of pharmaceutics (Int J Pharm) Vol. 453 Issue 2 Pg. 498-505 (Sep 10 2013) ISSN: 1873-3476 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 23811008 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
• Follicle Stimulating Hormone, beta Subunit
• monomethoxypolyethyleneglycol-polylactide block copolymer
• Polyethylene Glycols
• Paclitaxel

Topics

• Animals
• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic (administration & dosage, chemistry)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Survival (drug effects)
• Endocytosis
• Female
• Follicle Stimulating Hormone, beta Subunit (chemistry)
• Humans
• Mice
• Mice, Nude
• Nanoparticles (administration & dosage, chemistry)
• Ovarian Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology)
• Paclitaxel (administration & dosage, chemistry)
• Polyethylene Glycols (chemistry)
• Tumor Burden (drug effects)
• Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays