University of Arizona researchers have come up with a new way to deliver chemotherapy drugs to pancreatic and breast cancer tumors. The method causes less damage to healthy tissues.
Paclitaxel is one of the major chemotherapy drugs used for treating a wide range of cancers, including breast, pancreatic, lung and ovarian. While it is effective in killing cancer cells, it has downsides, often going to unwanted places like the liver and spleen.
A new delivery method that takes advantage of the unique properties of tiny, fatty bubbles called nanovesicles. A nanovesicle is a form of nanoparticle, which scientists often use in drug delivery. UA’s research team chemically attached paclitaxel to a type of fat found in cell membranes.
Jianqin Lu is an associate professor in the UA R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy. Lu said the new formulation outperformed other chemotherapy drugs in tests against triple-negative breast cancer and advanced pancreatic cancer in mice.
“We found that we can drastically reduce or minimize the toxicity to the bone marrow," Lu said.
He cofounded a company with fellow professor and oncologist, Aaron Scott. Together, they’re trying to launch clinical trials to test the drug’s safety and efficacy in human patients.
"This platform can span a variety of tumor types for patients who desperately need better therapies," Scott said.
