Pharmacokinetics, tumor accumulation and antitumor activity of nanoliposomal irinotecan following systemic treatment of intracranial tumors

Aim: We sought to evaluate nanoliposomal irinotecan as an intravenous treatment in an orthotopic brain tumor model. Materials & methods: Nanoliposomal irinotecan was administered intravenously in the intracranial U87MG brain tumor model in mice, and irinotecan and SN-38 levels were analyzed in malignant and normal tissues. Therapy studies were performed in comparison to free irinotecan and control treatments. Results: Tissue analysis demonstrated favorable properties for nanoliposomal irinotecan, including a 10.9-fold increase in tumor AUC for drug compared with free irinotecan and 35-fold selectivity for tumor versus normal tissue exposure. As a therapy for orthotopic brain tumors, nanoliposomal irinotecan showed a mean survival time of 54.2 versus 29.5 days for free irinotecan. A total of 33% of the animals receiving nanoliposomal irinotecan showed no residual tumor by study end compared with no survivors in the other groups. Conclusion: Nanoliposomal irinotecan administered systemically provides significant pharmacologic advantages and may be an efficacious therapy for brain tumors.