Efficacy and pharmacokinetics of a modified acid-labile docetaxel-PRINT® nanoparticle formulation against non-small-cell lung cancer brain metastases

Aim: Particle Replication in Nonwetting Templates (PRINT (R)) PLGA nanoparticles of docetaxel and acid-labile C2-dimethyl-Si-Docetaxel were evaluated with small molecule docetaxel as treatments for non-small-cell lung cancer brain metastases. Materials & methods: Pharmacokinetics, survival, tumor growth and mice weight change were efficacy measures against intracranial A549 tumors in nude mice. Treatments were administered by intravenous injection. Results: Intracranial tumor concentrations of PRINT-docetaxel and PRINT-C2-docetaxel were 13- and sevenfold greater, respectively, than SM-docetaxel. C2-docetaxel conversion to docetaxel was threefold higher in intracranial tumor as compared with nontumor tissues. PRINT-C2-docetaxel increased median survival by 35% with less toxicity as compared with other treatments. Conclusion: The decreased toxicity of the PRINT-C2-docetaxel improved treatment efficacy against non-small-cell lung cancer brain metastasis.