Neurosurgically-Applied Chemotherapy for Childhood Brain Tumours Arising in the Posterior Fossa Using a Biodegradable Paste

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Neurosurgically-Applied Chemotherapy for Childhood Brain Tumours Arising in the Posterior Fossa Using a Biodegradable Paste via # Neuro-Oncology Current Issue Abstract AIMS This project aims to develop a local drug delivery system for treatment of childhood medulloblastoma (MB) and atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumours (AT/RT), malignant brain neoplasms occurring in the posterior fossa for which prognoses remains poor. Our goal is to repurpose drug compounds reported as effective against MB and AT/RT, but which either cannot cross the blood-brain-barrier (BBB) or have not been assessed for localised delivery. We have developed a novel intra-cavity drug delivery system, consisting of polymer microparticles made from poly(DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PLGA/PEG) which will be employed to release drugs over several weeks. METHOD Cell toxicity assays were undertaken using drugs of interest against an in vitro panel of relevant MB and AT/RT cell lines. PLGA/PEG paste incorporating the drugs were prepared and release kinetics assessed. RESULTS IC50 values of the drugs were assessed across all cell lines and a range of potencies were observed, with optimum conditions identified as dual treatments of PG545 (heparanse inhibitor) with CHIR99021 (glycogen synthase kinase-3 inhibitor) for MB and ribavirin (anti-viral) with CHIR99021 for AT/RT. Importantly, it was noted that the drugs retained their cytotoxicity following release from PLGA/PEG. Furthermore, release kinetics were finely tuned through careful control of the composition through addition of excipients and encapsulation of drugs in nanoparticles, and a library of formulations were prepared. CONCLUSION A local drug delivery system for MB and AT/RT has been developed and an optimum formulation, based upon in vitro cell assays and release kinetics, has been identified for in vivo efficacy studies in orthotopic models. View on Web

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