PEG-PLA from PolySciTech used to investigate the impact of chemotherapy delivery during pregnancy

 

Treatment of breast cancer during pregnancy can be problematic as care must be taken to ensure the therapy applied doesn’t damage either mother or child. Unfortunately, many of the conventional chemotherapeutic agents used to prevent the growth of cancer can also negatively impact the growing fetus. Recently, researchers at University of Texas used mPEG-PLA (AK069) from PolySciTech (www.polyscitech.com) to investigate the effects of nanoparticle formulations on placental uptake in pregnant women. This research highlights the need for diligence and care with treating breast cancer in pregnant women without causing damage to other areas. Read more: Ali, Shariq, Norah A. Albekairi, Sanaalarab Al-Enazy, Mansi Shah, Svetlana Patrikeeva, Tatiana N. Nanovskaya, Mahmoud S. Ahmed, and Erik Rytting. "Formulation effects on paclitaxel transfer and uptake in the human placenta." Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine: 102354. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1549963420302082

“Highlights: Nanoparticle formulations of drugs alter their permeability across human placenta. Encapsulation of paclitaxel in micelles prevents placental efflux by P-glycoprotein. Reduced efflux of paclitaxel leads to increased placental accumulation. Abstract: Diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in pregnancy can result in morbidity and mortality for the mother and fetus. Many new paclitaxel nanoformulations commercially available worldwide for breast cancer treatment are being adopted due to favorable dosing regimens and side effect profiles, but their transplacental transport and resultant fetal exposure remains unknown. Here, we examine three formulations: Taxol (paclitaxel dissolved in Kolliphor EL and ethanol); Abraxane (albumin nanoparticle); and Genexol-PM (polymeric micelle). In the ex vivo dually perfused human placental cotyledon, placental accumulation of Genexol-PM is higher than Taxol, and both nanoformulations have lower maternal concentrations of paclitaxel over time. In vitro studies of these formulations and fluorescent nanoparticle analogs demonstrate that Genexol-PM allows paclitaxel to overcome P-glycoprotein efflux, but Abraxane behaves as a free drug formulation. We anticipate that these findings will impact future development of rational and safe treatment strategies for pregnancy-associated breast cancer and other diseases.”