SN38 PLGA nanoparticles provide sustained antitumor efficacy and ameliorate colitis severity in a murine colitis-associated cancer model. (PubMed, Int J Pharm X)
Irinotecan is a cornerstone therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC); however, the poor solubility and instability of its active metabolite, SN38, limit its therapeutic efficacy...In the azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis-associated CRC model, intraperitoneal administration of either free SN38 or SN38-PLGA five times per week, combined with bevacizumab, significantly reduced tumor numbers compared with saline controls (7.2 vs. 7.7 vs. 14.8, p < 0.001), with comparable efficacy between the two treatment groups (p = 0.987)...In conclusion, PLGA encapsulation preserves antitumor efficacy while reducing the severity of colitis. SN38-PLGA represents a promising therapeutic platform for colorectal cancer, with the potential to reduce dosing frequency and gastrointestinal toxicity.