Targeted drug delivery has the potential to improve the efficacy of a therapeutic agent while reducing its side effects. Folate receptor type-beta (FRB) is a cell surface marker selectively expressed by approximately70 percent of acute myeloid leukemias (AMLs). Increased FR-beta expression can be specifically induced by all trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in FR-beta-positive KG-1 and primary AML cells, without inducing cellular differentiation or growth inhibition. Folic acid is a high affinity ligand for FR-beta (Kd approximately 1 nM). Importantly, FR-beta expressed by normal hematopoietic cells has been found to be non-functional, whereas the receptor expressed by KG-1 AML cells and FR-beta-transfected CHO cells mediates selective uptake and cytotoxicity of folate-coated liposomes. Both uptake and cytotoxicity of folate coated liposome doxorubicin (f-L-Dox) in KG-1 cells were further increased by ATRA, which induced FR-beta upregulation. Moreover, f-L-DOX exhibited greater therapeutic efficacy than non-targeted liposomal DOX (LDox) in FR positive murine L1210JF and human KG-1 AML ascitic tumor models. Increased survival due to treatment with f-L-Dox was further enhanced by ATRA in the KG-1 engrafted mice. FR-targeted liposomal Dox delivery has also been shown to bypass the P-glycoprotein-mediated drug efflux in FR positive tumor cells exhibiting resistance to free Dox. The objective of this project is to evaluate f-L-Dox, combined with ATRA-induction of FR-beta upregulation, for the treatment of AML, a concept based on the selective targeting of the FR positive tumor cells.
The specific aims are: 1. To evaluate the effect of ATRA on FR-beta expression by AML cells in vivo. 2. To evaluate liposome formulation and FR-beta level as factors in the binding and in vitro cytotoxicity of f-L-Dox to AML cells, as well as the pharmacokinetic properties of the liposomes; the effect of dietary folate will also be studied. 3. To evaluate the selective cytotoxicity of f-L-Dox, alone or combined with ATRA, against AML blast cells, clonogenic progenitor cells (CFUs), and primitive AML stem cells (SL-Ics); and 4. To evaluate the in vivo therapeutic efficacy of f-L-Dox alone or combined with ATRA in murine leukemia models. This project should lead to the development of a novel therapeutic strategy based on the combination of targeted drug delivery to tumor cells and upregulation of the cellular target for the treatment of chemotherapy refractory AMLs.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA095673-05
Application #
7281763
Study Section
Experimental Therapeutics Subcommittee 1 (ET)
Program Officer
Fu, Yali
Project Start
2003-07-01
Project End
2010-04-30
Budget Start
2007-05-01
Budget End
2010-04-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$281,519
Indirect Cost
Name
Ohio State University
Department
Other Health Professions
Type
Schools of Pharmacy
DUNS #
832127323
City
Columbus
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
43210
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