Intrapleural administration of pemetrexed: a pharmacokinetic study in an animal model. J Thorac Oncol. 2009;4:404-408. [PMID: 19247087 DOI: 10.1097/JTO.0b013e318197f302]

Enhancing Intrapleural Hyperthermic Chemotherapy for Lung Cancer: Insights from 3D and PDX Models

Background/Objectives: Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) in lung cancer indicates systemically disseminated advanced lung cancer and is associated with poor survival. Intrapleural hyperthermic chemotherapy (IPHC) is a promising treatment for MPE; however, its biological basis is not fully understood. IPHC can enhance anticancer drug efficacy, particularly in drug-resistant cancers. This study investigated the effects of hyperthermia on cisplatin cytotoxicity in lung cancer cell lines, patient-derived tumor cells, and a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model. Methods: Lung cancer cell lines (A549 and H2170) and patient-derived tumor cells were cultured in 2D/3D systems and treated with cisplatin under varying temperatures (37 °C, 43 °C, and 45 °C) and exposure times (5, 15, and 30 min). Antiproliferative effects were evaluated using LDH and CCK-8 assays. Optimal conditions identified in cell culture experiments were validated using a PDX model; tumor growth inhibition, delay, and protein expression were analyzed post-treatment. Results: Hyperthermia significantly enhanced the antitumor efficacy of cisplatin at 43 °C and 45 °C, with comparable effects under 15 and 30 min exposure. In the PDX model, IPHC showed increased tumor inhibition and necrosis and delayed tumor regrowth, particularly at higher cisplatin doses. Protein expression analysis revealed that hyperthermia decreased EGFR expression and increased levels of apoptosis-related proteins, including cleaved PARP and caspase-3. Conclusions: IPHC with cisplatin demonstrated enhanced antitumor efficacy in vitro models, particularly in drug-resistant lung cancer, indicating its potential as a valuable adjunct to existing treatment regimens for lung cancer and for improving patient outcomes in advanced lung cancer with MPE or pleural metastasis.

Dropwort-induced metabolic reprogramming restrains YAP/TAZ/TEAD oncogenic axis in mesothelioma

Background

Over the past decade, newly designed cancer therapies have not significantly improved the survival of patients diagnosed with Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM). Among a limited number of genes that are frequently mutated in MPM several of them encode proteins that belong to the HIPPO tumor suppressor pathway.

Methods

The anticancer effects of the top flower standardized extract of Filipendula vulgaris (Dropwort) were characterized in “in vitro” and “in vivo” models of MPM. At the molecular level, two “omic” approaches were used to investigate Dropwort anticancer mechanism of action: a metabolomic profiling and a phosphoarray analysis.

Results

We found that Dropwort significantly reduced cell proliferation, viability, migration and in vivo tumor growth of MPM cell lines. Notably, Dropwort affected viability of tumor-initiating MPM cells and synergized with Cisplatin and Pemetrexed in vitro. Metabolomic profiling revealed that Dropwort treatment affected both glycolysis/tricarboxylic acid cycle as for the decreased consumption of glucose, pyruvate, succinate and acetate, and the lipid metabolism. We also document that Dropwort exerted its anticancer effects, at least partially, promoting YAP and TAZ protein ubiquitination.

Conclusions

Our findings reveal that Dropwort is a promising source of natural compound(s) for targeting the HIPPO pathway with chemo-preventive and anticancer implications for MPM management.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13046-019-1352-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Prolonged retention of liposomes in the pleural cavity of normal mice and high tumor distribution in mice with malignant pleural effusion, after intrapleural injection

Background: Intrapleural administration of compounds is a lung targeted, innovative therapeutic strategy for mesothelioma, which can be refined as a route for drug delivery that minimizes the potential for systemic toxicity. However, little is currently known about the retention of liposomal drugs at the site, after such topical administration. Purpose: To evaluate the retention of liposomes in lungs following intrapleural injection, and how this might be modulated by liposome properties and disease progression. Methods: DiR-incorporating liposomes with various lipid compositions and sizes were prepared, characterized (for size distribution and zeta potential) and injected intrapleurally in normal mice and mice with malignant pleural effusion (MPE). DiR retention in pleural cavity was followed by biofluorescence imaging. Results: Experimental results demonstrate that liposome size and PEG-coating, have a significant effect on residence time in the pleural cavity; negative surface charge does not. More than 20% liposomal-DiR is retained 24 d post-injection (in some cases), indicating the high potential towards localized diseases. Ex-vivo liposomal-DiR signal in tumors of MPE mice was similar to signal in liver, suggesting high tumor targeting potential of intrapleurally injected liposomes. Finally, no difference was noticed in liposomal-DiR retention between tumor-inoculated (MPE) and healthy mice, indicating the stability of liposomes in the presence of effusion (in MPE mice). Conclusion: The current study provides novel insights for using liposomes by intrapleural administration for the treatment of lung diseases.

Evaluation of the Effects of Astragalus membranaceus on the Pharmacokinetics of Pemetrexed Disodium and Gemcitabine in Rats by a Simple High-Performance Liquid Chromatography/UV Method

Combination therapy is opted as a potential therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. Astragalus membranaceus combined with pemetrexed disodium or gemcitabine could reinforce the overall effects and alleviate the adverse effects. To investigate the effects of Astragalus membranaceus on the pharmacokinetics of pemetrexed disodium and gemcitabine, a HPLC method for simultaneous determination of pemetrexed disodium and gemcitabine in rat plasma was developed and validated. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a C18 column using a gradient mode containing water (containing 20 mM NaH₂PO₄ and 0.1% FA) and methanol at a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min. The specificity, linearity, recovery, stability, precision, and accuracy of the HPLC method were all validated. The rats were pretreated with Astragalus extract at the dosage of 3 g/kg for 20 consecutive days until we commence studying the pharmacokinetics of pemetrexed disodium or gemcitabine. There were no significant differences in pharmacokinetic parameters of pemetrexed disodium between the Astragalus extract treatment group and the control group. However, AUC, MRT, and Cl of gemcitabine were changed dramatically after treating with Astragalus extract (p < 0.05). The AUC_(0-t), AUC_(0-∞), and MRT of gemcitabine decreased from 15747.12 ± 497.11 to 12312.41 ± 594.21 mg/L·min, 15976.18 ± 511.33 to 12489.59 ± 682.01 mg/L·min, and 97.83 ± 5.82 to 84.37 ± 2.79 min, respectively. The Cl of gemcitabine increased from 0.019 ± 0.0067 to 0.024 ± 0.0013 L/min/kg. The results showed that the pretreatment of Astragalus extract could exert an influence on the pharmacokinetic characteristics of gemcitabine in rats.

Assessment of cisplatin concentration and depth of penetration in human lung tissue after hyperthermic exposure

OBJECTIVES

The effects of cisplatin on the lung parenchyma during hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy perfusion have not been analysed in detail. The objective of this study was to evaluate both the concentration and depth of the penetration of cisplatin in human lung tissue after hyperthermic exposure under ex vivo conditions.

METHODS

This experimental study was approved by the local ethics committee. Twelve patients underwent pulmonary wedge resections after elective thoracic lobectomies were performed (resected lobe), and the lung tissue (approximately 1-2 cm(3)) was incubated (in vitro) with cisplatin (0.05 mg/ml; 60 min, 42°C). Subsequent tissue beds (depth, 0.5 mm; median weight, 70-92 mg) were prepared from the outside to the middle, and the amount of cisplatin per tissue weight was analysed using atomic absorption spectrometry. Afterwards, the penetration of cisplatin depth was calculated and related to the different concentrations per tissue.

RESULTS

Cisplatin penetrated into the human lung tissue after ex vivo hyperthermic exposure. The median amount of platinum [nmol cisplatin/g lung tissue] decreased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) depending on the penetration depth: 32 nmol/g (1 mm), 20 nmol/g (2 mm) and 6.8 nmol/g (4 mm). The calculated median concentrations of cisplatin (µg/ml) were 2.4 µg/ml (1 mm), 1.4 µg/ml (2 mm) and 0.5 µg/ml (4 mm), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Under ex vivo hyperthermic conditions, cisplatin diffused into human lung tissue. The median penetration depth of the cisplatin was approximately 3-4 mm. The penetration of cisplatin into lung tissue may affect the local therapy of residual tumour cells on the lung surface using hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy perfusion in patients with malignant pleural tumours.

[Intraoperative chemotherapy after radical pleurectomy or extrapleural pneumonectomy]

Trimodality treatment including induction and/or adjuvant chemotherapy, surgical resection and in some cases radiotherapy offers a curative intention in selected patients with pleural malignancies (malignant pleural mesothelioma, thymoma with pleural spread). Nevertheless, locoregional tumor recurrence mainly limits the outcome and the quality of life. A few years ago an additional intraoperative chemotherapy perfusion was developed in order to improve local tumor control and prognosis after surgical resection in a multimodality treatment setting. Cytoreductive surgery with the purpose of a macroscopic complete resection could be achieved by radical pleurectomy or extrapleural pneumonectomy. The concept, techniques and perioperative management of this additional treatment option are presented along with a detailed review of the recent literature.

Efficacy of intraperitoneal versus intravenous pemetrexed administration in management of malignant ascites in mice bearing ascitic hepatoma-22

AIM: To compare the effectiveness of intraperitonea and intravenous administration of pemetrexed (PEM) in the management of malignant ascites in mice bearing hepatoma-22 (H22).

METHODS: A mouse model of ascites was established by intraperitoneal injection of 0.2 mL of H22 cell suspension (at a density of 1 × 10⁷/mL cells). The mice were randomly divided into three groups at random on day 5 after induction of ascites (n = 18 per group): normal control group (normal saline), intraperitoneal pemetrexed group (PEM 300 mg/kg), and intravenous pemetrexed group (PEM 300 mg/kg). Pemetrexed was injected intraperitoneally or intravenously on days 5 and 8. The body weight, abdomen circumference and behavior of the mice were measured daily. Eight mice of each group were sacrificed on day 11 to measure the volume of ascites. The survival time of rest mice were recorded.

RESULTS: The mean volumes of ascites in the normal control group, intraperitoneal pemetrexed group and intravenous pemetrexed group were 15.74 mL ± 1.71 mL, 13.31 mL ± 2.45 mL and 8.58 mL ± 1.89 mL, respectively. In comparison to the normal control group, the two pemetrexed treatment group had significantly less production of ascites in (both P < 0.05). The mean volume of ascites in the intraperitoneal pemetrexed group was significantly lower than that in the intravenous administration group (P < 0.01). The mean survival times of mice in the intraperitoneal pemetrexed group, intravenous pemetrexed group, and normal control group were 15.10 d ± 0.46 d, 17.90 d ±0.71 d, and 14.20 d ± 0.44 d, respectively. The survival time was prolonged by 6.34% and 26.06% in the intraperitoneal pemetrexed group and intravenous pemetrexed group compared to the normal control group. There was no significant difference in the survival time between the intraperitoneal pemetrexed group and normal control group (P > 0.05), but the mean survival time was significantly longer in the intravenous pemetrexed group than in the normal control group and intraperitoneal pemetrexed group (both P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Intraperitoneal administration of pemetrexed is not superior to traditional intravenous administration in the management of malignant ascites in mice bearing ascitic hepatoma-22.

Intrapleural administration of lipoplatin in an animal model

BACKGROUND

Lipoplatin is a new liposomal cisplatin already tested in solid tumors with encouraging results. Little is known about the activity of lipoplatin administered intrapleurally (IP).

AIM

The aim of this study was to assess in an animal model the pharmacokinetics, and potentially induced histopathological lesions of lung and kidney after IP vs. IV injection of lipoplatin.

METHODS

15 male Wistar rats were assigned to an IV group at dose 10mg/kg of lipoplatin (group 1) and to IP groups at 10 (group 2) or 20mg/kg (group 3) equal to 60 and 120 mg/m(2) in humans respectively. After lipoplatin administration, serial plasma samples were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry for the maximum plasma concentration (C(max)), the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC), and the total body clearance (CL). Pleura, lungs and kidneys of the rats were histologically examined for possible lesions.

RESULTS

The C(max) was significantly higher in groups 1 vs. 2 (p = 0.02) and vs. 3 (p = 0.01). The AUC of groups 3 vs. 1 was significantly higher (p = 0.028) but the AUC of groups 2 vs. 1 was significantly lower (p = 0.02). CL in IP rats did not differ considerably compared to the IV. Inflammatory changes were noted in the pleura of IP rats and mild kidneys lesions in IV group.

CONCLUSION

Compared to the IV route, IP20 administration of lipoplatin yielded higher AUC, equal CL, but a significantly lower C(max). As C(max) is a determinant of lipoplatin toxicity, IP administration might offer a more effective therapeutic index while improving tolerability. We noted fibrotic changes in the pleura of IP rats, and mild kidneys changes in IV rats, as expected.