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BEVACIZUMAB EFFECT ON TOPOTECAN PHARMACOKINETICS ...

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drug penetration. Pre-treatment with 1 μM non-radiolabeled paclitaxel enhanced the<br />

penetration rate of [ 3 H] paclitaxel in a human pharynx FaDu xenograft [53].<br />

The second strategy that researchers have used is a targeting delivery system or<br />

improved drug property to increase the drug distribution in solid tumors. The targeting<br />

delivery system mainly uses two principles: passive targeting or active targeting [54].<br />

Passive targeting involves enhancing the drug carrier permeability and retention in solid<br />

tumors by designing the particle size too large to diffuse through normal blood vessels<br />

but small enough to exit the abnormally large pores on the tumor vessel walls to<br />

extra-vascular space. With more drugs in the extra-vascular space by the passive<br />

targeting system, relatively more drug will diffuse into solid tumors and restrict it in the<br />

tumor tissue due to lack of a functional lymphatic system [55]. The active targeting<br />

strategy employs the specific tumor microenvironment by attaching ligands to the carrier<br />

surface that can bind to tumor specific receptors and antigens through molecular<br />

recognition. These receptors and antigens include the cancer cell surface antibodies [56],<br />

folate receptor [57], transferrin receptors [58] and angiogenic vascular surface proteins<br />

[59]. Another modification for deeper drug penetration is to use live bacterial vectors<br />

such as Salmonella sp, Clostridium sp and Escherichia coli based on their<br />

tumor-colonizing characteristics [60]<br />

In summary, numerous strategies have been developed to increase cytotoxic drug<br />

penetration in solid tumors. The normalization of tumor vasculature is one of the most<br />

popular methods to enhance drug penetration.<br />

1.2 Angiogenesis and Anti-angiogenic Therapy<br />

1.2.1 Angiogenesis in solid tumors<br />

Angiogenesis is the physiological process of new capillaries generation from<br />

pre-existing blood vessels [7]. In normal tissue, angiogenesis is precisely regulated by<br />

keeping a balance between pro-angiogenic factors, such as VEGF and PDGF, and<br />

anti-angiogenic factors, such as thrombospondin-1 and angiostatin [61]. Regulated<br />

angiogenesis provides organs and tissue sufficient nutrition and oxygen to grow and<br />

recover from wound healing [62]. Under pathological conditions, the balance of<br />

pro-angiogenic factors and anti-angiogenic factors is broken and leads to dysfunctional<br />

and structurally abnormal vasculature. Unregulated angiogenesis plays a critical role in<br />

solid tumor growth and metastasis [63]. As in normal tissue, a tumor beyond 0.5mm in<br />

diameter relies on angiogenesis to supply nutrition and oxygen for survival and growth<br />

[64]. Furthermore, the dilated and leaking intra-tumoral blood vessels allow the tumor<br />

cells to enter the blood circulation and metastasize to distant organs [65]. In this context,<br />

the anti-angiogenesis approach as a tumor treatment strategy has been investigated<br />

extensively.<br />

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