Intralymphatic Chemotherapy Drug Carriers

University of Kansas
posted on 08/21/2009

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Description: Regardless of their origin, many cancers metastasize by using the lymphatic system (e.g. breast, ovarian, melanoma). The lymphatics are the body’s drainage system, clearing waste from the tissues, and metastatic cancers follow this drainage to “seed” first in the local lymphatics. Surgery and chemotherapy can destroy many of these early metastases, but with great harm to the patient (e.g. toxicity side effects and painful lymphedema). This invention avoids these side effects by delivering chemotherapy directly to the early cancers in the lymphatics, avoiding systemic side effects and destroying the “seeds” that can cause recurrence after surgery and whole-body chemotherapy. Standard chemotherapy drugs are not selectively targeted to be delivered to areas of cancer spread and therefore affect normal cells in the systemic circulation resulting in toxicity and morbidity to the patient. This technology helps deliver chemotherapy drugs at more optimal concentrations to the lymphatics and lymph nodes where early cancers spread while preventing systemic release of drug material which carries higher toxicity with standard drug formulations. Proof of concept data is available in rodent and mice models. For detailed information on this technology, please refer to the following reference. Cai S, Xie Y, Bagby TR, Cohen MS, Forrest ML. Intralymphatic chemotherapy using a hyaluronan-cisplatin conjugate. J Surg Res. 2008 Jun 15;147(2):247-52. Epub 2008 Mar 26 Applications: Cancer Therapeutics. Patent: Pending in US and PCT filed. Confidential Disclosure Agreement (CDA): KU is willing to enter into a CDA for the purpose of negotiating a License Agreement. If you are interested in learning details of this invention, please contact: Aswini K. Betha, Ph.D. (abetha@ku.edu Ph: 913-588-5713)