Innovative Nanovesicle Formulation Enhances Cancer Drug Delivery and Efficacy

Researchers at the University of Arizona have developed a novel method to improve the delivery of chemotherapy drugs, specifically targeting pancreatic and breast cancer tumors. This new formulation employs tiny, fatty nanovesicles to carry the drug paclitaxel directly to tumor sites, reducing damage to healthy tissues and enhancing therapeutic effectiveness.

Traditionally, paclitaxel, also known by brand names like Taxol and Abraxane, is effective against various cancers such as breast, pancreatic, lung, and ovarian cancer. However, its use is limited by its toxicity and tendency to accumulate in non-target organs. The innovative approach modifies paclitaxel by chemically attaching it to sphingomyelin, a lipid found in cell membranes, which forms nanovesicles capable of better tumor penetration.

These nanovesicles improve drug circulation time, enabling higher concentrations of paclitaxel to reach and stay within tumor tissues while minimizing exposure to healthy organs. In preclinical tests involving mice with triple-negative breast cancer and advanced pancreatic cancer, the new drug, named Paclitaxome, outperformed existing formulations. The team further refined this technology, creating an improved version (CD47p/AZE-Paclitaxome), which significantly reduced tumor growth and extended the survival of animal models.

Beyond its standalone potency, Paclitaxome demonstrated superior delivery of drug combinations. For instance, when gemcitabine was incorporated into the nanovesicle core along with paclitaxel, the combination exceeded the effectiveness of conventional co-administration. Additionally, pairing the modified paclitaxel with carboplatin showed promise in preventing recurrence of triple-negative breast cancer and eliminating metastases.

The versatility of this nanovesicle platform suggests potential applications beyond these cancers, including delivering other chemotherapy drugs and immunotherapies. The researchers aim to advance this technology into first-in-human clinical trials, offering hope for more targeted, effective, and less toxic cancer treatments.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-repackaged-cancer-drug-boosts-delivery.html