Block copolymer carrier systems for translymphatic chemotherapy of lymph node metastases.

The presence of lymph node metastases relevantly and significantly impairs disease-specific survival in patients suffering from squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract. In a VX2 animal tumor model, we present an interstitial translymphatic therapeutic approach using cis-diaminedichloro-platinum(II) (CDDP) conjugated to a poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(lysine) (PEO-b-PLys) block copolymer tracking systems for the successful treatment of lymph node metastases. Most effective was the application of a high cargo-load CDDP tracking system (48 wt.