Basic approach to application of liposomes for cancer chemotherapy.

The method for augmentation of systemic in vivo anticancer effect of liposomes (Lip) containing adriamycin (ADM) and endocytosis activity of cancer cells to liposomal preparations have been studied. Encapsulation of ADM in liposomes increases its maximal tolerated dose and pretreatment of animals bearing tumor with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) resulted in effective targeting of ADM-Lip to tumor, leading to its augmented therapeutic effect, but only when TNF and ADM-Lip were administered with an appropriate interval. All human tumor cell lines tested showed endocytosis activity to liposomes but the activity was differed among different tumor cell lines.