The drug discovery by nanomedicine and its clinical experience

It is expected that the incidence of various adverse effects of anticancer agents maybe decreased owing to the reduced drug distribution in normal tissue. Anticancer agent incorporating nanoparticles including micelles and liposomes can evade non-specific capture by the reticuloendothelial system because the outer shell of the nanoparticles is covered with polyethylene glycol. Consequently, the micellar and liposomal carrier can be delivered selectively to a tumor by utilizing the enhanced permeability and retention effect. Presently, several anticancer agent-incorporating nano-carrier systems are under preclinical and clinical evaluation. Several drug delivery system formulations have been approved worldwide. Regarding a pipeline of clinical development of anticancer agent incorporating micelle carrier system, several clinical trials are now underway not only in Japan but also in other countries. A Phase 3 trial of NK105, a paclitaxel incorporating micelle is now underway. In this paper, preclinical and clinical studies of NK105, NC-6004, cisplatin incorporating micelle, NC-6300, epirubicin incorporating micelle and the concept of cancer stromal targeting therapy using nanoparticles and monoclonal antibodies against cancer related stromal components are reviewed.