Prevention of paclitaxel-induced neuropathy by formulation approach

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a major adverse effect of paclitaxel. Several liposome-based products have been approved and demonstrated superior efficacy and safety profiles for other drugs. The first objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of liposome formulation of paclitaxel (L-PTX) on neurotoxicity in-vitro and in-vivo in comparison to the standard Taxol® formulation. The second aim was to investigate the effect of formulation on paclitaxel biodistribution following intravenous administration in an animal model. Free paclitaxel was toxic to cell of neuronal origin (IC50 = 18.4 μg/mL) at a lower concentration than to lung cancer cells (IC50 = 59.1 μg/mL), and L-PTX demonstrated a comparable toxicity in both cell lines (IC50 = 31.8 and 33.7 μg/mL). Administration of L-PTX at 2 mg/kg per dose for a total of 4 doses on day 0, 2, 4, and 6 to rats did not result in increased sensitivity in response to mechanical or thermal stimulation of hind paws, in comparison to Taxol® administration at the same dose level that resulted in neuropathy. Paclitaxel biodisposition was evaluated for two formulations in plasma, liver, lung, brain, spinal cord, skin and muscle of rats after single intravenous dose at 6 mg/kg. The exposure to paclitaxel in brain, spinal cord, muscle, and skin was lower in the L-PTX group compared to Taxol® group. PEGylated liposomes containing paclitaxel were successfully developed and demonstrated reduced neurotoxicity in-vitro in neuronal cells and prevented development of peripheral neuropathy in-vivo. This proof of concept study showed that formulation in nanoparticles is a promising approach for reducing (or preventing) neurotoxicity caused by cancer drugs.