Abstract
The clinical application of BCL-2/xL inhibitors for cancer treatment is limited by the on-target thrombocytopenia. Although APG-1252 was designed to mitigate this issue, platelet toxicity at higher doses in clinical trials restricts dose escalation for greater efficacy. We have developed albumin nanocomplexes of APG-1252 (Nano-1252) to reduce platelet toxicity while improving drug efficacy through enhancing drug delivery to lymphoid organs. Nano-1252 forms stable nanoparticles due to the strong binding affinity between APG-1252 and albumin, reducing the platelet toxicity threshold by fourfold by limiting premature drug release and conversion to its active forms in circulation. Furthermore, Nano-1252 exhibited preferential accumulation in lymphoid organs, leading to enhanced anticancer efficacy in Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) and Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPNs) mouse models. Our study not only develops a potential formulation to overcome the current translational barrier of APG-1252 but also reveals novel properties of the well-established albumin nanoformulation, thereby expanding its clinical applications.
Overview
- The study aims to develop a novel formulation of APG-1252, a BCL-2/xL inhibitor, to mitigate platelet toxicity and improve its efficacy in cancer treatment.
- The authors design albumin nanocomplexes of APG-1252 (Nano-1252) to reduce platelet toxicity and enhance drug delivery to lymphoid organs.
- The study investigates the properties and anticancer efficacy of Nano-1252 in mouse models of Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) and Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPNs).
Comparative Analysis & Findings
- Nano-1252 forms stable nanoparticles due to the strong binding affinity between APG-1252 and albumin, reducing the platelet toxicity threshold by fourfold.
- Nano-1252 exhibited preferential accumulation in lymphoid organs, leading to enhanced anticancer efficacy in MCL and MPNs mouse models.
- The study reveals that Nano-1252 shows improved efficacy in cancer treatment while mitigating platelet toxicity, overcoming the current translational barrier of APG-1252.
Implications and Future Directions
- The study's findings have significant implications for the clinical application of BCL-2/xL inhibitors and the development of novel formulations to overcome their limitations.
- Future studies should investigate the safety and efficacy of Nano-1252 in clinical trials and explore its potential use in other cancer indications.
- The study's novel properties of albumin nanoformulation may expand its clinical applications beyond cancer treatment, warranting further investigation.