Antitumor Activity of a Polymer Composite of Etoposide and Biodegradable Poly(Lactide-Co-Glycolide)

A method for preparing an antitumor polymer form of etoposide (PFE) as submicron particles based on poly(lactide-co-glycolide) with a 50:50 ratio of monomers (PLGA 50/50) was described. It was shown that the PFE possessed high cytotoxicity against various types of human tumor cells. The activity of the PFE against multiple drug resistant K562ADR cell line was greater than that of free etoposide. A grafted solid P388 murine lymphatic leukemia model showed that the PFE exhibited high in vivo antitumor activity that was prolonged compared with that of free etoposide.