Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the efficacy of subconjunctival nanoparticle carboplatin in the treatment of transgenic murine retinoblastoma.
Methods: :
Dendrimeric nanoparticles loaded with carboplatin were prepared. LHβ-Tag mice were randomly assigned into 3 groups, and treated at 10 weeks of age. Each mouse received a single subconjunctival injection in one eye, and the opposite eye was left untreated as a control. Group 1 (nanoparticle group, 10 mice) received 37.5 mg/ml nanoparticle carboplatin (0.66 mg measured total dose). Group 2 (conventional group, 10 mice) received same concentration of conventional carboplatin, and group 3 (PBS group, 5 mice) received PBS. Mice were killed on day 22 after treatment. Eyes were serially sectioned, and retinal tumor burden was quantified by histopathologic analysis.
Results: :
Mean tumor burden in the nanoparticle group was significantly smaller compared to the untreated eyes in the same mice (P < 0.02), conventional carboplatin-treated group (P < 0.02), and PBS treated group (P < 0.001). A single subconjunctival injection of conventional carboplatin did not show significant decrease in tumor burden compared to the PBS treated group (P = 0.82). No histologic evidence of toxicity was observed in any of the groups.
Conclusions: :
A single injection of subconjunctival nanoparticle carboplatin was effective in the treatment of transgenic murine retinoblastoma with no associated toxicity.
Keywords: retinoblastoma • drug toxicity/drug effects • oncology