Effect of erlotinib (EGFR inhibitor), 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin loaded nanoliposomes on antioxidant profile, blood cells and kidney and liver function in oral squamous cell carcinoma (in vivo study)

Abstract

Introduction: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer world wide and is associated with high mortality rate. Cisplatin , 5- fluorouracil and EGFR inhibitors (e.g. Erlotinib) have been proved to be efficient therapy for HNSCC. Intravenous adminstration of the chemotherapeutic agents has adverse effects not only on cancerous cells but also on normal tissues and organs, and increase the possibility of toxicity in these tissues. As a novel therapeutic strategy, the use of nanoliposoms as a drug delivery system provide an opportunity to deliver a large amount of drugs directly to the target cancerous cells.

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Erloltinib (epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor), 5- flouorouracial and cisplatia loaded nanoliposomes on antioxidant profile, blood cells and kidney and liver function in oral squamous cell carcinoma (in vivo study)

Materials and Methods: In this study 4 groups were studied including group 1, healthy mice, group 2, untreated cancerous mice, group 3, mice treated with free form of erlotinib, 5-fluoravacil and cisplatin and groups 4, mice treated with nanoliposomes carrying erlotinib, 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin.

Results: There was no significant difference between the groups in antioxidants, blood cells and kidney function indices. There was a significant difference in liver enzymes between groups, i.e. ALT and ALP enzymes were significantly higher in mice treated with free form of drugs than in the healthy and cancerous mice (P-value<0.05). Concludion: The results of this study showes that nanoliposomal form of drugs was less toxic than free form on liver.