Anti-HER2 immunoliposomes: enhanced efficacy attributable to targeted delivery.

PURPOSE: Anti-HER2 immunoliposomes combine the tumor-targeting of certain anti-HER2 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) with the pharmacokinetic and drug delivery capabilities of sterically stabilized liposomes. We previously showed that anti-HER2 immunoliposomes bind efficiently to and internalize in HER2-overexpressing cells in vitro, resulting in intracellular drug delivery. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Here we describe the pharmacokinetics and therapeutic efficacy of anti-HER2 immunoliposomes containing doxorubicin (dox) in a series of animal models. RESULTS: Immunoliposomes displayed long circulation that was identical to that of sterically stabilized liposomes in single- and multiple-dose studies in normal rats.…