Conclusions
Results underscore the clinical potential of DFO-Gef-C' dots to effectively manage disease and minimize off-target effects at a fraction of the native drug dose.
Purpose
Small-molecule inhibitors have had a major impact on cancer care. While treatments have demonstrated clinically promising
Results
Gefitinib-bound C' dots (DFO-Gef-C' dots), synthesized using the gefitinib analogue, APdMG, at a range of drug-to-particle ratios (DPR; DPR = 11-56), demonstrated high stability for DPR values≤ 40, bulk renal clearance, and enhanced in vitro cytotoxicity relative to gefitinib (LD50 = 6.21 nmol/L vs. 3 μmol/L, respectively). In human non-small cell lung cancer mice, efficacious Gef-C' dot doses were at least 200-fold lower than that needed for gefitinib (360 nmoles vs. 78 μmoles, respectively), noting fairly equivalent tumor growth inhibition and prolonged survival. Gef-C' dot-treated tumors also exhibited low phosphorylated EFGR levels, with no appreciable wild-type EGFR target inhibition, unlike free drug. Conclusions: Results underscore the clinical potential of DFO-Gef-C' dots to effectively manage disease and minimize off-target effects at a fraction of the native drug dose.