CHARACTERISTICS OF LIPID-BASED FORMULATIONS THAT INFLUENCE THEIR BIOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR IN THE PLASMA OF PATIENTS

Patients with cancer and infectious diseases often have changes in the composition and concentration of their different blood components, Th ese changes include variations in the composition and concentration of plasma lipoprotein lipids, in transfer rates of endogenous lipid betw een different lipoprotein classes, and in concentrations of phagocytic cells (i.e., monocytes and macrophages). It appears that the interact ion of many lipid-based drug formulations with plasma lipoproteins and blood phagocytic cells may be responsible for the unpredictable pharm acokinetics and pharmacodynamics of these compounds when administered to patients with diseases. This review examines the potential mechanis ms that may explain the biological behavior of lipid-based drug formul ations used in the treatment of infectious diseases and cancer.