BIOLOGIC THERAPY FOR OSTEOSARCOMA USING LIPOSOME-ENCAPSULATED MURAMYLTRIPEPTIDE

Liposome-encapsulated muramyl tripeptide phosphatidylethanolamine (L-M TP-PE), a new biologic response modifier, was designed to be targeted to monocytes and macrophages. Human monocytes/macrophages phagocytose L-MTP-PE, with subsequent up-regulation of interleukin (IL)-1a, IL-1b, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor, and monocyte chemotactic and activ ating factor genes, and will kill tumor cells but not normal cells. Li posomal uptake was demonstrated in liver, spleen, and lung and in and around metastases to the lung following intravenous administration in cancer patients.