Al. Maclean et al., IMMUNOLIPOSOMES AS TARGETED DELIVERY VEHICLES FOR CANCER THERAPEUTICS(REVIEW), International journal of oncology, 11(2), 1997, pp. 325-332
Advances in liposome technology over the last decade has seen the deve
lopment of stealth liposomes for drug delivery and cationic liposomes
for gene delivery. Many of these liposome formulations are now in clin
ical trials for the treatment of a variety of malignancies. Whilst som
e clinical efficacy has been demonstrated, the goal of specific tumor
targeting is yet to be attained. For this reason, antibodies have been
attached to the surface of liposomes to produce immunoliposomes. Thes
e liposomes have shown preferential binding to specific tumor cells in
animal models. The construction of the immunoliposome, and in particu
lar the optimal method of antibody coupling to its surface is, however
, yet to be determined. Despite these difficulties, immunoliposomes ha
ve demonstrated anti-tumor properties, both in vitro and in vivo, and
show great promise as targeted delivery vehicles for the treatment of
cancer.