Uptake of a cholesterol-rich emulsion by neoplastic ovarian tissues

Objective. Previously, it was shown that a lipidic emulsion (LDE) composed of phospholipids and cholesterol esters which binds to low-density lipoprot ein (LDL) receptors may concentrate in acute myeloid leukemia cells. In thi s study, we aimed to verify whether LDE also has the ability to concentrate in malignant ovarian cancer after being injected into the blood circulatio n of the patients. Methods. Three groups of women scheduled for surgery were included in the s urvey: 13 bearing malignant tumors, 9 with benign ovarian tumors, and 13 wi thout ovarian tumor who were scheduled to undergo oophorectomy due to malig nant disease of the uterine cervix or endometrium. On the day prior to surg ery they were injected with LDE labeled with [C-14]cholesteryl oleate, Spec imens of tumors and normal ovaries excised during surgery were lipid extrac ted and analyzed for radioactivity counting. Results were expressed in radi oactive count (cpm) per gram of tissue. Results. The mean of the uptakes of the emulsion radioactivity by the malig nant tumors was roughly eightfold greater when compared with that of the co ntralateral normal ovaries (2261 +/- 1444 and 275 +/- 137 cpm/g, respective ly, P < 0.012), benign tumors, and normal ovaries of the patients without o varian tumors. Conclusion. LDE has the ability to concentrate in malignant ovarian tumor t issue. Therefore, it can be used as a vehicle to direct cytotoxic drugs aga inst malignant ovarian tumors, thus diminishing the side effects of chemoth erapy, (C) 2001 Academic Press.