Title:Medium-Term Culture of Primary Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a Three- Dimensional Model: Effects on Cell Survival Following Topical 5-Fluororacile Delivery by Drug-Loaded Matrix Tablets
Volume: 18
Issue: 34
Author(s): Giuseppina Campisi, Libero Italo Giannola, Alberto Fucarino, Antonella Marino Gammazza, Alessandro Pitruzzella, Vito Marciano, Viviana De Caro, Maria Gabriella Siragusa, Giulia Giandalia, Domenico Compilato, Stephen T. Holgate, Donna E. Davies, Felicia Farina, Giovanni Zummo, Carlo Paderni and Fabio Bucchieri
Affiliation:
Keywords:
5-Fluorouracil, Locoregional drug delivery, Oral squamous cell carcinoma, Buccal tablets, Tissue engineering, 3D oral outgrowths, malignant lesions, cell death, oral cavity, systemic toxicity.
Abstract: Since the activity of several conventional anticancer drugs is restricted by resistance mechanisms and dose-limiting sideeffects,
the design of formulations for local application on malignant lesions seems to be an efficient and promising drug delivery approach.
In this study, the effect of locally applied 5-FU on cell death was evaluated both in a SCC4/HEK001 model and in a newly proposed 3D
outgrowth model of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Initially, the optimal drug dose was established by delivery of solutions containing
different amounts of 5-FU. The solution containing 1% (w/v) of 5-FU resulted effective in inducing cell death with complete
eradication of cell colonies.
Buccal tablets were designed to deliver 5-FU locoregionally to the cancer lesions of the oral cavity. Tablets were prepared using a drug
loaded matrix of acrylic/methacrylic acid copolymer containing 1% (w/w) of 5-FU and applied on 3D outgrowths. The drug release from
tablets appeared to be sufficient to induce cell death as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and enzymatic assay (TUNEL).
After 120 h of treatment, when about 90% of the drug had been discharged from the tablets into the culture environment, 5-FU caused
loss of cell-cell communications and apoptotic cell death. After 192 h, a complete disaggregation of the 3D oral outgrowths and the death
of all the cells was observed.
Buccal matrix tablets could be considered a promising new approach to the locoregional treatment of OSCC. Risks of systemic toxicity
are avoided since very low drug doses are delivered.
