EGFR Targeted Gemcitabine PLGA Nanoparticles for Pancreatic Cancer

Adenocarcinoma of the exocrine pancreas is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Currently surgery is the only treatment although due to its late presentation only 9% to 15% of patients are suitable for surgery. The median survival for all stages of pancreatic cancer is 3 to 5 months from diagnosis. The underlying problem in the use of anticancer drugs is their toxicity and poor bioavailability. It is expected that if a delivery system-bearing anticancer drugs can be delivered in a targeted fashion inhibition of tumor growth with reduced systemic toxicity will occur. The book describes the preparation and characterization of anti EGFR monoclonal antibody conjugated Gemcitabine loaded PLGA nanoparticles for their selective delivery to pancreatic cells and evaluation of the systems in vitro.