Magnetic-Targeted Doxorubicin in Treating Patients With Cancer Metastatic to the Liver
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2003-04-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
MTC-DOX is Doxorubicin or DOX, a chemotherapy drug, that is adsorbed, or made to "stick", to
magnetic beads (MTCs). MTCs are tiny, microscopic particles of iron and carbon. When DOX is
added to MTCs, DOX attaches to the carbon part of the MTCs. MTC-DOX is directed to and
deposited in the area of a tumor, where it is thought that it then "leaks" through the blood
vessel walls. Once in the surrounding tissues, it is thought that Doxorubicin becomes "free
from" the magnetic beads and will then be able to act against the tumor cells. The iron
component of the particle has magnetic properties, making it possible to direct MTC-DOX to
specific tumor sites in the liver by placing a magnet on the body surface. It is hoped that
MTC-DOX used with the magnet may target the chemotherapy drug directly to liver tumors and
provide a treatment to patients with cancers that have spread to the liver.