Small particle liposome aerosols for delivery of anti-cancer drugs

Abstract

Provided herein is a method of treating primary lung cancer or metastatic cancer to the lung in an individual by delivering at least once to the respiratory tract of the individual via inhalation a nebulized liposomal aerosol comprising a dilauroylphosphatidylcholine liposome containing camptothecin or a derivative thereof in an amount sufficient to deliver a pharmacologically effective dose of the camptothecin or its derivative to treat the cancer. Also provided is a nebulized liposomal aerosol comprising the DLPC containing the camptothecin or its derivative and a method of making the liposome-drug comprising the aerosol.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method for treating a primary lung cancer or a metastatic cancer to the lung in an individual, comprising delivering at least once to the respiratory tract of the individual via inhalation a nebulized liposomal aerosol comprising an antineoplastic drug, wherein said dose of antineoplastic drug delivered via inhalation is about 0.26 mg/m 2 /day to about 1.04 mg/m 2 /day and said cancer is treated. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the nebulized liposomal aerosol further comprises dilauroylphosphatidylcholine. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the cancer is primary lung cancer. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the cancer is metastatic lung cancer. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the metastatic cancer is a sarcoma, a melanoma, lung cancer endometrial cancer, cervical cancer, pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer or trophoblastic cancer. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the antineoplastic drug is an inhibitor of topoisomerase I. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the inhibitor of topoisomerase I is camptothecin or a derivative of a camptothecin. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the camptothecin is 20-S-camptothecin, 9-nitro-camptothecin, 9-amino-camptothecin, 10, and 11-methylenedioxy-camptothecin. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said nebulized liposomal aerosol is delivered via an inhalation regimen comprising twice a day for 5 consecutive days within a week for one or more consecutive weeks. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein a period of consecutive weeks is the first 8 weeks out of a 10 week period. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the inhalation regimen is repeated after week 10. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said nebulized liposomal aerosol is inhaled for 60 minutes during each period of inhalation in the regimen.