Preclinical Safety Evaluation in Rats of a Polymeric Matrix Containing an siRNA Drug Used as a Local and Prolonged Delivery System for Pancreatic Cancer Therapy

Yuval Ramot, Shay Rotkopf, Rachel Malka Gabai, Elina Zorde Khvalevsky, Sofia Muravnik, Gabriela Alejandra Marzoli, Abraham J. Domb, Amotz Shemi, Abraham Nyska*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

57 Scopus citations

Abstract

Conventional chemotherapy treatments for pancreatic cancer are mainly palliative. RNA interference (RNAi)-based drugs present the potential for a new targeted treatment. LOcal Drug EluteR (LODERTM) is a novel biodegradable polymeric matrix that shields drugs against enzymatic degradation and releases small interfering RNA (siRNA) against G12D-mutated KRAS (siG12D). siG12D-LODER has successfully passed a phase 1/2a clinical trial. Such a formulation necessitates biocompatibility and safety studies. We describe the safety and toxicity studies with siG12D-LODER in 192 Hsd:Sprague Dawley rats, after repeated subcutaneous administrations (days 1, 14, and 28). Animals were sacrificed on days 29 and 42 (recovery phase). In all groups, no adverse effects were noted, and all animals showed favorable local and systemic tolerability. Histopathologically, LODER implantation resulted in the expected capsule formation, composed of a thin fibrotic tissue. On the interface between the cavity and the capsule, a single layer composed of macrophages and multinucleated giant cells was observed. No difference was noted between the placebo and siG12D-LODER groups. These findings provide valuable information for future preclinical studies with siRNA-bearing biodegradable polymers and for the safety aspects of RNAi-based drugs as a targeted therapy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)856-865
Number of pages10
JournalToxicologic Pathology
Volume44
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Aug 2016

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© Society of Toxicologic Pathology.

Keywords

  • biocompatibility
  • biodegradability
  • biodegradable materials
  • drug release
  • KRAS
  • oligonucleotides
  • pancreatic cancer
  • RNAi
  • safety studies
  • siRNA

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