Biodegradable intraprostatic doxorubicin implants.

Systemic chemotherapy is not effective in the treatment of prostate-confined cancer. We developed biodegradable, doxorubicin-loaded cylinders for intraprostatic implantation and evaluated the feasibility of using regional intraprostatic drug therapy to treat prostate-confined cancer. Cylinders were prepared using poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) or PLG copolymers. The in vitro and in vivo drug release, intraprostatic pharmacokinetics, and histopathology in dogs implanted with the cylinders were studied. The doxorubicin-loaded cylinders made of PLG polymers of 7.9 to 54 kDa molecular weight (MW) had a diameter of ~800 mum, drug loading of 10% to 30% (wt/wt), and even distribution of crystalline drug throughout the matrix. Burst release varied from 3% to 73%, and 7-day cumulative release from 4% to 90%. Decreasing polymer MW and increasing drug loading were associated with higher initial burst release and overall release rates. The in vivo drug release from cylinders (33-kDa PLG, 30% drug loading) in dog prostates was rapid (approximately 80% in 48 hours). Spatial drug distribution, visualized using confocal fluorescence microscopy, showed high concentrations confined to the lobule containing the implant (referred to as the implanted lobule), with steep concentration gradients over the septa separating the lobules. Concentrations in the implanted lobule were about 8 times higher than concentrations delivered by an intravenous injection. The implants caused necrotic cell death in the implanted lobule, without damage to prostatic nerve bundles or the urethra. These results indicate the feasibility of using biodegradable PLG cylinders as intraprostatic implants to selectively deliver high drug concentrations to prostate tissue.