Intratumoral administration of paclitaxel in an in situ gelling poloxamer 407 formulation

In order to examine the efficacy of paclitaxel (Taxol®, Bristol-Myers Squibb) after administration locally at the tumor site, we have developed a thermo-reversible gelling formulation in poloxamer 407 (Pluronic® F-127) solution. Paclitaxel was incorporated in poloxamer 407 [20% (w/w)] at 0.5- and 1.0-mg/mL concentrations. The in vitro release studies were carried out in phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.4) at 37°C. Control and paclitaxel-poloxamer 407 formulations were administered intratumorally at a dose of 20 mg/kg in B16F1 melanoma-bearing mice. The change in tumor volume as a function of time and the survival of treated animals were used as measures of efficacy. Poloxamer 407 solution undergoes a reversible sol-gel transition when the temperature is raised to above 21°C. In vitro paclitaxel release from poloxamer 407 gels was very slow (only 6.1% after 6 hr) probably due to the poor aqueous solubility of the drug. Significant enhancement in the anti-tumor efficacy was noted following intratumoral administration of paclitaxel-poloxamer 407 formulation. The initial tumor growth rate was delayed by 67% and the tumor volume doubling time was increased by 72% relative to saline control. In addition, more than 91% of the tumor-bearing animals that received paclitaxel in poloxamer 407 gel survived on day 15 post-administration as compared to 58% in the control group. The results of this study show significant benefit of paclitaxel for solid tumor when administered locally in an in situ gelling poloxamer 407 formulation.