A novel liver-specific fluorescent anti-cancer drug delivery system using indocyanine green.

ABSTRACT: Indocyanine green (ICG) accumulates only in hepatocytes and their malignant counterpart, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We have developed ICG-conjugated anti-cancer drugs and noted their significant accumulation in HCC cells both in vitro and in vivo. ICG-conjugated gemcitabine was less toxic to normal cells and it had superior anti-tumor action compared to gemcitabine alone in a subcutaneous tumor xenograft. ICG conjugation can provide a novel fluorescent drug delivery system for treatment of liver cancer and this system can be used to both diagnose and treat HCC.

SUBMITTER: Inagaki Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6395603 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature