Quantitative Model for Efficient Temporal Targeting of Tumor Cells and Neovasculature

Figure 3

Mechanisms for the temporal targeting of tumor cells and neovasculature. (a) Nanocells are delivered to the tumor tissue through the neovasculature and rapidly release antiangiogenic agents. (b) The vascular collapse leads to the trapping of the chemotherapeutic agents within the tumor tissue and thereby prevents reabsorption into the bloodstream. According to our mathematical model this is the principal mechanism responsible for the superior results of the nanocell treatment found by Sengupta et al. [19]. (c) The normalization of tumor blood vessels produced by the antiangiogenic therapy leads to a transient “window of opportunity” [2] during which the delivery of nanocells into the tumor tissue is enhanced. (d) Our model suggests that through a judicious timing of the release profiles the interplay between normalization and vascular collapse can be utilized to improve the efficacy of the nanocell treatment.