Receptores de LDL: alvo para drogas anti-neoplásicas

Abstract

Drug targeting and accumulation in tumors are great challenges of chemotherapy. The main benefi ts of this therapeutical strategy would be the increase of the pharmacotherapeutical potency and the reduction of collateral effects. Amongst the possibilities involving chemotherapic targeting are the use of enzymes, antibodies, liposomes and microemulsions. The aim of the present study is to show the possibilities of the use of low density lipoprotein receptors (LDLr) as a target for chemotherapics. This hypothesis has been studied since the middle of the last century and it derives from the discovery of the importance of LDLr in tumors with uncontrolled growth. This is the main way used by tumor cells to supply the cholesterol needed in the production of membranes, because these cells present a more expressive amount of LDLr.