Pegylated liposomal adriamycin: a review of current and future applications

Anthracyclines such as adriamycin have a broad spectrum of activity in human tumours, but are limited, to an extent, by their non-selective delivery to a host of normal tissues and hence, subsequent toxicity. The development of liposomes has offered a drug delivery system with significant potential to target tumours whilst sparing normal tissues. A significant breakthrough has been achieved by coating the liposome with polyethylene glycol (pegylation), and thus altering the pharmacokinetics of the drug considerably. In this review, the authors discuss the promising data now emerging with pegylated liposomal adriamycin, and also describe possible future applications.