Conventional chemotherapy drugs are typically administered intravenously or orally, with only a fraction of the drug molecules accumulating at the site of the tumor. Nanoparticle delivery methods for chemotherapy allow for treatment to be delivered directly to the tumor site; this has the potential to minimize toxicity, therefore reducing side effects, and increase therapeutic efficacy. This project will focus on the nanoformulation of Talazoparib (TLZ), a potent PARP inhibitor, for the treatment of ovarian cancer. Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase (PARP) inhibitors are a form of targeted cancer treatment that inhibit DNA repair, therefore inducing genomic instability and ultimately leading to cell death. In this study, TLZ will be fabricated into spacer implants composed of poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA), a biodegradable polymer which allows for sustained release of TLZ upon delivery to the tumor site. HPLC will be run to determine the drug loading of the implants. Both in vitro and in vivo studies will be performed to assess the pharmacological properties and efficacy of the NanoTalazoparib treatment. In vitro studies will be conducted using BPPNM cell lines to test for biomarkers of DNA damage in treated cells and determine the potency of the treatment. Furthermore, mouse models will be used to assess tumor growth and survival following NanoTLZ treatment.
CaNCURE Research Presentation: https://youtu.be/ifrKdoo-sdA
