Liposomes, a promising strategy for clinical application of platinum derivatives

Introduction: Liposomes represent a versatile system for drug delivery in various pathologies. Platinum derivatives have been demonstrated to have therapeutic efficacy against several solid tumors. But their use is limited due to their side effects. Since liposomal formulations are known to reduce the toxicity of some conventional chemotherapeutic drugs, the encapsulation of platinum derivatives in these systems may be useful in reducing toxicity and maintaining an adequate therapeutic response. Areas covered: This review describes the strategies applied to platinum derivatives in order to improve their therapeutic activity, while reducing the incidence of side effects. It also reviews the results found in the literature for the different platinum-drugs liposomal formulations and their current status. Expert opinion: The design of liposomes to achieve effectiveness in antitumor treatment is a goal for platinum derivatives. Liposomes can change the pharmacokinetic parameters of these encapsulated drugs, reducing their side effects. However, few liposomal formulations have demonstrated a significant advantage in therapeutic terms. Lipoplatin, a cisplatin formulation in Phase III, combines a reduction in the toxicity associated with an antitumor activity similar to the free drug. Thermosensitive or targeted liposomes for tumor therapy are also included in this review. Few articles about this strategy applied to platinum drugs can be found in the literature.