Figure 5

Drug targeting improves doxorubicin (Dox)-based radiochemotherapy. (A) Growth inhibition of Dunning AT1 tumours induced by three intravenous (i.v.) injections (days 1, 8, and 15; see vertical arrows) of saline, of free doxorubicin and HPMA copolymer-bound doxorubicin. PK1: pHPMA-GFLG-Dox (28 kDa). IgG-PK1: human IgG-modified pHPMA-GFLG-Dox (900 kDa). Values represent average ± s.e.m (n=6–12). ^*Indicates P<0.05 vs control (Mann–Whitney U-test; Bonferroni–Holm post hoc analysis). (B) Tumour growth inhibition induced by three i.v. injections of the abovementioned chemotherapeutic agents in combination with a clinically relevant regimen of fractionated radiotherapy (20 × 2 Gy; see vertical lines). Values represent average±s.e.m. (n=8–10). ^* Indicates P<0.05 vs control, ^# indicates P<0.05 vs free Dox, and ^† indicates P<0.005 vs free Dox (Mann–Whitney U-test; Bonferroni–Holm post hoc analysis). (C) Representative images (day 50) of tumours treated with the indicated combination regimens. (D) Weight loss induced by doxorubicin-based combined modality therapy. Values represent average±s.e.m. (n=4–5).