Figure 3. Parenteral NanoCurc™ significantly inhibits the growth of orthotopic pancreatic cancer xenografts, including the abrogation of systemic metastases upon combination with gemcitabine.

(a) Graphical illustration of tumor volumes for orthotopic Pa03C pancreatic cancer xenografts treated with NanoCurc™, gemcitabine, or the combination, compared to void NVA622 polymer. Single agent NanoCurc™ leads to significant inhibition of the “primary” tumor volume compared to void polymer (double asterisks), and the effect is further accentuated upon addition of gemcitabine (triple asterisks). Note that the combination also has a more significant effect on tumor volume compared to single-agent gemcitabine (double asterisks). All treatments were carried out for a period of three weeks; horizontal lines represent the average of measurements in seven mice per arm.

(b) Representative excised Pa03C xenografts from the control (far left) and three treatment arms (NanoCurc™, gemcitabine, and combination, respectively) are designated.

(c) Control mice receiving void polymer (VP) demonstrate extensive micrometastases to the lungs, lymph nodes and peritoneum (also see Supplementary Figure 3). Both single-agent therapy arms demonstrate considerable reduction in micrometastatic disease (albeit still present in the lymph nodes), while the combination arm demonstrates complete abrogation of micrometastatic disease in all examined viscera.