Table 4.

Optimal delivery of 3BP to special sites and chosen types of tumors

Tumor examples	Suggested 3BP treatment options	Rationale
Gliomas	• 3BP may better be coated in liposomes and administered intravenously • Intranasal perillyl alcohol–drug conjugate (3BP is suggested) may be promising for nasal administration for treating gliomas³⁶,³⁷	• To cross the BBB • To achieve a direct nose-to-brain transport of anticancer agents and to support enhanced penetration of the BBB
Hepatoma	• Liposomal 3BP formulations, PEG-3BP or 3BP stealth liposomes can be given intravenously • Liposomal 3BP can also be given through transarterial catheter chemoembolization for specific tumor tissue delivery	• For better 3BP delivery • For better 3BP delivery
Bronchogenic carcinoma	• Intravenous liposomal 3BP formulations • In diffuse non-resectable tumor masses in the lungs or bronchi, liposomal 3BP formulations may be tried by inhalation in aerosolized vapor³⁸ • Intranasal delivery of perillyl alcohol–3BP conjugate may achieve direct nose-to-brain transport of anticancer agents³⁹	• For better 3BP delivery • For better 3BP delivery • For better 3BP delivery • Intranasal perillyl alcohol–drug conjugate was effective with many drugs
Gastrointestinal tumors	Intravenous liposomal 3BP formulations • In diffuse non-resectable gastric tumor masses, oral liposomal 3BP formulations (better contained inside capsule drug formulations) may be tried • Liposomal 3BP formulations may be applied to intestinal and colonic tumors	• For better 3BP delivery • For better 3BP delivery, liposomes are processed for specific oral delivery of chemotherapeutics, dietary and nutritional supplements⁴⁰ • For better 3BP delivery • 3BP formulations may come in contact with the tumor tissue locally
Bone tumors and rhabdomyosarcoma	• Systemic 3BP administration using intravenous liposomal 3BP formulations • Local 3BP application (injection) by orthopedic surgeons or topical 3BP cream may be helpful in bringing a large percentage of the tumor mass to 3BP	• For better 3BP delivery • For better 3BP delivery
Nasopharyngeal tumors	• Intravenous liposomal 3BP formulations • In diffuse non-resectable tumor masses in the lungs or bronchi, liposomal 3BP formulations may be tried by inhalation in aerosolized vapor³⁸ • Intranasal delivery of perillyl alcohol–3BP may achieve direct transport of anticancer agents³⁹	For better 3BP delivery

Abbreviations: 3BP, 3-Bromopyruvate; BBB; blood-brain barrier; PEG, polyethylene glycol.