Effect of ferromagnetic iron nanoparticles and their composites on the growth and metastasis of Lewis lung carcinoma and solid Ehrlich carcinoma

Summary. The effect of ferromagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (FION), ferrocene and lactoferrin on the transplanted Lewis lung carcinoma and solid Ehrlich carcinoma, the level of oxidant and prooxidant systems in the body tissues by EPR-spectroscopy and the global DNA metylation in tumor cells has been studied. The therapeutic experiments show that the most effective for these tumors were FION and ferrocene introduced in small doses from 2 to 10 mcg per mouse in combination with ascorbic acid. The average life span of mice with Lewis lung carcinoma and solid Ehrlich carcinoma was higher than in the control group of mice (p<0.05). Metastasis in the lungs of mice decreases in the number and volume in research groups in 80.0 and 60.0%, and 92.5 and 87.3%, respectively, compared with the control group of mice. Growth inhibition of primary Lewis lung carcinoma and solid Ehrlich carcinoma was 15–20% compared with control groups of mice. According EPR- spectroscopy FION and ferrocene can change oxidative phenotype of tumor cells and parenchymal organs, increase the level of cytochrome P450 activity and reduce the production of NO-radicals in the mitochondria of cells during the course of their administration in small doses. In experiments on transplanted strains of Lewis lung carcinoma and solid Ehrlich carcinoma the significant anti-tumor and anti-metastatic effects of FION has been found, that is probably not associated with the cytotoxic but cytoregulative influence of iron nanoparticles on the growth of malignant cells.