New phytopharmaceutical anti-breast cancer formulations: immunoliposomes containing extra virgin olive oil polyphenols

Olive oil has compounds that provide health benefits, including the prevention and treatment of diseases. Among olive oil compounds, the phenolic fraction has received considerable attention in recent years. Most common problems are poor absorption, low half-life, due to rapid clearance and inactivation by metabolic enzymes. The development of suitable drug delivery systems and, in particular, of liposomes and immunoliposomes, may be an appropriate strategy for the effective administration of these compounds. Trastuzumab targets the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), which is overexpressed in 20-30% of breast cancers. Using two breast cancer cell lines, with different HER2 expression levels, liposome and immunoliposomes decreased cancer cells viability in a dose-response manner and in correlation to their level of HER2 expression.