BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is among the deadliest cancers across the world and is responsible for countless deaths. There is an urgent need for co-delivery systems which can simultaneously transport both drug and gene into a single cancer cell with low toxicity and high anti-angiogenesis efficiency.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the present study, well-formed amine-functionalized hydroxyapatite nanoparticles based on combined angiogenesis therapy for breast cancer were successfully constructed for the simultaneous delivery of p53 and candesartan (CD) (p53/CD/NHAP).

RESULTS: In vitro and in vivo experiments revealed that p53/CD/NHAP can effectively transfer the p53 gene and deliver the loaded CD to achieve preferable anti-breast cancer effect both at the cellular level and in tumor-bearing mice. This may possibly be due to the combined anti-angiogenic mechanisms of p53 and CD via different pathways.

CONCLUSIONS: p53/CD/NHAP might be a candidate carrier for efficient anti-angiogenesis therapy of breast cancer.

Keywords: Angiogenesis Inhibitors, Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers, Genes, p53, Hydroxyapatites