Paclitaxel-eluting nanofiber-covered self-expanding nonvascular stent for palliative chemotherapy of gastrointestinal cancer and its related stenosis

Self-expanding non-vascular metal stents (SEMS) is now a choice of treatment for tumor-induced obstructive symptoms of gastrointestinal tract. But in-growing tumor causes re-stenosis. Here, we studied a paclitaxel-eluting nanofiber-covered stent for palliative chemotherapy of gastrointestinal cancer and its related stenosis. In vivo and in vitro feasibility of nanofiber-covered nonvascular stent was evaluated in this study. Nanofiber-covered stent released paclitaxel (PTX) in controlled manner for 30 days. PTX-NFM significantly inhibited the growth of CT-26 colon cancer in comparison with PTX injection. PTX maintained higher tumor concentrations over 1.0 μg/ml for more than 14 days without systemic exposure. TUNEL and H&E staining proved locally concentrated PTX induced the higher apoptosis than PTX injection. In this way, PTX-eluting nanofiber-covered stent possibly inhibits in-growth of cancer and extends patency of stent. Clinical feasibility of PTX-eluting nanofiber nonvascular stent for cholangiocarcinoma and gastrointestinal cancers will be investigated in further studies.