FerOX

FerOX is an innovative nanoformulation of the anthracycline chemotherapeutic doxorubicin encapsulated within human heavy-chain ferritin (HFn) nanocages. Developed by researchers at the University of Milan, FerOX is designed to target tumor cells specifically via transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1)-mediated endocytosis, which is highly expressed on cancer cells. This targeted delivery mechanism minimizes the internalization of doxorubicin in healthy immune cells, particularly T lymphocytes, thereby preserving their proliferative capacity and maintaining host adaptive immune competence. FerOX has demonstrated preclinical efficacy in breast cancer patient-derived organoids (PDOs), patient-derived xenografts (PDX), and syngeneic mouse models of triple-negative breast cancer, showing improved tumor delivery, reduced cardiotoxicity, and enhanced immune system preservation compared to free doxorubicin.

Other names

doxorubicin-loaded ferritin nanocagesferritin-encapsulated doxorubicinferritin-nanocaged doxorubicinHFn-DOX