Combination of the anti-tumour cell ether lipid edelfosine with sterols abolishes haemolytic side effects of the drug

Edelfosine (1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine) is an anti-tumour cell ether lipid with surface-active properties. Pure edelfosine can be dispersed in aqueous media in the form of micelles. One important, negative side effect of edelfosine is that it is highly haemolytic. In this paper, we show that edelfosine can be co-dispersed in water with certain lipids (particularly cholesterol, campesterol or β-sitosterol) so that it gives rise to liposomes. Surface pressure measurements demonstrate that edelfosine is slowly released from these liposomes. In liposomal form, edelfosine remains apoptogenic for a variety of leukemia cell lines, while its haemolytic effect is abolished. The phenomenon is explained on the basis of the complementarity of the molecular geometries of sterols and edelfosine.