Described herein are pharmaceutical compositions according to aspects of the present invention which include one or more hydrophilic antineoplastic chemotherapeutics, such as vinca alkyloid antineoplastic chemotherapeutics, encapsulated in ceramide anionic liposomes. Methods of treatment of a subject having cancer using the pharmaceutical compositions are described, along with methods of making ceramide anionic liposomes which encapsulate one or more hydrophilic antineoplastic chemotherapeutics in the aqueous interior of the ceramide anionic liposomes.