Current status of sorafenib nanoparticle delivery systems in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Nanotechnology in the Diagnostic and Therapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common liver malignancy and is among the top five most common cancers. Despite the progress of surgery and chemotherapy, the results are often disappointing, in part due to chemoresistance. This type of tumor has special characteristics that allow the improvement of diagnostic and treatment techniques used in clinical practice, by combining nanotechnology. This article presents a brief review of the literature focused on nano-conditioned diagnostic methods, targeted therapy, and therapeutic implications for the pathology of hepatocellular carcinoma. Within each subdomain, several modern technologies with significant impact were highlighted: serological, imaging, or histopathological diagnosis; intraoperative detection; carrier-type nano-conditioned therapy, thermal ablation, and gene therapy. The prospects offered by nanomedicine will strengthen the hope of more efficient diagnoses and therapies in the future.

Inducing Synergistic DNA Damage by TRIP13 and PARP1 Inhibitors Provides a Potential Treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Thyroid hormone receptor interactor 13 (TRIP13), an AAA-ATPase, participates in the development of many cancers. This study explores the function of TRIP13 and synergistic effects of TRIP13 and PARP1 inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The dose-dependent effects of TRIP13 and PARP1 inhibitors on HCC cells proliferation or migration were investigated by the CCK-8 and Transwell assays. Using siRNA or lentivirus to knock down TRIP13, we tested HCC cell and tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. The DNA damage caused by TRIP13 and PARP1 inhibitors was measured by the phosphorylation of H2AX, one of the DNA damage biomarkers. The phosphorylation of H2AX was increased after treatment with DCZ0415 or TRIP13 knockdown. Combining DCZ0415 with PARP1 inhibitor, Olaparib induced synergistic anti-HCC activity. We also found that the overexpression of TRIP13 is significantly associated with early recurrent HCC and poor survival. Up-regulation of TRIP13 in HCC was regulated by transcription factor SP1. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that DCZ0415 targeting TRIP13 impaired non-homologous end-joining repair to inhibit HCC progression and had a synergistic effect with PARP1 inhibitor Olaparib in HCC, suggesting a potential treatment of HCC.

Nanoparticles Loaded with GSK1059615 Combined with Sorafenib Inhibited Programmed Cell Death 1 Ligand 1 Expression by Negatively Regulating the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB Pathway, Thereby Reversing the Drug Resistance of Hepatocellular Carcinoma to Sorafenib

Activation of the cellular signaling pathways can induce sorafenib-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC^R). In this work, the PI3K/mTOR inhibitor GSK1059615 inhibited the proliferation and invasion of HCC^R cells. PLGA-PEG-mal diblock copolymer was used to load GSK1059615 and sorafenib, and the vector was further modified with GPC3 antibody (hGC33) to obtain hGC33-modified GSK1059615 and sorafenib-loaded nanoparticles (Ab-G/S-NP). Ab-G/S-NP regulated the activation of cellular signaling pathways in HCC^R cells by inhibiting the expression and activation of NF-κB and downregulating the level of programmed cell death 1 ligand 1(PD-L1) to reverse drug resistance of HCC^R cells to sorafenib. These findings deserve further study in the combined treatment of HCC^R cells with GSK1059615 in vivo to develop a more effective treatment of sorafenib-resistant cancers.

Emerging Roles of m6A RNA Methylation Regulators in Gynecological Cancer

Gynecological cancers seriously affect the reproductive system of females; diseases include ovarian tumors, uterine tumors, endometrial cancers, cervical cancers, and vulva and vaginal tumors. At present, the diagnosis methods of gynecological cancer are insufficiently sensitive and specific, leading to failure of early disease detection. N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) plays various biological functions in RNA modification and is currently studied extensively. m⁶A modification controls the fate of transcripts and regulates RNA metabolism and biological processes through the interaction of m⁶A methyltransferase (“writer”) and demethylase (“erasers”) and the binding protein decoding m⁶A methylation (“readers”). In the field of epigenetics, m⁶A modification is a dynamic process of reversible regulation of target RNA through its regulatory factors. It plays an important role in many diseases, especially cancer. However, its role in gynecologic cancers has not been fully investigated. Thus, we review the regulatory mechanism, biological functions, and therapeutic prospects of m⁶A RNA methylation regulators in gynecological cancers.

Construction of pH-responsive nanocarriers in combination with ferroptosis and chemotherapy for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Chemotherapy is widely used to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although sorafenib (SO) is the only chemotherapy drug approved by FDA for treatment of HCC, it is associated with several disadvantages including low water solubility, low bioavailability, lack of targeting and easily causes systemic toxicity. In recent years, nanocarriers have shown promise in drug delivery to effectively solve these problems. Herein, we used SO-loaded nanocarriers to overcome the defects of chemotherapy during treatment of HCC. Specifically, we encapsulated pH-sensitive hollow mesoporous Prussian blue nanoparticles (HMPB) with SO (an inhibitor of multi-kinase and accelerant of ferroptosis) to act as carriers and facilitate drug release. We also coated its surface with a layer of pH-responsive chitosan (CS) to block the drug and increase biocompatibility. Finally, we successfully constructed HP/SO/CS nanocomposites for targeted delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs, with the aim of initiating chemotherapy and ferroptosis for dual treatment of tumors. In vitro and in vivo experiments were performed for evaluation of the nanocomposites’ anti-tumor efficacy by using liver cancer cells and mice, respectively.

Results

The nanocomposites specifically targeted tumor cells through enhancing permeability and retention (EPR) effect. Results from in vitro experiments showed that the nanocarriers not only promoted cell apoptosis and reduced the number of cells for chemotherapy, but also promoted accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROSs). In vivo experiments showed that mice in the nanocomposite-treated group exhibited the smallest tumor sizes and body weights, with no obvious damage to normal tissues and organs.

Conclusion

Taken together, these findings indicated that nanocarriers had an effective inhibitory effect on HCC cells. This safe and multifunctional treatment model was a valuable option for the treatment of HCC, as well as other cancers.

Graphical Abstract

Opportunities and Challenges of Nanoparticles in Digestive Tumours as Anti-Angiogenic Therapies

Digestive tumours, a common kind of malignancy worldwide, have recently led to the most tumour-related deaths. Angiogenesis, the process of forming novel blood vessels from pre-existing vessels, is involved in various physiological and pathological processes in the body. Many studies suggest that abnormal angiogenesis plays an important role in the growth, progression, and metastasis of digestive tumours. Therefore, anti-angiogenic therapy is considered a promising target for improving therapeutic efficacy. Traditional strategies such as bevacizumab and regorafenib can target and block the activity of proangiogenic factors to treat digestive tumours. However, due to resistance and some limitations, such as poor pharmacokinetics, their efficacy is not always satisfactory. In recent years, nanotechnology-based anti-angiogenic therapies have emerged as a new way to treat digestive tumours. Compared with commonly used drugs, nanoparticles show great potential in tumour targeted delivery, controlled drug release, prolonged cycle time, and increased drug bioavailability. Therefore, anti-angiogenic nanoparticles may be an effective complementary therapy to treat digestive tumours. In this review, we outline the different mechanisms of angiogenesis, the effects of nanoparticles on angiogenesis, and their biomedical applications in various kinds of digestive tumours. In addition, the opportunities and challenges are briefly discussed.

Porphyrin Based 2D-MOF Structures as Dual-Kinetic Sorafenib Nanocarriers for Hepatoma Treatment

The existing clinical protocols of hepatoma treatment require improvement of drug efficacy that can be achieved by harnessing nanomedicine. Porphyrin-based, paddle-wheel framework (PPF) structures were obtained and tested as dual-kinetic Sorafenib (SOR) nanocarriers against hepatoma. We experimentally proved that sloughing of PPF structures combined with gradual dissolving are effective mechanisms for releasing the drug from the nanocarrier. By controlling the PPF degradation and size of adsorbed SOR deposits, we were able to augment SOR anticancer effects, both in vitro and in vivo, due to the dual kinetic behavior of SOR@PPF. Obtained drug delivery systems with slow and fast release of SOR influenced effectively, although in a different way, the cancer cells proliferation (reflected with EC50 and ERK 1/2 phosphorylation level). The in vivo studies proved that fast-released SOR@PPF reduces the tumor size considerably, while the slow-released SOR@PPF much better prevents from lymph nodes involvement and distant metastases.

Percutaneous Therapies for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Evolution of Liver Directed Therapies

Percutaneous ablation is a mainstay of treatment for early stage, unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recent advances in technology have created multiple ablative modalities for treatment of this common malignancy. The purpose of this review is to familiarize readers with the technical and clinical aspects of both existing and emerging percutaneous treatment options for HCC.

Silica-Based Nanoframeworks Involved Hepatocellular Carcinoma Theranostic

Silica-based nanoframeworks have been extensively studied for diagnosing and treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Several reviews have summarized the advantages and disadvantages of these nanoframeworks and their use as drug-delivery carriers. Encouragingly, these nanoframeworks, especially those with metal elements or small molecular drugs doping into the skeleton structure or modifying onto the surface of nanoparticles, could be multifunctional components participating in HCC diagnosis and treatment rather than functioning only as drug-delivery carriers. Therefore, in this work, we described the research progress of silica-based nanoframeworks involved in HCC diagnosis (plasma biomarker detection, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, photoacoustic imaging, fluorescent imaging, ultrasonography, etc.) and treatment (chemotherapy, ferroptotic therapy, radiotherapy, phototherapy, sonodynamic therapy, immunotherapy, etc.) to clarify their roles in HCC theranostics. Further, the future expectations and challenges associated with silica-based nanoframeworks were highlighted. We believe that this review will provide a comprehensive understanding for researchers to design novel, functional silica-based nanoframeworks that can effectively overcome HCC.

Design and Synthesis of Lactose, Galactose and Cholic Acid Related Dual Conjugated Chitosan Derivatives as Potential Anti Liver Cancer Drug Carriers

Cholic acid and galactose or lactose dual conjugated chitosan derivatives were designed and synthesized as potential anti liver cancer drug carriers, their structures were characterized through proton NMR spectra, elemental analysis, size distribution, zeta potential, and scanning electron microscope image studies. The ability of the dual conjugates to enhance the aqueous solubility of the cancer drug sorafenib was evaluated. The entrapment efficiency (EE%) and drug content (DC%) of sorafenib in the inclusion complexes were measured. The chitosan dual conjugate with cholic acid and galactose was found to be best in enhancing the aqueous solubility of sorafenib. The solubility of sorafenib in water has increased from 1.7 µg/mL to 1900 µg/mL which is equal to 1117-fold increase in its solubility due to the inclusion complex with chitosan conjugate.