Self-assembling nanoparticles for delivery of miR-603 and miR-221 in glioblastoma as a new strategy to overcome resistance to temozolomide

Brain-targeted polymersomes mediating RNAi of STAT3 sensitize glioblastoma to temozolomide and immunotherapy

Glioblastoma (GBM) is among the most aggressive brain tumors, presenting significant therapeutic challenges due to intrinsic and acquired resistance to treatment, alongside a highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). While temozolomide (TMZ) is the standard chemotherapeutic agent with the ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB), its clinical efficacy is often limited. Here, we report a strategy employing Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) peptide-functionalized polymersomes loaded with small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Apstat3) to amplify the anti-GBM effects of TMZ and immunotherapy. Apstat3 demonstrated small, uniform particle sizes, stability in siRNA encapsulation, and effective downregulation of STAT3 and O⁶-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) in GL261 cells, sensitizing these tumor cells to TMZ. The combinatorial approach not only significantly inhibited GBM cell proliferation, migration and invasion but also improved dendritic cells (DCs) maturation under TME-mimicking environment. In orthotopic GL261 mouse models, intravenous injection of Apstat3 co-administered with oral TMZ resulted in a twofold increase in median survival and reshaped the TME. Notably, combined treatment with anti-CTLA4 therapy tripled median survival to 64 days, achieving complete remission observed in 20% of the mice. This siSTAT3 delivery strategy holds promise for enhancing GBM treatment outcomes.

Self-Assembled systems for Nose-to-Brain delivery of Temozolamide (TMZ) in brain tumor therapy

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive and highly invasive primary brain tumor with poor prognosis and resistance to conventional therapies. The therapeutic efficacy of existing treatments is significantly hampered by the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), tumor heterogeneity, and intrinsic drug resistance mechanisms. Temozolomide (TMZ), the standard chemotherapeutic agent for GBM, suffers from low bioavailability, rapid systemic clearance, and enzymatic degradation, limiting its clinical success. This review highlights the potential of self-assembled nanocarrier-based drug delivery systems for enhancing the therapeutic index of TMZ through intranasal administration, which provides a direct and non-invasive route to the brain, circumventing the BBB and improving central nervous system (CNS) drug bioavailability. Self-assembled systems are highly customizable, allowing for precise control over particle size, surface charge, and release profiles, which can be tailored to improve the penetration and retention of TMZ in the brain. We comprehensively discuss recent advancements in polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, micelles, niosomes, and solid lipid nanoparticles, emphasizing their physicochemical properties, pharmacokinetics, and mechanisms of targeted drug release. Additionally, we explore molecular and oxidative stress-related pathways contributing to GBM progression and TMZ resistance. Emerging research suggests that nanocarrier-based intranasal delivery of TMZ enhances drug stability, prolongs brain retention time, and minimizes systemic toxicity, offering a promising avenue for improving GBM treatment outcomes.

The diagnostic value of a breast cancer diagnosis model based on serum MiRNAs and serum tumor markers

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer (BCa) is the leading cause of cancer-related death among women worldwide. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are promising tools for diagnosis and prognosis. This study investigated the role of serum miRNAs and tumor markers (TMs) in the diagnosis of BCa.

METHODS

Differentially expressed miRNAs were screened from serum samples of BCa patients and healthy individuals via high-throughput sequencing. The expression of hsa-miR-1911-3p, hsa-miR-4694-5p, hsa-miR-548ao-5p, and hsa-miR-4804-3p in 169 BCa patients and 116 healthy controls was detected via qRT-PCR. Serum tumor-associated antigens were detected by chemiluminescence. Logistic regression was subsequently used to develop the miRNA panel I, TM panel II, and (miRNA + TM) panel III models. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, precision-recall (PR) curve and decision curve analyses (DCA) were performed to assess the accuracy of the three models for BCa diagnosis. Additionally, the relationships between miRNA expression and the clinical characteristics of patients with BCa were assessed.

RESULTS

Four serum miRNAs (hsa-miR-1911-3p, hsa-miR-548ao-5p, hsa-miR-4694-5p, and hsa-miR-4804-3p) were newly associated with BCa. The miRNA panel I based on hsa-miR-548ao-5p and hsa-miR-4804-3p showed greater diagnostic effectiveness for BCa than TM panel II based on cancer antigen 125 (CA125) and cancer antigen 153 (CA153), with AUC values of 0.816 and 0.777, respectively. (miRNA + TM) panel III had higher diagnostic effectiveness than miRNA panel I, with an AUC value of 0.870. The expression of miR-548ao-5p and miR-4804-3p is closely related to clinical features, such as human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), HER2-enriched subtype, stage III/IV, and lymph node-transplanted breast cancer.

CONCLUSION

MiR-548ao-5p and miR-4804-3 could serve as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of BCa.