5-Fluorouracil's cytotoxicity is enhanced both in vitro and in vivo by concomitant treatment with hyperthermia and dipyridamole

Superparamagnetic Artificial Cells PLGA-Fe3O4 Micro/Nanocapsules for Cancer Targeted Delivery

Artificial cells have been extensively used in many fields, such as nanomedicine, biotherapy, blood substitutes, drug delivery, enzyme/gene therapy, cancer therapy, and the COVID-19 vaccine. The unique properties of superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles have contributed to increased interest in using superparamagnetic artificial cells (PLGA-Fe3O4 micro/nanocapsules) for targeted therapy. In this review, the preparation methods of Fe3O4 NPs and superparamagnetic artificial cell PLGA-drug-Fe3O4 micro/nanocapsules are discussed. This review also focuses on the recent progress of superparamagnetic PLGA-drug-Fe3O4 micro/nanocapsules as targeted therapeutics. We shall concentrate on the use of superparamagnetic artificial cells in the form of PLGA-drug-Fe3O4 nanocapsules for magnetic hyperthermia/photothermal therapy and cancer therapies, including lung breast cancer and glioblastoma.

Radio-sensitivity enhancement in HT29 cells through magnetic hyperthermia in combination with targeted nano-carrier of 5-Flourouracil

Normal tissue complication and development of radioresistance in cancer cells are known as the main challenges of ionizing radiation treatment. In the current study, we intended to induce selective radiosensitization in HT29 cancer cells by developing folic acid modified magnetic triblock copolymer nanoparticles as carrier of 5-Flourouracil (5-FU) which was further used in combination with hyperthermia. The aforementioned nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized by differential scanning calorimetric analysis (DSC), UV-visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta sizer, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). These nanoparticles were also assessed to determine drug loading capacity (DLC %) and drug release profile. The cytotoxicity of nanoparticles was evaluated on two different cell lines: HUVEC and HT29. Furthermore, radiosensitivity induction of the nanoparticles with and without exposure of alternative magnetic field was investigated. MTT-based cytotoxicity assay demonstrated that the therapeutic ratio was enhanced in response to using 5-FU-loaded nanoparticles as compared to 5-FU. Various characterizations including gene expression study, measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, Annexin V/PI staining, and clonogenic assay revealed that ionizing radiation in combination with hyperthermia in the presence of the synthesized nanoparticles led to maximal anti-cancer effects as compared to other single (P < 0.001) and combined treatments (P < 0.01). Our results suggested that combined treatment based on using folic acid modified magnetic copolymer nanoparticle as carrier of 5-FU accompanied with hyperthermia could be proposed as an efficient approach to enhance radiation effects in cancer cells.

Radiofrequency deep hyperthermia combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Background

In the era of precision medicine, chemotherapy is still considered the cornerstone of treatment for lung cancer patients without gene mutations. How to reduce the toxicity and increase the efficiency of chemotherapy is worth exploring. This study aimed to investigate the curative effects and safety of hyperthermia combined with chemotherapy (HCT) for advanced patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), especially those with malignant pleural effusion.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated medical records of 93 patients with advanced NSCLC (stage IIIB-IV) from March 2011 to January 2014. The patients were divided into HCT and chemotherapy (CT) groups. The HCT group was treated with gemcitabine and cisplatin (GP) regimen combined with regional radiofrequency deep hyperthermia, while the CT group was treated with GP regimen only. Those with malignant pleural effusion extra underwent thoracentesis and intrapleural injection chemotherapy combined with hyperthermic or not. Clinical treatment results and adverse reactions were compared and analyzed after treatment. SPSS 19.0 software (SPSS Inc., USA) was used for statistical data processing. P values less than 0.05 were accepted to be statistically significant.

Results

Among the 93 patients, HCT group included 48 patients (16 patients with malignant pleural effusion), CT group included 45 patients (10 patients with malignant pleural effusion). There was no significant difference between the two groups in patient characteristics. The overall response rate (ORR) of pleural effusions was much better in HCT group than that in CT group (81.2% vs. 40.0%, P = 0.046). The patients in HCT group had lower incidence rate of weakness (12.5% vs. 46.7%, χ² = 13.16, P < 0.001) and gastrointestinal (25.0% vs. 77.8%, χ² = 25.88, P < 0.001) adverse reactions than that in CT group. The objective tumor response and survival showed no significant differences.

Conclusions

Hyperthermia combined with chemotherapy might lead to the development of better therapeutic strategy for advanced NSCLC with malignant pleural effusion patients. Also, it could greatly reduce the chemotherapy toxic effects in the incidence of weakness and gastrointestinal adverse reactions in advanced NSCLC patients.

Effects of hyperthermia on DNA repair pathways: one treatment to inhibit them all

The currently available arsenal of anticancer modalities includes many DNA damaging agents that can kill malignant cells. However, efficient DNA repair mechanisms protect both healthy and cancer cells against the effects of treatment and contribute to the development of drug resistance. Therefore, anti-cancer treatments based on inflicting DNA damage can benefit from inhibition of DNA repair. Hyperthermia – treatment at elevated temperature – considerably affects DNA repair, among other cellular processes, and can thus sensitize (cancer) cells to DNA damaging agents. This effect has been known and clinically applied for many decades, but how heat inhibits DNA repair and which pathways are targeted has not been fully elucidated. In this review we attempt to summarize the known effects of hyperthermia on DNA repair pathways relevant in clinical treatment of cancer. Furthermore, we outline the relationships between the effects of heat on DNA repair and sensitization of cells to various DNA damaging agents.

Lyso-thermosensitive liposomal doxorubicin: a novel approach to enhance efficacy of thermal ablation of liver cancer

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer death worldwide. No more than 30% of HCC patients receive curative treatment. Factors limiting curative therapy include tumor size and degree of liver impairment.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a cure for medium (3.1-5.0 cm) and large (>5 cm) tumors in seriously impaired livers.

METHOD

Combine radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with lyso-thermosensitive liposomal doxorubicin (LTLD).

RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS

RFA is used safely in patients with medium/large tumors and severe liver impairment; unclear tumor margins limit its curative efficacy. LTLD concentrates in the liver, where the anti-HCC chemotherapeutic, doxorubicin, is released into tumor margins by hyperthermia. RFA/LTLD can treat Child-Pugh class A-B patients with tumors up to 7 cm, a substantial increase in curable patients.

Multi-chemothermoimmunotherapy for human colon adenocarcinoma in vitro

Effective adjunctive therapies for colorectal carcinoma are clearly needed. We evaluated the cytotoxic responses in vitro of human colon carcinoma cell lines to combined modalities: 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (5-FU/LV), carboplatin (CP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and hyperthermia (HTX). Cytotoxicity was evaluated in a cell proliferation assay using crystal violet staining. 5-FU/LV was administered 2-3 days before TNF and CP, followed 1 h later by HTX. These cell lines were relatively resistant to HTX alone (42 degrees C for 2 h), but were heterogeneous in their responses to various doses of the other single agents. This heterogeneity was also evident for combined modalities: the HCT-15 cell line exhibited significant supra-additivity for selected doses of CP, TNF and 5-FU/LV, which was further enhanced by hyperthermia. In contrast, the HT-29 cell line did not demonstrate a strong pattern for supra-additivity, whereas the DLD-1 cell line had an intermediate response. Thus, our results suggest one approach to develop effective and dose-sparing multimodality therapeutic regimens for colon adenocarcinoma.