Combination of PEI-Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanoparticles and pHsp 70-HSV-TK/GCV with magnet-induced heating for treatment of hepatoma

A Combination Therapy of pHRE-Egr1-HSV-TK/Anti-CD133McAb-131I/MFH Mediated by FePt Nanoparticles for Liver Cancer Stem Cells

It has been evidenced that liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) are to blame hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurrence, development, metastasis, and recurrence. Using iron-platinum nanoparticles (FePt-NPs) as a carrier and CD133 antigen as a target, a new strategy to targetly kill LCSCs by integrating HSV-TK suicide gene, 131I nuclide irradiation, and magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH) together was designed and investigated in the present study. The results showed that FePt-NPs modified with PEI (PEI-FePt-NPs) could bind with DNA, and the best binding ratio was 1 : 40 (mass ratio). Moreover, DNA binding to PEI-FePt-NPs could refrain from Dnase1 enzyme digestion and could release under certain conditions. LCSCs (CD133+ Huh-7 cells) were transfected with pHRE-Egr1-HSV-TK by PEI-FePt-NPs, and the transfection efficiency was 53.65±3.40%. These data showed a good potential of PEI-FePt-NPs as a gene transfer carrier.131I was labeled with anti-CD133McAb in order to facilitate therapy targeting. The combined intervention of pHRE-Egr1-HSV-TK/anti-CD133McAb-131I/MFH mediated by PEI-FePt-NPs could greatly inhibit LCSCs’ growth and induce cell apoptosis in vitro, significantly higher than any of the individual interventions (p<0.05). This study offers a practicable idea for LCSC treatment, and PEI-FePt-NPs may act as novel nonviral gene vectors and a magnetic induction medium.

Adenovirus-mediated herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene therapy combined with ganciclovir induces hepatoma cell apoptosis

The present study aimed to examine the apoptotic effects of adenovirus (ADV)-mediated herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (ADV-TK) combined with ganciclovir (GCV) in tissues obtained from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in order to provide a theoretical basis for the development of this gene therapy program. Apoptosis detection was conducted using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl-transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling assay and the apoptosis index was compared between the experimental; and control groups. Furthermore, the protein expression levels of caspase-3, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-assoicated protein X (Bax) and nuclear factor (NF)-κB were examined in pathological specimens using immunohistochemical staining. The Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and the release of cytochrome c were examined using western blot analysis. Results indicated that combined ADV-TK and GCV treatment significantly increased the number of apoptotic cells compared with the control group (P<0.05). Immunohistological analysis revealed that ADV-TK and GCV treatment significantly increased the number of caspase-3-positive cells, reduced the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and NF-κB expression levels and promoted the release of cytochrome c compared with the control group (P<0.01). In conclusion, the present results suggest that combined ADV-TK and GCV treatment exerts its effect through the apoptotic signaling pathway.

A combination hepatoma-targeted therapy based on nanotechnology: pHRE-Egr1-HSV-TK/(131)I-antiAFPMcAb-GCV/MFH

Combination targeted therapy is a promising cancer therapeutic strategy. Here, using PEI-Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanoparticles (PEI-MZF-NPs) as magnetic media for MFH (magnetic fluid hyperthermia) and gene transfer vector for gene-therapy, a combined therapy, pHRE-Egr1-HSV-TK/(131)I-antiAFPMcAb-GCV/MFH, for hepatoma is developed. AntiAFPMcAb (Monoclonal antibody AFP) is exploited for targeting. The plasmids pHRE-Egr1-HSV-TK are achieved by incorporation of pEgr1-HSV-TK and pHRE-Egr1-EGFP. Restriction enzyme digestion and PCR confirm the recombinant plasmids pHRE-Egr1-HSV-TK are successfully constructed. After exposure to the magnetic field, PEI-MZF-NPs/pHRE-Egr1-EGFP fluid is warmed rapidly and then the temperature is maintained at 43 °C or so, which is quite appropriate for cancer treatment. The gene expression reaches the peak when treated with 200 μCi (131)I for 24 hours, indicating that the dose of 200 μCi might be the optimal dose for irradiation and 24 h irradiation later is the best time to initiate MFH. The in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that pHRE-Egr1-HSV-TK/(131)I-antiAFPMcAb-GCV/MFH can greatly suppress hepatic tumor cell proliferation and induce cell apoptosis and necrosis and effectively inhibit the tumor growth, much better than any monotherapy does alone. Furthermore, the combination therapy has few or no adverse effects. It might be applicable as a strategy to treat hepatic cancer.