SATB1 siRNA-encapsulated immunoliposomes conjugated with CD44 antibodies target and eliminate gastric cancer-initiating cells

Therapeutic targeting of siRNA/anti-cancer drug delivery system for non-melanoma skin cancer. Part I: Development and gene silencing of JAK1siRNA/5-FU loaded liposome nanocomplexes

Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is one of the most prevalent cancers, leading to significant mortality rates due to limited treatment options and a lack of effective therapeutics. Janus kinase (JAK1), a non-receptor tyrosine kinase family member, is involved in various cellular processes, including differentiation, cell proliferation and survival, playing a crucial role in cancer progression. This study aims to provide a more effective treatment for NMSC by concurrently silencing the JAK1 gene and administering 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) using liposome nanocomplexes as delivery vehicles. Utilizing RNA interference (RNAi) technology, liposome nanocomplexes modified with polyethylene imine (PEI) were conjugated with siRNA molecule targeting JAK1 and loaded with 5-FU. The prepared formulations (NL-PEI) were characterized in terms of their physicochemical properties, morphology, encapsulation efficiency, in vitro drug release, and stability. Cell cytotoxicity, cell uptake and knockdown efficiency were evaluated in human-derived non-melanoma epidermoid carcinoma cells (A-431). High contrast transmission electron microscopy (CTEM) images and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements revealed that the nanocomplexes formed spherical morphology with uniform sizes ranging from 80-120 nm. The cationic NL-PEI nanocomplexes successfully internalized within the cytoplasm of A-431, delivering siRNA for specific sequence binding and JAK1 gene silencing. The encapsulation of 5-FU in the nanocomplexes was achieved at 0.2 drug/lipid ratio. Post-treatment with NL-PEI for 24, 48 and 72 h showed cell viability above 80 % at concentrations up to 8.5 × 101 µg/mL. Notably, 5-FU delivery via nanoliposome formulations significantly reduced cell viability at 5-FU concentration of 5 µM and above (p < 0.05) after 24 h of incubation. The NL-PEI nanocomplexes effectively silenced the JAK1 gene in vitro, reducing its expression by 50 %. Correspondingly, JAK1 protein level decreased after transfection with JAK1 siRNA-conjugated liposome nanocomplexes, leading to a 37 % reduction in pERK (phosphor extracellular signal-regulated kinase) protein expression. These findings suggest that the combined delivery of JAK1 siRNA and 5-FU via liposomal formulations offers a promising and novel treatment strategy for targeting genes and other identified targets in NMSC therapy.

Genomic biology and therapeutic strategies of liver metastasis from gastric cancer

The liver is a frequent site of metastasis in advanced gastric cancer (GC). Despite significant advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, the overall survival rate for patients afflicted with gastric cancer liver metastasis (GCLM) remains dismally low. Precision oncology has made significant progress in identifying therapeutic targets and enhancing our understanding of metastasis mechanisms through genome sequencing and molecular characterization. Therefore, it is crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of the various molecular processes involved in GCLM and the fundamental principles of systemic therapy to develop new treatment approaches. This paper aims to review recent findings on the diagnosis, potential biomarkers, and therapies targeting the multiple molecular processes of GCLM, with the goal of improving treatment strategies for patients with GCLM.

SATB1, senescence and senescence-related diseases

Aging leads to an accumulation of cellular mutations and damage, increasing the risk of senescence, apoptosis, and malignant transformation. Cellular senescence, which is pivotal in aging, acts as both a guard against cellular transformation and as a check against cancer progression. It is marked by stable cell cycle arrest, widespread macromolecular changes, a pro-inflammatory profile, and altered gene expression. However, it remains to be determined whether these differing subsets of senescent cells result from unique intrinsic programs or are influenced by their environmental contexts. Multiple transcription regulators and chromatin modifiers contribute to these alterations. Special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 1 (SATB1) stands out as a crucial regulator in this process, orchestrating gene expression by structuring chromatin into loop domains and anchoring DNA elements. This review provides an overview of cellular senescence and delves into the role of SATB1 in senescence-related diseases. It highlights SATB1's potential in developing antiaging and anticancer strategies, potentially contributing to improved quality of life and addressing aging-related diseases.

siRNA-based therapy for gastric adenocarcinoma: what's next step?

Gastric cancer continues to have a high death rate despite advancements in their diagnosis and treatment. Novel treatment techniques are thus desperately needed. This is where double-stranded RNA molecules known as small interfering RNA (siRNA), which may selectively target the mRNA of disease-causing genes, may find use in medicine. For siRNAs to function properly in the human body, they must be shielded from deterioration. Furthermore, in order to maintain organ function, they must only target the tumor and spare normal tissue. siRNAs have been designed using clever delivery mechanisms including polymers and lipids to achieve these objectives. Although siRNA protection is not hard to acquire, it is still challenging to target cancer cells with them. Here, we first discuss the basic characteristics of gastric cancer before describing the properties of siRNA and typical delivery methods created specifically for gastric tumors. Lastly, we provide a succinct overview of research using siRNAs to treat gastric tumors.

Recent advances in liposome-based targeted cancer therapy

Nano-drug delivery systems have opened new pathways for tumor treatment by overcoming some of the limitations of conventional drugs, such as physiological degradation, short half-life, and rapid release. Liposomes are promising nanocarrier systems due to their biocompatibility, low toxicity, and high inclusivity, as well as their enhanced drug bioavailability. Various strategies for active targeting of liposomal formulations have been investigated to achieve the highest drug efficacy. This review aims to summarize current developments in novel liposomal formulations, particularly ligand-targeted liposomes (such as folate, transferrin, hyaluronic acid, antibodies, aptamer, and peptide, etc.) used for the therapy of various cancers and provide an insight on the challenges and future of liposomes for scientists and pharmaceutical companies.

Mapping the intellectual structure and emerging trends for the application of nanomaterials in gastric cancer: A bibliometric study

BACKGROUND

Recent reviews have outlined the main nanomaterials used in relation to gastrointestinal tumors and described the basic properties of these materials. However, the research hotspots and trends in the application of nanomaterials in gastric cancer (GC) remain obscure.

AIM

To demonstrate the knowledge structure and evolutionary trends of research into the application of nanomaterials in GC.

METHODS

Publications related to the application of nanomaterials in GC were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection for this systematic review and bibliometric study. VOSviewer and CiteSpace were used for bibliometric and visualization analyses.

RESULTS

From 2000 to 2022, the application of nanomaterials in GC developed rapidly. The keyword co-occurrence analysis showed that the related research topics were divided into three clusters: (1) The application of nanomaterials in GC treatment; (2) The application and toxicity of nanomaterials in GC diagnosis; and (3) The effects of nanomaterials on the biological behavior of GC cells. Complexes, silver nanoparticles, and green synthesis are the latest high-frequency keywords that represent promising future research directions.

CONCLUSION

The application of nanomaterials in GC diagnosis and treatment and the mechanisms of their effects on GC cells have been major themes in this field over the past 23 years.

Development of glycan-targeted nanoparticles as a novel therapeutic opportunity for gastric cancer treatment

Chemotherapy resistance remains a major cause of therapeutic failure in gastric cancer. The combination of genetic material such as interference RNAs (iRNAs) to silence cancer-associated genes with chemotherapeutics has become a novel approach for cancer treatment. However, finding the right target genes and developing non-toxic, highly selective nanocarrier systems remains a challenge. Here we developed a novel sialyl-Tn-targeted polylactic acid—didodecyldimethylammonium bromide nanoparticle (PLA-DDAB) nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with dsRNA targeting ST6GalNac-I and/or galectin-3 genes. Using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), we have demonstrated that 99mtechnetium radiolabeled sialyl-Tn-targeted nanoparticles can reach the tumor site and downregulate ST6GalNAc-I and galectin-3 RNA expression levels when injected intravenously. Furthermore, using an in vivo gastric tumor model, these nanoparticles increased the effectiveness of 5-FU in reducing tumor growth. Our findings indicate that cancer-associated glycan-targeted NPs loaded with dsRNA targeting ST6GalNAc-I and/or galectin-3 in combination with standard chemotherapy, have the potential to become a novel therapeutic tool for gastric cancer.

Formulation and characterization of cisplatin-loaded hydroxyl functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes for targeting gastric cancer stem cells

Chemotherapy is the most commonly used therapeutic method for treating many malignancies including gastric cancer. Due to their non-specific and non-targeted drug delivery, it causes resistance leading to cancer progression, relapse, and metastasis of cancer. To overcome this problem we carried out a study aimed to develop a new cisplatin (Cisp) loaded hydroxyl functionalized single-walled carbon nanotube (OH-SWCNT) nanocarrier system to selectively eliminate gastric cancer stem cells. To our understanding, this is the first study of the non-covalent interaction of cisplatin loaded on the surface of hydroxyl-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes by ultrasonication. The physical and morphological characterization was carried out by UV-Vis, FTIR spectroscopy, and TEM. A sustained and controlled release of cisp from OH-SWCNT at all three pHs 3.5, 5.5, and 7.4 was observed. Gastric cancer stem cells were isolated from primary cells and were identified by using CD133+ and CD44+ specific markers. Cisplatin-loaded OH-SWCNT nanocarrier was capable of limiting the self-renewal capacity of both CD133+ and CD44+ populations and also decreasing the number of tumorspheres in gastric CSCs. The cell viability percent of AGS cells was 20% at 250 μg/ml concentration. The IC50 value was less than 50% mol/L at both 200 μg/ml and 250 μg/ml of cisplatin-loaded OH-SWCNT. Our findings suggest that cisplatin-loaded OH-SWCNT nanocarrier complexes could target gastric CSCs and also could provide a potential strategy for selectively targeting and efficiently eliminating gastric CSCs. This could be a promising approach to prevent gastric cancer recurrence and metastasis and also improve gastric cancer therapy.

Lipid-engineered nanotherapeutics for cancer management

Cancer causes significant mortality and morbidity worldwide, but existing pharmacological treatments are greatly limited by the inherent heterogeneity of cancer as a disease, as well as the unsatisfactory efficacy and specificity of therapeutic drugs. Biopharmaceutical barriers such as low permeability and poor water solubility, along with the absence of active targeting capabilities, often result in suboptimal clinical results. The difficulty of successfully reaching and destroying tumor cells is also often compounded with undesirable impacts on healthy tissue, including off-target effects and high toxicity, which further impair the ability to effectively manage the disease and optimize patient outcomes. However, in the last few decades, the development of nanotherapeutics has allowed for the use of rational design in order to maximize therapeutic success. Advances in the fabrication of nano-sized delivery systems, coupled with a variety of surface engineering strategies to promote customization, have resulted in promising approaches for targeted, site-specific drug delivery with fewer unwanted effects and better therapeutic efficacy. These nano systems have been able to overcome some of the challenges of conventional drug delivery related to pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and target specificity. In particular, lipid-based nanosystems have been extensively explored due to their high biocompatibility, versatility, and adaptability. Lipid-based approaches to cancer treatment are varied and diverse, including liposomal therapeutics, lipidic nanoemulsions, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipidic carriers, lipid-polymer nanohybrids, and supramolecular nanolipidic structures. This review aims to provide an overview of the use of diverse formulations of lipid-engineered nanotherapeutics for cancer and current challenges in the field, as researchers attempt to successfully translate these approaches from bench to clinic.

Lipid-Based Nanoparticles as a Pivotal Delivery Approach in Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) Therapy

Triple-negative breast cancer is considered the most aggressive type of breast cancer among women and the lack of expressed receptors has made treatment options substantially limited. Recently, various types of nanoparticles have emerged as a therapeutic option against TNBC, to elevate the therapeutic efficacy of the existing chemotherapeutics. Among the various nanoparticles, lipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs) viz. liposomes, nanoemulsions, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid nanocarriers, and lipid–polymer hybrid nanoparticles are developed for cancer treatment which is well confirmed and documented. LNPs include various therapeutic advantages as compared to conventional therapy and other nanoparticles, including increased loading capacity, enhanced temporal and thermal stability, decreased therapeutic dose and associated toxicity, and limited drug resistance. In addition to these, LNPs overcome physiological barriers which provide increased accumulation of therapeutics at the target site. Extensive efforts by the scientific community could make some of the liposomal formulations the clinical reality; however, the relatively high cost, problems in scaling up the formulations, and delivery in a more targetable fashion are some of the major issues that need to be addressed. In the present review, we have compiled the state of the art about different types of LNPs with the latest advances reported for the treatment of TNBC in recent years, along with their clinical status and toxicity in detail.

Novel Drug Delivery Systems as an Emerging Platform for Stomach Cancer Therapy

Cancer has long been regarded as one of the world's most fatal diseases, claiming the lives of countless individuals each year. Stomach cancer is a prevalent cancer that has recently reached a high number of fatalities. It continues to be one of the most fatal cancer forms, requiring immediate attention due to its low overall survival rate. Early detection and appropriate therapy are, perhaps, of the most difficult challenges in the fight against stomach cancer. We focused on positive tactics for stomach cancer therapy in this paper, and we went over the most current advancements and progressions of nanotechnology-based systems in modern drug delivery and therapies in great detail. Recent therapeutic tactics used in nanotechnology-based delivery of drugs aim to improve cellular absorption, pharmacokinetics, and anticancer drug efficacy, allowing for more precise targeting of specific agents for effective stomach cancer treatment. The current review also provides information on ongoing research aimed at improving the curative effectiveness of existing anti-stomach cancer medicines. All these crucial matters discussed under one overarching title will be extremely useful to readers who are working on developing multi-functional nano-constructs for improved diagnosis and treatment of stomach cancer.

Lipid-based nanoparticles for treatment of cancer

Investigators were continuously creating novel nanotechnologies to address unmet requirements throughout the administration of therapeutic medicines & imaging agents for cancer treatment & diagnostics, appropriately. LNPs(Lipid nanoparticles) are legitimate particulates (approx. 100 nm in size) gathered from various lipid as well as other biochemical compounds which overall functionality to resolve biological barriers (biobarriers), allowing LNPs to selectively collect somewhere outside of disease-target cells again for responsive therapeutics. Most pharmaceutically important compounds were insoluble throughout water solutions, were chemical & physiologically unstable, or have toxicities. Among the most potential drug carrier for bioactive organic compounds is LBNPs (Lipid based nanoparticles) technologies. Its present use in chemotherapy have transformed treatment for cancer by increasing the antitumor effect of a number of chemotherapeutics. Because they may be created using naturally occurring sources, LBNPs have great temporal and thermal stability, maximum load potential, simplicity of preparations, cheap manufacturing costs, & big manufacturing output. Furthermore, combining chemotherapeutic drugs with LNPs reduces active therapeutic dosage and toxicities, lowers treatment resistance, & raises drug concentration in tumour cells while reducing concentrations in normal tissue. LBNPs were widely studied in cancer treatment, both in vitro and in vivo, with encouraging outcomes in certain clinical trials. This study provides an overview of the many types of LBNPs which have been created in latest years and their applications and contributions in different types of cancers.

Her-2 directed systemic delivery of fatty acid synthase (FASN) siRNA with novel liposomal carrier systems in the breast cancer mouse model

Despite the current advancements in the gene silencing therapy in vitro, the systemic delivery of siRNA still remains a challenging task for its transition into clinics. We have previously developed the Her2-targeted fatty acid synthase (FASN) siRNA-encapsulating immunoliposomes (ILs) with a great stability in the presence of serum. We report here the therapeutic potential of the lipid-based novel formulations in the breast cancer mouse model. The growth inhibitory and gene silencing effects of various formulations were determined by measuring the size of the tumor, cell proliferation, apoptotic index and immunoassays against Her2-over expressed tumor xenografts in nude mice. The pegylated DSPC/Chol and DOPE/CHEMS immunoliposomes containing FASN-siRNA significantly decreased the tumor growth relative to non-targeted liposomes. They induced the 1.5-fold increase in cellular apoptosis and several fold decrease in proliferation as compared to non-targeted liposomal formulations of FASN-siRNA. Moreover, FASN-siRNA-ILs produced several fold increase in the ratios of p53/p21 and Bax/Bcl-2. The gene silencing effects of targeted FASN-liposomes were found significantly superior, resulting in 30%-40% downregulation in FASN as compared to non-targeted similar formulations. Both types of FASN immunoliposomes provided a highly efficient approach for targeted delivery in Her-2-expressed breast cancer and thus offered a promising anticancer strategy in the clinical therapy.

Carotenoids in Cancer Metastasis-Status Quo and Outlook

Metastasis represents a major obstacle in cancer treatment and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Therefore, the identification of compounds targeting the multi-step and complex process of metastasis could improve outcomes in the management of cancer patients. Carotenoids are naturally occurring pigments with a plethora of biological activities. Carotenoids exert a potent anti-cancer capacity in various cancer models in vitro and in vivo, mediated by the modulation of signaling pathways involved in the migration and invasion of cancer cells and metastatic progression, including key regulators of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and regulatory molecules, such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and its receptor (uPAR), hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), and others. Moreover, carotenoids modulate the expression of genes associated with cancer progression and inflammatory processes as key mediators of the complex process involved in metastasis. Nevertheless, due to the predominantly preclinical nature of the known anti-tumor effects of carotenoids, and unclear results from certain carotenoids in specific cancer types and/or specific parts of the population, a precise analysis of the anti-cancer effects of carotenoids is essential. The identification of carotenoids as effective compounds targeting the complex process of cancer progression could improve the outcomes of advanced cancer patients.

Relevant Physicochemical Methods to Functionalize, Purify, and Characterize Surface-Decorated Lipid-Based Nanocarriers

Surface functionalization of lipid-based nanocarriers (LBNCs) with targeting ligands has attracted huge interest in the field of nanomedicines for their ability to overcome some physiological barriers and their potential to deliver an active molecule to a specific target without causing damage to healthy tissues. The principal objective of this review is to summarize the present knowledge on LBNC decoration used for biomedical applications, with an emphasis on the ligands used, the functionalization approaches, and the purification methods after ligand corona formation. The most potent experimental techniques for the LBNC surface characterization are described. The potential of promising methods such as nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry to characterize ligand surface corona is also outlined.

Nanoparticles guided drug delivery and imaging in gastric cancer

Gastric cancer represents a deadly malignancy worldwide, yet current therapeutic regimens remain ineffective. Nanoparticle (NP) -based solutions could allow the design of novel therapeutic methods to eliminate this fatal disease. NPs typically carry out a significant role in multifunctional, multimodal imaging, and drug delivery carriers. In the recent decade, they have emerged as candidate approaches for the design of novel treatment strategies. Tumor nanotherapeutics characteristically possess various distinct advantages compared to conventional anti-cancer medications, which suffer from nonspecific bio-distribution, low solubility, and poor bioavailability. In this review, we will discuss the application of NPs in diagnosis and controlled drug delivery in gastric cancer (GC). We will focus on various NPs-based strategies employed against GC.

The Role of SATB1 in Tumour Progression and Metastasis

Carcinogenesis is a long-drawn, multistep process, in which metastatic spread is an unequivocal hallmark of a poor prognosis. The progression and dissemination of epithelial cancers is commonly thought to rely on the epidermal-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. During EMT, epithelial cells lose their junctions and apical-basal polarity, and they acquire a mesenchymal phenotype with its migratory and invasive capabilities. One of the proteins involved in cancer progression and EMT may be SATB1 (Special AT-Rich Binding Protein 1)-a chromatin organiser and a global transcriptional regulator. SATB1 organizes chromatin into spatial loops, providing a "docking site" necessary for the binding of further transcription factors and chromatin modifying enzymes. SATB1 has the ability to regulate whole sets of genes, even those located on distant chromosomes. SATB1 was found to be overexpressed in numerous malignancies, including lymphomas, breast, colorectal, prostate, liver, bladder and ovarian cancers. In the solid tumours, an elevated SATB1 level was observed to be associated with an aggressive phenotype, presence of lymph node, distant metastases, and a poor prognosis. In this review, we briefly describe the prognostic significance of SATB1 expression in most common human cancers, and analyse its impact on EMT and metastasis.

Lipid-Based Nanoparticles: Application and Recent Advances in Cancer Treatment

Many therapeutically active molecules are non-soluble in aqueous systems, chemically and biologically fragile or present severe side effects. Lipid-based nanoparticle (LBNP) systems represent one of the most promising colloidal carriers for bioactive organic molecules. Their current application in oncology has revolutionized cancer treatment by improving the antitumor activity of several chemotherapeutic agents. LBNPs advantages include high temporal and thermal stability, high loading capacity, ease of preparation, low production costs, and large-scale industrial production since they can be prepared from natural sources. Moreover, the association of chemotherapeutic agents with lipid nanoparticles reduces active therapeutic dose and toxicity, decreases drug resistance and increases drug levels in tumor tissue by decreasing them in healthy tissue. LBNPs have been extensively assayed in in vitro cancer therapy but also in vivo, with promising results in some clinical trials. This review summarizes the types of LBNPs that have been developed in recent years and the main results when applied in cancer treatment, including essential assays in patients.