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Wu Y, Zeng C, Lv J, Li H, Gao J, Liu Z, Yuan Z. Tumor-Targeted cRGD-Coated Liposomes Encapsulating Optimized Synergistic Cepharanthine and IR783 for Chemotherapy and Photothermal Therapy. Int J Nanomedicine 2024; 19:6145-6160. [PMID: 38911506 PMCID: PMC11194009 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s457008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Combination therapy offers superior therapeutic results compared to monotherapy. However, the outcomes of combination therapy often fall short of expectations, mainly because of increased toxicity from drug interactions and challenges in achieving the desired spatial and temporal distribution of drug delivery. Optimizing synergistic drug combination ratios to ensure uniform targeting and distribution across space and time, particularly in vivo, is a significant challenge. In this study, cRGD-coated liposomes encapsulating optimized synergistic cepharanthine (CEP; a chemotherapy drug) and IR783 (a phototherapy agent) were developed for combined chemotherapy and photothermal therapy in vitro and in vivo. Methods An MTT assay was used to evaluate the combination index of CEP and IR783 in five cell lines. The cRGD-encapsulated liposomes were prepared via thin-film hydration, and unencapsulated liposomes served as controls for the loading of CEP and IR783. Fluorescence and photothermal imaging were used to assess the efficacy of CEP and IR783 encapsulated in liposomes at an optimal synergistic ratio, both in vitro and in vivo. Results The combination indices of CEP and IR783 were determined in five cell lines. As a proof-of-concept, the optimal synergistic ratio (1:2) of CEP to IR783 in 4T1 cells was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The average diameter of the liposomes was approximately 100 nm. The liposomes effectively retained the encapsulated CEP and IR783 in vitro at the optimal synergistic molar ratio for over 7 d. In vivo fluorescence imaging revealed that the fluorescence signal from cRGD-CEP-IR783-Lip was detectable at the tumor site at 4 h post-injection and peaked at 8 h. In vivo photothermal imaging of tumor-bearing mice indicated an increase in tumor temperature by 32°C within 200 s. Concurrently, cRGD-CEP-IR783-Lip demonstrated a significant therapeutic effect and robust biosafety in the in vivo antitumor experiments. Conclusion The combination indices of CEP and IR783 were successfully determined in vitro in five cell lines. The cRGD-coated liposomes encapsulated CEP and IR783 at an optimal synergistic ratio, exhibiting enhanced antitumor effects and targeting upon application in vitro and in vivo. This study presents a novel concept and establishes a research framework for synergistic chemotherapy and phototherapy treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumei Wu
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis & Chiral Drug Synthesis of Guizhou Province, School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, People’s Republic of China
- Guizhou International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base for Medical Photo-Theranostics Technology and Innovative Drug Development, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chunhua Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis & Chiral Drug Synthesis of Guizhou Province, School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, People’s Republic of China
- Guizhou International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base for Medical Photo-Theranostics Technology and Innovative Drug Development, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiajia Lv
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis & Chiral Drug Synthesis of Guizhou Province, School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, People’s Republic of China
- Guizhou International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base for Medical Photo-Theranostics Technology and Innovative Drug Development, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hongyu Li
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis & Chiral Drug Synthesis of Guizhou Province, School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, People’s Republic of China
- Guizhou International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base for Medical Photo-Theranostics Technology and Innovative Drug Development, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jie Gao
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis & Chiral Drug Synthesis of Guizhou Province, School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, People’s Republic of China
- Guizhou International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base for Medical Photo-Theranostics Technology and Innovative Drug Development, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhidong Liu
- Engineering Research Center of Modern Chinese Medicine Discovery and Preparation Technique, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zeli Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis & Chiral Drug Synthesis of Guizhou Province, School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, People’s Republic of China
- Guizhou International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base for Medical Photo-Theranostics Technology and Innovative Drug Development, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, People’s Republic of China
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Wang Y, Wang T, Wang H, Liu W, Li X, Wang X, Zhang Y. A mechanistic updated overview on Cepharanthine as potential anticancer agent. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 165:115107. [PMID: 37423171 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The antitumor effects of traditional drugs have received increasing attention and active antitumor components extracted from traditional drugs have shown good efficacy with minimal adverse events. Cepharanthine(CEP for short) is an active component derived from the Stephania plants of Menispermaceae, which can regulate multiple signaling pathways alone or in combination with other therapeutic drugs to inhibit tumor cell proliferation, induce apoptosis, regulate autophagy, and inhibit angiogenesis, thereby inhibiting tumor progression. Therefore, we retrieved studies concerning CEP's antitumor effects in recent years and summarized the antitumor mechanism and targets, in order to gain new insights and establish a theoretical basis for further development and application of CEP.
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Affiliation(s)
- YingZheng Wang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong Province 250355, China
| | - Tong Wang
- School of Nursing, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shangdong Province 250355, China
| | - HuaXin Wang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong Province 250355, China
| | - WeiDong Liu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong Province 250355, China
| | - Xiao Li
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong Province 250355, China
| | - XiaoYan Wang
- College of Acupuncture and Tuina, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong Province 250355, China
| | - YaNan Zhang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong Province 250355, China.
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Liu B, Deng JX. Effect of Cepharanthine on the Stemness of Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma Based on Network Pharmacology and Bioinformatics. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2022:5956526. [PMID: 36483630 PMCID: PMC9723418 DOI: 10.1155/2022/5956526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Background Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) has poor survival prognosis and few clinical treatment options. We urgently need to explore new therapeutic drugs in clinical practice. Cepharanthine (CEP) has been shown to have anticancer effects in several tumors, but the mechanism of CEP in treating LUSC has not been reported. Methods SwissTargetPrediction, PharmMapper, and GeneCards were used to identify targets of CEP and LUSC. Further topological analysis was used to obtain hub genes via Cytoscape. Molecular docking was carried out to verify the combination of CEP with hub targets. Based on bioinformatics, we first analyzed the expression and survival of hub targets in LUSC and further analyzed the correlation between hub targets and cancer stemness, immune cell infiltration, and tumor mutation burden (TMB). Results A total of 41 targets were identified. Further topological analysis identified 6 hub genes: AURKA, CCNA2, CCNE1, CDK1, CHEK1, and PLK1. Molecular docking analysis showed that CEP had stable binding to all these 6 target proteins. In-depth bioinformatics analysis of these 6 targets showed that high expression of these targets were positively correlated with cancer stemness index and negatively correlated with tumor infiltrating immune cells. In immune subtype analysis, the expressions of these targets were significantly decreased in inflammatory tumors. In addition, we also found that the expressions of these targets were positively correlated with TMB. Conclusion Based on multidisciplinary analysis, we preliminarily identified potential targets of CEP for LUSC treatment and suggested that CEP may play a role in regulating LUSC stemness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Liu
- Department of Oncology, Pingxiang Second People's Hospital, Pingxiang, Jiangxi 337000, China
| | - Jian-xiong Deng
- Department of Oncology, Gaoxin Hospital of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330096, China
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Hsu CH, Lee KJ, Chiu YH, Huang KC, Wang GS, Chen LP, Liao KW, Lin CS. The Lysosome in Malignant Melanoma: Biology, Function and Therapeutic Applications. Cells 2022; 11:1492. [PMID: 35563798 PMCID: PMC9103375 DOI: 10.3390/cells11091492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Lysosomes are membrane-bound vesicles that play roles in the degradation and recycling of cellular waste and homeostasis maintenance within cells. False alterations of lysosomal functions can lead to broad detrimental effects and cause various diseases, including cancers. Cancer cells that are rapidly proliferative and invasive are highly dependent on effective lysosomal function. Malignant melanoma is the most lethal form of skin cancer, with high metastasis characteristics, drug resistance, and aggressiveness. It is critical to understand the role of lysosomes in melanoma pathogenesis in order to improve the outcomes of melanoma patients. In this mini-review, we compile our current knowledge of lysosomes' role in tumorigenesis, progression, therapy resistance, and the current treatment strategies related to lysosomes in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Hsin Hsu
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan;
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Keng-Jung Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA;
| | - Yi-Han Chiu
- Department of Microbiology, Soochow University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan;
| | - Kuo-Ching Huang
- Holistic Education Center, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei City 25245, Taiwan;
| | - Guo-Shou Wang
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 30068, Taiwan; (G.-S.W.); (K.-W.L.)
| | - Lei-Po Chen
- Ph.D. Degree Program of Biomedical Science and Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 30068, Taiwan;
| | - Kuang-Wen Liao
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 30068, Taiwan; (G.-S.W.); (K.-W.L.)
| | - Chen-Si Lin
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan;
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