Nano-Chemotherapy synergize with immune checkpoint inhibitor- A better option?

Intratumoral Injection of Large Surface Area Microparticle Taxanes in Carcinomas Increases Immune Effector Cell Concentrations, Checkpoint Expression, and Synergy with Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Review of Preclinical and Clinical Studies

This review summarizes development of large surface area microparticle paclitaxel (LSAM-PTX) and docetaxel (LSAM-DTX) for local treatment of primary carcinomas with emphasis on immunomodulation. Intratumoral (IT) delivery of LSAM-PTX and LSAM-DTX provides continuous, therapeutic drug levels for several weeks. Preclinical studies and clinical trials reported a reduction in tumor volume (TV) and immunomodulation in primary tumor and peripheral blood with increases in innate and adaptive immune cells and decreases in suppressor cells. Increased levels of checkpoint expression of immune cells occurred in clinical trials of high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (LSAM-DTX) and unresectable localized pancreatic cancer (LSAM-PTX). TV reduction and increases in immune effector cells occurred following IT LSAM-DTX and IT LSAM-PTX together with anti-mCTLA-4 and anti-mPD-1, respectively. Synergistic benefits from combinatorial therapy in a 4T1-Luc breast cancer model included reduction of metastasis with IT LSAM-DTX + anti-mCTLA-4. IT LSAM-PTX and LSAM-DTX are tumoricidal, immune enhancing, and may improve solid tumor response to immune checkpoint inhibitors without additional systemic toxicity.

Redox-Responsive Dendrimer Nanogels Enable Ultrasound-Enhanced Chemoimmunotherapy of Pancreatic Cancer via Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Amplification and Macrophage Polarization

Developing a multifunctional nanoplatform to achieve efficient theranostics of tumors through multi-pronged strategies remains to be challenging. Here, the design of the intelligent redox-responsive generation 3 (G3) poly(amidoamine) dendrimer nanogels (NGs) loaded with gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) and chemotherapeutic drug toyocamycin (Au/Toy@G3 NGs) for ultrasound-enhanced cancer theranostics is showcased. The constructed hybrid NGs with a size of 193 nm possess good colloidal stability under physiological conditions, and can be dissociated to release Au NPs and Toy in the reductive glutathione-rich tumor microenvironment (TME). The released Toy can promote the apoptosis of cancer cells through endoplasmic reticulum stress amplification and cause immunogenic cell death to maturate dendritic cells. The loaded Au NPs can induce the conversion of tumor-associated macrophages from M2-type to antitumor M1-type to remodulate the immunosuppressive TME. Combined with antibody-mediated immune checkpoint blockade, effective chemoimmunotherapy of a pancreatic tumor mouse model can be realized, and the chemoimmunotherapy effect can be further ultrasound enhanced due to the sonoporation-improved tumor permeability of NGs. The developed Au/Toy@G3 NGs also enable Au-mediated computed tomography imaging of tumors. The constructed responsive dendrimeric NGs tackle tumors through a multi-pronged chemoimmunotherapy strategy targeting both cancer cells and immune cells, which hold a promising potential for clinical translations.

Nanodrugs systems for therapy and diagnosis of esophageal cancer

With the increasing incidence of esophageal cancer, its diagnosis and treatment have become one of the key issues in medical research today. However, the current diagnostic and treatment methods face many unresolved issues, such as low accuracy of early diagnosis, painful treatment process for patients, and high recurrence rate after recovery. Therefore, new methods for the diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer need to be further explored, and the rapid development of nanomaterials has brought new ideas for solving this problem. Nanomaterials used as drugs or drug delivery systems possess several advantages, such as high drug capacity, adjustably specific targeting capability, and stable structure, which endow nanomaterials great application potential in cancer therapy. However, even though the nanomaterials have been widely used in cancer therapy, there are still few reviews on their application in esophageal cancer, and systematical overview and analysis are deficient. Herein, we overviewed the application of nanodrug systems in therapy and diagnosis of esophageal cancer and summarized some representative case of their application in diagnosis, chemotherapy, targeted drug, radiotherapy, immunity, surgery and new therapeutic method of esophageal cancer. In addition, the nanomaterials used for therapy of esophageal cancer complications, esophageal stenosis or obstruction and oesophagitis, are also listed here. Finally, the challenge and the future of nanomaterials used in cancer therapy were discussed.

The role of nanotherapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma by targeting tumor microenvironment

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) refers to a group of highly malignant and pathogenically complex tumors. Traditional treatment methods include surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. However, with advancements in genetics, molecular medicine, and nanotherapy, more effective and safer treatments have been developed. Nanotherapy, in particular, has the potential to be an alternative therapeutic option for HNSCC patients, given its advantageous targeting capabilities, low toxicity and modifiability. Recent research has highlighted the important role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in the development of HNSCC. The TME is composed of various cellular components, such as fibroblasts, vascular endothelial cells, and immune cells, as well as non-cellular agents such as cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, extracellular matrix (ECM), and extracellular vesicles (EVs). These components greatly influence the prognosis and therapeutic efficacy of HNSCC, making the TME a potential target for treatment using nanotherapy. By regulating angiogenesis, immune response, tumor metastasis and other factors, nanotherapy can potentially alleviate HNSCC symptoms. This review aims to summarize and discuss the application of nanotherapy that targets HNSCC's TME. We highlight the therapeutic value of nanotherapy for HNSCC patients.