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Liu J, Zhang G, Li X, Zheng C, Kan X. Enhancing the therapeutic impact of sublethal radiofrequency hyperthermia in malignant solid tumor treatment. Heliyon 2024; 10:e29866. [PMID: 38681568 PMCID: PMC11053292 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an effective alternative to surgery for managing some malignant solid tumors. However, for medium-to-large tumors (>3 cm), tumors adjacent to large blood vessels, and certain irregular tumors, sublethal radiofrequency hyperthermia (RFH) often produces a margin of ablated tumor owing to the "heat-sink" effect. This effect typically leaves behind viable residual tumors at the margin. Several studies have reported that a sublethal RFH can significantly enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and gene therapy for malignant solid tumors. The possible mechanisms by which RFH enhances these therapies include heat-induced tissue fracturing, increased permeability of the cytoplasmic membrane, exaggerated cellular metabolism, blockade of the repair pathways of radiation-damaged tumor cells, and activation of the heat shock protein pathways. Therefore, RFA in combination with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, or gene therapy may help reduce the rates of residual and recurrent tumors after RFA of malignant solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayun Liu
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Guilin Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Xinyi Li
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Chuansheng Zheng
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Xuefeng Kan
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan 430022, China
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Sun B, Zhang Q, Sun T, Liu J, Cao Y, Liang B, Zheng C, Kan X. Radiofrequency hyperthermia enhances the effect of OK-432 for Hepatocellular carcinoma by activating of TLR4-cGAS-STING pathway. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 130:111769. [PMID: 38442584 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.111769] [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: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been used as an alternative to surgical management of early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, when large and irregular HCCs are subjected to RFA, a safety margin is usually difficult to obtain, thus causing a sublethal radiofrequency hyperthermia (RFH) at the ablated tumor margin. This study investigated the feasibility of using RFH to enhance the effect of OK-432 on HCC, with the aim to generate a tumor-free margin during RFA of HCC. Our results showed OK-432 could activate the cGAS-STING pathway, and RFH could further enhance the activation. Meanwhile, RFH could induce a high expression of TLR4, and TLR4 might be an upstream molecular of the cGAS-STING pathway. The combined therapy of RFH with OK-432 resulted in a better tumor response, and a prolonged survival compared to the other three treatments. In conclusion, RFH in combination with OK-432 might reduce the residual and recurrent tumor after RFA of large and irregular HCCs, and serve as a new option for other solid malignancies treated by RFA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Sun
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Qingqing Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Tao Sun
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiayun Liu
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanyan Cao
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Bin Liang
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Chuansheng Zheng
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China.
| | - Xuefeng Kan
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China.
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Interventional Oncolytic Immunotherapy with LTX-315 for Residual Tumor after Incomplete Radiofrequency Ablation of Liver Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14246093. [PMID: 36551579 PMCID: PMC9777024 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14246093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the feasibility of interventional oncolytic immunotherapy with LTX-315 for residual tumors after incomplete radiofrequency ablation (iRFA) of VX2 liver tumors in a rabbit model. Methods: For in vitro experiments, VX2 tumor cells were treated with: (1) phosphate buffered saline, (2) radiofrequency hyperthermia (RFH), (3) LTX-315, and (4) RFH plus LTX-315. The residual tumors after iRFA of VX2 liver tumors were treated with: (1) phosphate buffered saline served as control, (2) 2 mg LTX-315, and (3) 4 mg LTX-315. MTS assay, fluorescence microscopy, and flow cytometry were used to compare cell viabilities and apoptosis among different groups. Ultrasound imaging was used to follow up the tumor growth, which were correlated with the optical imaging and subsequent histology. Results: For in vitro experiments, compared with the other three groups, MTS assay demonstrated the lowest cell viability, fluorescence microscopy showed the least survival cells, and apoptosis analysis revealed the highest percentage of apoptosis cells in the combination treatment groups (p < 0.001). For in vivo experiments, ultrasound imaging showed the smallest tumor volume in the group with 4 mg LTX-315 therapy compared with the other two groups (p < 0.001). The optical imaging and histopathological analysis showed complete necrosis of the tumors in the group with 4 mg LTX-315 therapy. A significant increase of CD8+ T cells and HSP70 and a significant decrease of Tregs were observed in residual tumors in the group with 2 mg LTX-315 therapy compared with the control group (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Interventional oncolytic immunotherapy with LTX-315 for residual tumors after iRFA of liver cancer is feasible, which may open up new avenues to prevent residual tumors after RFA of intermediate-to-large liver cancers.
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Kan X, Zhou G, Zhang F, Ji H, Shin DS, Monsky W, Zheng C, Yang X. Enhanced efficacy of direct immunochemotherapy for hepatic cancer with image-guided intratumoral radiofrequency hyperthermia. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:e005619. [PMID: 36450380 PMCID: PMC9717415 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-005619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is still a challenge to prevent tumor recurrence post radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of medium-to-large hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). Immunochemotherapy, a combination of immunotherapy with chemotherapy, has demonstrated a great potential in augmenting the treatment efficacy for some malignancies. In this study, we validated the feasibility of using radiofrequency hyperthermia (RFH)-enhanced intratumoral immunochemotherapy of LTX-315 with liposomal doxorubicin for rat orthotopic HCC. METHODS Different groups of luciferase-labeled rat HCC cells and rat orthotopic HCC models were treated by: (1) phosphate buffered saline; (2) RFH; (3) LTX-315; (4) RFH+LTX-315; (5) liposomal doxorubicin; (6) RFH+liposomal doxorubicin; (7) LTX-315+liposomal doxorubicin; and (8) RFH+LTX-315+liposomal doxorubicin. Cell viabilities and apoptosis of different treatment groups were compared. Changes in tumor sizes were quantified by optical and ultrasound imaging, which were confirmed by subsequent histopathology. The potential underlying biological mechanisms of the triple combination treatment (RFH+LTX-315+liposomal doxorubicin) were explored. RESULTS Flow cytometry and MTS assay showed the highest percentage of apoptotic cells and lowest cell viability in the triple combination treatment group compared with other seven groups (p<0.001). Tumors in this group also presented the most profound decrease in bioluminescence signal intensities and the smallest tumor volumes compared with other seven groups (p<0.001). A significant increase of CD8+ T cells, CD8+/interferon (IFN)-γ+ T cells, CD8+/tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α+ T cells, and natural killer cells, and a significant decrease of regulatory T cells were observed in the tumors (p<0.001). Meanwhile, a significantly higher level of Th1-type cytokines in both plasma (interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12, IL-18, IFN-γ) and tumors (IL-2, IL-18, IFN-γ, TNF-α), as well as a significantly lower Th2-type cytokines of IL-4 and IL-10 in plasma and tumor were detected. CONCLUSIONS Intratumoral RFA-associated RFH could enhance the efficacy of immunochemotherapy of LTX-315 with liposomal doxorubicin for HCC, which may provide a new strategy to increase the curative efficacy of thermal ablation for medium-to-large HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuefeng Kan
- Image-Guided Bio-Molecular Intervention Research and Section of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Guanhui Zhou
- Image-Guided Bio-Molecular Intervention Research and Section of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Interventional Treatment Center, Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhejiang University School of Medicine First Affiliated Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Image-Guided Bio-Molecular Intervention Research and Section of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Hongxiu Ji
- Image-Guided Bio-Molecular Intervention Research and Section of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Pathology, Overlake Medical Center and Incyte Diagnostics, Bellevue, WA, USA
| | - David S Shin
- Image-Guided Bio-Molecular Intervention Research and Section of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Wayne Monsky
- Image-Guided Bio-Molecular Intervention Research and Section of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Chuansheng Zheng
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoming Yang
- Image-Guided Bio-Molecular Intervention Research and Section of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
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Zheng H, Li P, Ma R, Zhang F, Ji H, Monsky WL, Johnson E, Yang W, Ni C, Gao D, Yang X. Development of a Three-Dimensional Multi-Modal Perfusion-Thermal Electrode System for Complete Tumor Eradication. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14194768. [PMID: 36230690 PMCID: PMC9562205 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Residual viable tumor cells after ablation at the tumor periphery serve as the source for tumor recurrence, leading to treatment failure. Purpose: To develop a novel three-dimensional (3D) multi-modal perfusion-thermal electrode system completely eradicating medium-to-large malignancies. Materials and Methods: This study included five steps: (i) design of the new system; (ii) production of the new system; (iii) ex vivo evaluation of its perfusion-thermal functions; (iv) mathematic modeling and computer simulation to confirm the optimal temperature profiles during the thermal ablation process, and; (v) in vivo technical validation using five living rabbits with orthotopic liver tumors. Results: In ex vivo experiments, gross pathology and optical imaging demonstrated the successful spherical distribution/deposition of motexafin gadolinium administered through the new electrode, with a temperature gradient from the electrode core at 80 °C to its periphery at 42 °C. An excellent repeatable correlation of temperature profiles at varying spots, from the center to periphery of the liver tumor, was found between the mathematic simulation and actual animal tumor models (Pearson coefficient ≥0.977). For in vivo validation, indocyanine green (ICG) was directly delivered into the peritumoral zones during simultaneous generation of central tumoral lethal radiofrequency (RF) heat (>60 °C) and peritumoral sublethal RF hyperthermia (<60 °C). Both optical imaging and fluorescent microscopy confirmed successful peritumoral ICG distribution/deposition with increased heat shock protein 70 expression. Conclusion: This new 3D, perfusion-thermal electrode system provided the evidence on the potential to enable simultaneous delivery of therapeutic agents and RF hyperthermia into the difficult-to-treat peritumoral zones, creating a new strategy to address the critical limitation, i.e., the high incidence of residual and recurrent tumor following thermal ablation of unresectable medium-to-large and irregular tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zheng
- Image-Guided Biomolecular Intervention Research and Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, China
| | - Peicheng Li
- Image-Guided Biomolecular Intervention Research and Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Department of Interventional Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - Ruidong Ma
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Feng Zhang
- Image-Guided Biomolecular Intervention Research and Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Hongxiu Ji
- Image-Guided Biomolecular Intervention Research and Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Department of Pathology, Overlake Medical Center and Incyte Diagnosticsm, Bellevue, WA 98004, USA
| | - Wayne L. Monsky
- Image-Guided Biomolecular Intervention Research and Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Evan Johnson
- Image-Guided Biomolecular Intervention Research and Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Weizhu Yang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, China
| | - Caifang Ni
- Department of Interventional Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - Dayong Gao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Xiaoming Yang
- Image-Guided Biomolecular Intervention Research and Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-206-685-6967; Fax: +86-206-221-0647
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Zheng H, Zhang F, Monsky W, Ji H, Yang W, Yang X. Interventional Optical Imaging-Monitored Synergistic Effect of Radio-Frequency Hyperthermia and Oncolytic Immunotherapy. Front Oncol 2022; 11:821838. [PMID: 35141157 PMCID: PMC8818682 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.821838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To develop a new interventional oncology technique using indocyanine green (ICG)-based interventional optical imaging (OI) to monitor the synergistic effect of radiofrequency hyperthermia (RFH)-enhanced oncolytic immunotherapy. Materials and Methods This study included (1) optimization of ICG dose and detection time-window for intracellular uptake by VX2 tumor cells; (2) in-vitro confirmation of capability of using ICG-based OI to assess efficacy of RFH-enhanced oncolytic therapy (LTX-401) for VX2 cells; and (3) in-vivo validation of the interventional OI-monitored, intratumoral RFH-enhanced oncolytic immunotherapy using rabbit models with orthotopic liver VX2 tumors. Both in-vitro and in-vivo experiments were divided into four study groups (n=6/group) with different treatments: (1) combination therapy of RFH+LTX-401; (2) RFH alone at 42°C for 30 min; (3) oncolytic therapy with LTX-401; and (4) control with saline. For in-vivo validation, orthotopic hepatic VX2 tumors were treated using a new multi-functional perfusion-thermal radiofrequency ablation electrode, which enabled simultaneous delivery of both LTX-401 and RFH within the tumor and at the tumor margins. Results In in-vitro experiments, taking up of ICG by VX2 cells was linearly increased from 0 μg/mL to 100 μg/mL, while ICG-signal intensity (SI) reached the peak at 24 hours. MTS assay and apoptosis analysis demonstrated the lowest cell viability and highest apoptosis in combination therapy, compared to three monotherapies (P<0.005). In in-vivo experiments, ultrasound imaging detected the smallest relative tumor volume for the combination therapy, compared to other monotherapies (P<0.005). In both in-vitro and in-vivo experiments, ICG-based interventional optical imaging detected a significantly decreased SI in combination therapy (P<0.005), which was confirmed by the “gold standard” optical/X-ray imaging (P<0.05). Pathologic/laboratory examinations further confirmed the significantly decreased cell proliferation with Ki-67 staining, significantly increased apoptotic index with TUNEL assay, and significantly increased quantities of CD8 and CD80 positive cells with immunostaining in the combination therapy group, compared to other three control groups (P<0.005). Conclusions We present a new interventional oncology technique, interventional optical imaging-monitored RFH-enhanced oncolytic immunotherapy, which may open new avenues to effectively manage those patients with larger, irregular and unresectable malignancies, not only in liver but also the possibility in other organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zheng
- Image-Guided Biomolecular Intervention Research and Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Image-Guided Biomolecular Intervention Research and Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Wayne Monsky
- Image-Guided Biomolecular Intervention Research and Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Hongxiu Ji
- Image-Guided Biomolecular Intervention Research and Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Pathology, Overlake Medical Center and Incyte Diagnostics, Bellevue, WA, United States
| | - Weizhu Yang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xiaoming Yang
- Image-Guided Biomolecular Intervention Research and Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
- *Correspondence: Xiaoming Yang,
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