Potential Applications of Nanoparticles in Improving the Outcome of Lung Cancer Treatment

Ultrahypofractionated Versus Normofractionated Preoperative Radiotherapy for Soft Tissue Sarcoma: A Multicenter, Prospective Real-World-Time Phase 2 Clinical Trial

Background/Objectives: The historically most commonly used preoperative radiotherapy regimen for soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) consists of 50 Gray (Gy) delivered in 25 fractions over 5 weeks, achieving excellent local control, but with significant challenges due to prolonged treatment duration and early side effects. Reducing therapy duration while maintaining optimal local and distant control would be highly beneficial for patients. We aimed to investigate the outcome of an ultrahypofractionated radiotherapy (uhRT) regimen which may represent a shorter and more patient-friendly alternative. Methods: This multi-center, open-label, phase 2 clinical trial with a clustered cohort design was conducted within the Swiss Sarcoma Network (SSN). Adult patients (aged ≥ 18 years) with STS of the extremities or superficial trunk and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-3 were included. Participants were assigned to either normofractionated radiotherapy (nRT) at 50 Gy in 25 fractions or uhRT at 25 Gy in 5 fractions. Data were collected prospectively in real-world-time clinical settings. The primary outcome was local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), with overall survival (OS) and wound complications as secondary outcomes. Results: Between March 2020 and October 2023, 138 patients were included in the study; 74 received nRT and 64 received uhRT. The median follow-up times were 2.2 years for uhRT and 3.6 years for nRT. The LRFS rates at 1 year were 97.0% for nRT and 94.8% for uhRT (p = 0.57). The two-year LRFS rates were 91.9% and 94.8%, respectively (p = 0.57). The one- and two-year OS rates were 97.1%/86.3% and 98.2%/88.8%, respectively (p = 0.72). The wound complication rate was comparable between the nRT (12.0%) and uhRT (12.5%) groups (p = 0.99). Conclusions: UhRT for STSs offers an effective and safe alternative to traditional nRT, with comparable early LRFS, OS and wound complication rates. Given the two-year median follow-up, which is critical for evaluating local recurrence, uhRT shows promise as a shorter and more convenient treatment regimen. UhRT may be a safe and effective alternative treatment option to traditional nRT.

A Novel Lysosome-Related Gene Signature Predicts Lung Cancer Prognosis: A Bioinformatics-Driven Study

Background and Aims

The biological function of lysosomes has been increasingly appreciated in cancer. However, the relationship between lysosome and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) was not well understood. In this study, a lysosome-related signature was developed for LUAD risk stratification and prognosis prediction.

Methods

Download RNA-seq data of LUAD and clinical information of corresponding samples from the UCSC-Xena platform. GSE31210 databases is used as a validation cohort. The lysosome-related genes was obtained from molecular signature database. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) as well as lysosome-associated prognosis signatures were identified by using univariate, multivariate cox, and Lasso regression. A nomogram was constructed and evaluated using ROC and DCA.

Results

A total of 109 lysosome-related DEGs were identified and 30 prognostic related DEGs were subsequently screened. Cluster analysis further divides the TCGA cohort into clusters 1 and 2. Patients in cluster 2 had a worse prognosis (p = 0.016), lower LYSOSOME score. Enrichment analysis showed that 21 significantly enriched gene sets in the cluster 2 were activated. And 10 pathways, such as E2F_TARGETS, G2M_CHECKPOINT were upregulated. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified 17 best prognostic genes as risk signature. An independent prognostic factor, the risk signature, was identified. A prognostic nomogram including risk signature, age, TNM stage, and gender was constructed, and ROC and DCA curves proved its excellent performance. We examined CTSZ and AP3S2 protein expression in 48 stage 3-4 NSCLC samples. Low AP3S2 expression was associated with better prognosis (median overall survival: 37.87 vs. 8.53 months, p = 0.0211). Increased CTSZ expression also indicated better prognosis (median overall survival: 6.77 vs. 30.50 months, p = 0.0306).

Conclusion

We identified molecular subtypes and lysosomal-based prognostic signatures for LUAD patients, as well as 17 genes that serve as a biomarker for evaluating the prognosis of LUAD patients.

Bioengineered Abiotic Nanomaterials Through Cell Membrane-Camouflaging: Advancements and Challenges in Lung Cancer

Lung cancer remains a major global health concern with high mortality rates and poor prognosis. Bridging the gap between the chemical and cellular understanding of cell-decorated biomimetic nanocomposites and their clinical translation is crucial for developing effective therapies. Nanocomposites show promise in targeted drug delivery and diagnostics, but their clinical application is hindered by biocompatibility and clearance issues. To overcome these challenges, biomimetic approaches utilizing cell membrane-coated nanomaterials emerge. By camouflaging nanomaterials with cell membranes, the biointerfaces are enhanced, and the inherent properties of the donor cell membranes are acquired. This review provides an overview of recent advancements on cell membrane-coated nanocomposites for lung cancer diagnosis and treatment. It discusses fabrication techniques, biomedical applications, challenges, and future prospects. The incorporation of cell membranes into nanocomposites holds potential for improved lung cancer therapy, but further development and refinement are needed for precise tumor targeting. Addressing the identified challenges will pave the way for clinical translation of these biomimetic nanoplatforms and advance lung cancer diagnosis and treatment.

A Platelet-Powered Drug Delivery System for Enhancing Chemotherapy Efficacy for Liver Cancer Using the Trojan Horse Strategy

Optimizing the delivery and penetration of nano-sized drugs within liver cancer sites, along with remodeling the tumor microenvironment, is crucial for enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents. For this study, a platelet (PLT)-mediated nanodrug delivery system (DASA+ATO@PLT) was developed to improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy. This system delivers nano-sized dasatinib and atovaquone specifically to liver tumor sites and facilitates intra-tumoral permeation upon release. Through JC-1, immunohistochemistry, and DNA damage analyses, the therapeutic effect of DASA+ATO@PLT was assessed. In vitro simulation and intravital imaging were carried out to determine the accumulation of dasatinib and atovaquone in liver tumor sites. The experiment demonstrated the accumulation of dasatinib and atovaquone in tumor sites, followed by deep permeation in the tumor microenvironment with the assistance of PLTs, while simultaneously revealing the ability of DASA+ATO@PLT to remodel the liver cancer microenvironment (overcoming hypoxia) and enhance chemotherapeutic efficacy. This system utilizes the natural tumor recognition ability of PLTs and enhances the chemo-immunotherapeutic effect through targeted delivery of nano-chemotherapeutic drugs to the tumor, resulting in effective accumulation and infiltration. The PLT-mediated nanodrug delivery system serves as a "Trojan horse" to carry therapeutic drugs as cargo and deliver them to target cells, leading to favorable outcomes.

Unveiling the Role of Nano-Formulated Red Algae Extract in Cancer Management

Cancer is one of the major causes of death, and its negative impact continues to rise globally. Chemotherapy, which is the most common therapy, has several limitations due to its tremendous side effects. Therefore, developing an alternate therapeutic agent with high biocompatibility is indeed needed. The anti-oxidative effects and bioactivities of several different crude extracts of marine algae have been evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we synthesized the aqueous extract (HA) from the marine algae Amphiroa anceps, and then, a liposome was formulated for that extract (NHA). The extracts were characterized using different photophysical tools like dynamic light scattering, UV-visible spectroscopy, FTIR, scanning electron microscopy, and GC-MS analysis. The SEM image revealed a size range of 112-185 nm for NHA and the GC-MS results showed the presence of octadecanoic acid and n-Hexadecanoic acid in the majority. The anticancer activity was studied using A549 cells, and the NHA inhibited the cancer cells dose-dependently, with the highest killing of 92% at 100 μg/mL. The in vivo studies in the zebrafish model showed that neither the HA nor NHA of Amphiroa anceps showed any teratogenic effect. The outcome of our study showed that NHA can be a potential drug candidate for inhibiting cancer with good biocompatibility up to a dose of 100 μg/mL.

Advances of Layered Double Hydroxide-Based Materials for Tumor Imaging and Therapy

Layered double hydroxides (LDH) are a class of functional anionic clays that typically consist of orthorhombic arrays of metal hydroxides with anions sandwiched between the layers. Due to their unique properties, including high chemical stability, good biocompatibility, controlled drug loading, and enhanced drug bioavailability, LDHs have many potential applications in the medical field. Especially in the fields of bioimaging and tumor therapy. This paper reviews the research progress of LDHs and their nanocomposites in the field of tumor imaging and therapy. First, the structure and advantages of LDH are discussed. Then, several commonly used methods for the preparation of LDH are presented, including co-precipitation, hydrothermal and ion exchange methods. Subsequently, recent advances in layered hydroxides and their nanocomposites for cancer imaging and therapy are highlighted. Finally, based on current research, we summaries the prospects and challenges of layered hydroxides and nanocomposites for cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Advantages of nanomedicine over the conventional treatment in Acute myeloid leukemia

Leukemia is a cancer of blood cells that mainly affects the white blood cells. In acute myeloid leukemia (AML) sudden growth of cancerous cells occurs in blood and bone marrow, and it disrupts normal blood cell production. Most patients are asymptomatic, but it spreads rapidly and can become fatal if left untreated. AML is the prevalent form of leukemia in children. Risk factors of AML include chemical exposure, radiation, genetics, etc. Conventional diagnostic methods of AML are complete blood count tests and bone marrow aspiration, while conventional treatment methods involve chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and bone marrow transplant. There is a risk of cancer cells spreading progressively to the other organs if left untreated, and hence, early diagnosis is required. The conventional diagnostic methods are time- consuming and have drawbacks like harmful side effects and recurrence of the disease. To overcome these difficulties, nanoparticles are employed in treating and diagnosing AML. These nanoparticles can be surface- modified and can be used against cancer cells. Due to their enhanced permeability effect and high surface-to-volume ratio they will be able to reach the tumour site which cannot be reached by traditional drugs. This review article talks about how nanotechnology is more advantageous over the traditional methods in the treatment and diagnosis of AML.

Beneficial effects of bioinspired silver nanoparticles on zebrafish embryos including a gene expression study

Background and purpose

Many sectors use nanoparticles and dispose of them in the aquatic environment without deciding the fate of these particles.

Experimental approach

To identify a benign species of nanoparticles which can cause minimum harm to the aquatic environment, a comparative study was done with chemically synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and green tea mediated synthesis (GT/AgNP) in both in vitro using human alveolar cancer cell line (A549) and normal cell line (L132), and in in vivo with zebrafish embryos.

Key results

The in vitro studies revealed that GT/AgNPs were less toxic to normal cells than cancer cells. The GT/AgNPs showed high biocompatibility for zebrafish embryos monitored microscopically for their developmental stages and by cumulative hatchability studies. The reduced hatchability found in the AgNPs-treated group was correlated by differential gene expression of zebrafish hatching enzymes (ZHE) (ZHE1 and ZHE2).

Conclusion

The results indicated that nanoparticles can affect the hatching of zebrafish embryos and elicit toxicity at the gene level.

The role of nanoparticles and nanomaterials in cancer diagnosis and treatment: a comprehensive review

Cancer's pathological processes are complex and present several challenges for current chemotherapy methods. These challenges include cytotoxicity, multidrug resistance, the proliferation of cancer stem cells, and a lack of specificity. To address these issues, researchers have turned to nanomaterials, which possess distinct optical, magnetic, and electrical properties due to their size range of 1-100 nm. Nanomaterials have been engineered to improve cancer treatment by mitigating cytotoxicity, enhancing specificity, increasing drug payload capacity, and improving drug bioavailability. Despite a growing corpus of research on this subject, there has been limited progress in permitting nanodrugs for medical use. The advent of nanotechnology, particularly advances in intelligent nanomaterials, has transformed the field of cancer diagnosis and therapy. Nanoparticles' large surface area allows them to successfully encapsulate a large number of molecules. Nanoparticles can be functionalized with various bio-based substrates like RNA, DNA, aptamers, and antibodies, enhancing their theranostic capabilities. Biologically derived nanomaterials offer economical, easily producible, and less toxic alternatives to conventionally manufactured ones. This review offers a comprehensive overview of cancer theranostics methodologies, focusing on intelligent nanomaterials such as metal, polymeric, and carbon-based nanoparticles. I have also critically discussed their benefits and challenges in cancer therapy and diagnostics. Utilizing intelligent nanomaterials holds promise for advancing cancer theranostics, and improving tumor detection and treatment. Further research should optimize nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery and explore enhanced permeability, cytotoxicity, and retention effects.

A Review on the Use of Gold Nanoparticles in Cancer Treatment

According to a 2020 WHO study, cancer is responsible for one in every six fatalities. One in four patients die due to side effects and intolerance to chemotherapy, making it a leading cause of patient death. Compared to traditional tumor therapy, emerging treatment methods, including immunotherapy, gene therapy, photothermal therapy, and photodynamic therapy, have proven to be more effective. The aim of this review is to highlight the role of gold nanoparticles in advanced cancer treatment. A systematic and extensive literature review was conducted using the Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, NCBI, and various websites. Highly relevant literature from 141 references was chosen for inclusion in this review. Recently, the synergistic benefits of nano therapy and cancer immunotherapy have been shown, which could allow earlier diagnosis, more focused cancer treatment, and improved disease control. Compared to other nanoparticles, the physical and optical characteristics of gold nanoparticles appear to have significantly greater effects on the target. It has a crucial role in acting as a drug carrier, biomarker, anti-angiogenesis agent, diagnostic agent, radiosensitizer, cancer immunotherapy, photodynamic therapy, and photothermal therapy. Gold nanoparticle-based cancer treatments can greatly reduce current drug and chemotherapy dosages.

Role of Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles and Doxorubicin in Improving Cancer Management: A Mini Review

Cancer is one of the significant issues with public health and the second leading cause of death worldwide. The three most lethal cancers in the general population are stomach, lung, and liver cancers, in which lung and breast cancers cause the majority of cancer-associated deaths among men and women, respectively. CeO2 nanoparticles have a cytoprotectant effect in normal cells and a cytotoxic effect in cancer cells that enables them to induce the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production within cancer cells, which in turn develops reactive nitrogen species (RNS) that interfere with intracellular activities, and this property makes them an excellent anticancer agent. Because of its biofilm suppression, free radical scavenging ability, redox activity, and other unique properties, attention has been bestowed on cerium oxide nanoparticles as a potential alternative to solve many biomedical issues in the future. This review mainly focuses on the combinatorial effect of cerium dioxide nanoparticles and Doxorubicin in cancer management.