Nanovectors for anti-cancer drug delivery in the treatment of advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma

An Overview of the Importance of Transition-Metal Nanoparticles in Cancer Research

Several authorities have implied that nanotechnology has a significant future in the development of advanced cancer therapies. Nanotechnology makes it possible to simultaneously administer drug combinations and engage the immune system to fight cancer. Nanoparticles can locate metastases in different organs and deliver medications to them. Using them allows for the effective reduction of tumors with minimal toxicity to healthy tissue. Transition-metal nanoparticles, through Fenton-type or Haber-Weiss-type reactions, generate reactive oxygen species. Through oxidative stress, the particles induce cell death via different pathways. The main limitation of the particles is their toxicity. Certain factors can control toxicity, such as route of administration, size, aggregation state, surface functionalization, or oxidation state. In this review, we attempt to discuss the effects and toxicity of transition-metal nanoparticles.

Nanomedicine in Pancreatic Cancer: Current Status and Future Opportunities for Overcoming Therapy Resistance

Simple Summary

Despite access to a vast arsenal of anticancer agents, many fail to realise their full therapeutic potential in clinical practice. One key determinant of this is the evolution of multifaceted resistance mechanisms within the tumour that may either pre-exist or develop during the course of therapy. This is particularly evident in pancreatic cancer, where limited responses to treatment underlie dismal survival rates, highlighting the urgent need for new therapeutic approaches. Here, we discuss the major features of pancreatic tumours that contribute to therapy resistance, and how they may be alleviated through exploitation of the mounting and exciting promise of nanomedicines; a unique collection of nanoscale platforms with tunable and multifunctional capabilities that have already elicited a widespread impact on cancer management.

Abstract

The development of drug resistance remains one of the greatest clinical oncology challenges that can radically dampen the prospect of achieving complete and durable tumour control. Efforts to mitigate drug resistance are therefore of utmost importance, and nanotechnology is rapidly emerging for its potential to overcome such issues. Studies have showcased the ability of nanomedicines to bypass drug efflux pumps, counteract immune suppression, serve as radioenhancers, correct metabolic disturbances and elicit numerous other effects that collectively alleviate various mechanisms of tumour resistance. Much of this progress can be attributed to the remarkable benefits that nanoparticles offer as drug delivery vehicles, such as improvements in pharmacokinetics, protection against degradation and spatiotemporally controlled release kinetics. These attributes provide scope for precision targeting of drugs to tumours that can enhance sensitivity to treatment and have formed the basis for the successful clinical translation of multiple nanoformulations to date. In this review, we focus on the longstanding reputation of pancreatic cancer as one of the most difficult-to-treat malignancies where resistance plays a dominant role in therapy failure. We outline the mechanisms that contribute to the treatment-refractory nature of these tumours, and how they may be effectively addressed by harnessing the unique capabilities of nanomedicines. Moreover, we include a brief perspective on the likely future direction of nanotechnology in pancreatic cancer, discussing how efforts to develop multidrug formulations will guide the field further towards a therapeutic solution for these highly intractable tumours.

Reviewing two decades of nanomedicine implementations in targeted treatment and diagnosis of pancreatic cancer: An emphasis on state of art

Pancreatic cancer is nowadays the most life-threatening cancer type worldwide. The problem of poor diagnosis, anti-neoplastics resistance and biopharmaceutical drawbacks of effective anti-cancer drugs lead to worsen disease state. Nanotechnology-based carrier systems used in both imaging and treatment procedures had solved many of these problems. It is critical to develop advanced detection method to save patients from being too late diagnosed. Targeting the pancreatic cancer cells as well helped in decreasing the side effects associated with normal cells destruction. Drug resistance is another challenge in pancreatic cancer management that can be solved by thorough understanding of the microenvironment associated with the disease to design creative nanocarriers. This is the first article to review multifaceted approaches of nanomedicine in pancreatic cancer detection and management. Additionally, mortality rates in selected Arab and European countries were illustrated herein. An emphasis was given on therapeutic and diagnostic challenges and different nanotechnologies adopted to overcome. The four main approaches encompassed nanomedicine for herbal treatment, nanomedicine of synthetic anti-cancer drugs, metal nanoparticles as a distinct treatment policy and nanotechnology for cancer diagnosis. Future research perspectives have been finally proposed.

Novel platinum agents and mesenchymal stromal cells for thoracic malignancies: state of the art and future perspectives

INTRODUCTION

Non-small cell lung cancer and malignant pleural mesothelioma represent two of the most intriguing and scrutinized thoracic malignancies, presenting interesting perspectives of experimental development and clinical applications.

AREAS COVERED

In advanced non-small cell lung cancer, molecular targeted therapy is the standard first-line treatment for patients with identified driver mutations; on the other hand, chemotherapy is the standard treatment for patients without EGFR mutations or ALK rearrangement or those with unknown mutation status. Once considered an ineffective therapy in pulmonary neoplasms, immunotherapy has been now established as one of the most promising therapeutic options. Mesenchymal stromal cells are able to migrate specifically toward solid neoplasms and their metastatic localizations when injected intravenously. This peculiar cancer tropism has opened up an emerging field to use them as vectors to deliver antineoplastic drugs for targeted therapies.

EXPERT OPINION

Molecular targeted therapy and immunotherapy are the new alternatives to standard chemotherapy. Mesenchymal stromal cells are a new promising tool in oncology and-although not yet utilized in the clinical practice, we think they will represent another main tool for cancer therapy and will probably play a leading role in the field of nanovectors and molecular medicine.

Cationic liposomes induce cytotoxicity in HepG2 via regulation of lipid metabolism based on whole-transcriptome sequencing analysis

Backgroud

Cationic liposomes (CLs) can be used as non-viral vectors in gene transfer and drug delivery. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of its cytotoxicity has not been well elucidated yet.

Methods

We herein report a systems biology approach based on whole-transcriptome sequencing coupled with computational method to identify the predominant genes and pathways involved in the cytotoxicity of CLs in HepG2 cell line.

Results

Firstly, we validated the concentration-dependent cytotoxicity of CLs with an IC₅₀ of 120 μg/ml in HepG2 exposed for 24 h. Subsequently, we used whole-transcriptome sequencing to identify 220 (77 up- and 143 down-regulated) differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Gene ontology (GO) and pathway analysis showed that these DEGs were mainly related to cholesterol, steroid, lipid biosynthetic and metabolic processes. Additionally, “key regulatory” genes were identified using gene act, pathway act and co-expression network analysis, and expression levels of 11 interested altered genes were confirmed by quantitative real time PCR. Interestingly, no cell cycle arrest was observed through flow cytometry.

Conclusions

These data are expected to provide deep insights into the molecular mechanism of CLs cytotoxicity.

Drug Loaded Gingival Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (GinPa-MSCs) Inhibit In Vitro Proliferation of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been widely investigated both for regenerative medicine and their antinflammatory/immunomodulatory capacity. However, their ability to home pathological tissues suggested the development of strategies for using MSCs as carrier to deliver drug into tumor microenvironment. MSCs obtained from different tissues can be loaded in vitro with anti-cancer drugs by a simple procedures. In this report, we studied MSCs isolated and expanded from gingival papilla (GinPa-MSCs), by testing their ability to uptake and release three important anti-neoplastic drugs: Paclitaxel (PTX), Doxorubicin (DXR) and Gemcitabine (GCB). The efficacy of drugs releasing GinPa-MSCs was studied on a pancreatic cancer cell line and confirmed in vitro against a line of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC154). Our results demonstrated that GinPa-MSCs efficiently incorporate the drugs and then released them in active form and in sufficient amount to produce a dramatic inhibition of squamous cell carcinoma growth in vitro. If compared with other MSCs sources, the collection of GinPa-MSCs is poorly invasive and cells can be easily expanded and efficiently loaded with anti cancer drugs. In particular, gemcitabine loaded GinPa-MSCs provide a good "cell-mediated drug delivery system" for a future potential application in the context of the oral oncology.

Liposomal Irinotecan: A Review in Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Intravenous liposomal irinotecan injection (Onivyde®) is approved for use in combination with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin (5-FU/LV) in patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma that has progressed following gemcitabine-based therapy. Liposomal irinotecan is a liposome-encapsulated formulation of the topoisomerase-1 inhibitor irinotecan, developed to overcome the pharmacological and clinical limitations of non-liposomal irinotecan. In the pivotal multinational, phase III NAPOLI-1 trial in patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma that had progressed following gemcitabine-based therapy, liposomal irinotecan in combination with 5-FU/LV significantly prolonged median overall survival (OS; primary endpoint) and median progression-free survival (PFS) at the time of the primary analysis (after 313 events) and final analysis (after 382 events) compared with 5-FU/LV control therapy. The objective response rate was also significantly higher in the liposomal irinotecan plus 5-FU/LV group than in the control group. Liposomal irinotecan-based combination therapy had a manageable safety profile; the most common treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) of grade ≥3 severity were haematological or gastrointestinal in nature. The incidence of neutropenic sepsis was low. In a setting where there is a paucity of second-line treatment options, liposomal irinotecan in combination with 5-FU/LV is an important emerging treatment option for metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas that has progressed following gemcitabine-based therapy.

Paclitaxel-releasing mesenchymal stromal cells inhibit in vitro proliferation of human mesothelioma cells

INTRODUCTION

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare fatal asbestos-related malignancy originating in the mesothelial cells of the pleura. A platinum-based doublet containing a third-generation antifolate is the front-line standard of care whilst there are no approved second-line treatments for MPM which remains a disease setting to test the efficacy of new therapeutic agents.

METHODS

Bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs) were loaded with pemetrexed (PMX) and paclitaxel (PTX) according to a standardized procedure. Drug release by both PMX- and PTX-primed BM-MSCs (BM-MSCs/PMX and BM-MSCs/PTX) was tested on the in vitro proliferation of a panel of tumor cell lines including NCI-H28 mesothelioma.

RESULTS

The in vitro anticancer activity of pure PTX was significantly higher than that of PMX against all the cell lines tested (14.7 times higher than that of PMX against NCI-H28). Whereas BM-MSCs did not take up and release PMX in amounts effective on mesothelioma, PTX-loaded BM-MSCs dramatically inhibited mesothelioma proliferation.

CONCLUSIONS

PTX-primed mesenchymal stromal cells successfully inhibit the in vitro proliferation of human mesothelioma cells. Further studies and in vivo testing are required to confirm our preliminary in vitro results as a potential new mesothelioma therapy based on cell drug delivery.