LncRNA-targeting bio-scaffold mediates triple immune effects for postoperative colorectal cancer immunotherapy

Feng Liu1, Zheng Dai1, Qian Cheng2

  • 1Research Center for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China; Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.

Biomaterials
|April 3, 2022
PubMed

Insights

A novel bio-scaffold targets long noncoding RNA Pvt1 to enhance chemotherapy and triple immune responses, significantly reducing colorectal cancer recurrence and metastasis after surgery.

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Cancer Research
  • Immunotherapy

Background:

  • Colorectal cancer (CRC) recurrence post-surgery leads to poor outcomes.
  • Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play roles in tumorigenesis and immune suppression.
  • Targeting lncRNAs offers a new therapeutic strategy for CRC.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a bio-scaffold with lncRNA-targeting nanosystems for triple immune effects against postoperative CRC recurrence.
  • To investigate the combined efficacy of the nanosystem, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy.

Main Methods:

  • A liposome-decorated cancer cell membrane nanosystem (shPvt1-CM-D) targeting lncRNA Pvt1 was developed.
  • The nanosystem and oxaliplatin (Oxa) were embedded in a hyaluronic acid and alginate bio-scaffold.
  • Triple immune effects were mediated: enhanced oxaliplatin-induced immunogenic cell death (ICD), dual vaccine effects for dendritic cells, and amelioration of immunosuppression by granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (G-MDSCs).

Main Results:

  • The bio-scaffold suppressed local CRC recurrence by 97.8% with a 62.5% survival rate.
  • It generated immune memory, completely suppressing tumor rechallenging and metachronous metastasis (100% survival rate).
  • Synchronous distant metastasis was reduced by 70.8%.

Conclusions:

  • Nanotechnology-facilitated, lncRNA-targeting immunotherapy shows potent efficacy against postoperative CRC recurrence.
  • The developed bio-scaffold offers a promising strategy for comprehensive treatment of colorectal cancer.
  • This approach enhances anti-tumor immunity and reduces metastasis effectively.

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