LPAR4-targeted dual-loaded liposome for synergistic lung cancer therapy

Lung cancer continues to be the primary contributor to global cancer deaths, with metastasis posing a major challenge to effective treatment. Although chemotherapy is a primary first-line intervention, its efficacy in preventing tumor dissemination is limited. This study explores a targeted therapeutic strategy by co-delivering doxorubicin (DOX), a potent chemotherapeutic, and ATN161, an integrin α5β1 antagonist, using a liposomal nanocarrier system. Integrin α5β1 is crucial in the advancement and invasion of tumors, leading its suppression a potential strategy for therapeutic approaches. Since lysophosphatidic acid receptor 4 (LPAR4) expression is minimal in normal cells, but transiently increases in tumor-initiating cells (TICs) under stress conditions, we designed LPAR4-targeted liposomes by conjugating anti-LPAR4 antibodies to their surface, enabling both active targeting of lung cancer cells and inhibition of LPAR4-induced tumor metastasis. This targeted delivery system enhances drug accumulation at tumor sites, potentiating cytotoxicity while reducing systemic toxicity. Additionally, ATN161 disrupts fibronectin-integrin interactions, thereby impairing tumor cell adhesion and metastatic progression. Collectively, our study demonstrates that LPAR4-targeted, DOX and ATN161 dual-loaded liposomes offer a promising therapeutic approach for suppressing lung cancer growth and metastasis, with potential clinical implications for improving treatment outcomes.