Research advances in nanomedicine applied to the systemic treatment of colorectal cancer

Abstract

The systematic treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) still has room for improvement.The efficacy of chemotherapy, that of anti-vascular therapy, and that of immunotherapy have been unsatisfactory. In recent years, nanomaterials have been used as carriers to improve the bioavailability of anticancer drugs. For the treatment of colorectal cancer, nanodrugs increase the possibility of more precise targeted delivery. However, the actual benefits may cover more aspects. Nanocarriers can produce synergistic effects with anticancer drugs, including the scavenging of reactive oxygen species and co-delivery of a variety of drugs. Currently, immunotherapy has very limited clinical applications in CRC. Modified nanocarriers can activate the immune microenvironment, which can be used for staging antigen recognition or the immune response. Cancer vaccines based on nanomaterials and modified immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown therapeutic potential in animal models. Considering the direct or indirect relationship between the intestinal microflora and CRC, a variety of nanodrugs that regulate microbial function have been explored as an anticancer strategy, and the special structure of microorganisms can also be used as a basis for improving the delivery of traditional nanoparticles (NPs). This review summarizes recent research performed on nanocarriers in in vivo and in vitro models and the synergistic anticancer effects of nanocarriers, focusing on the interaction between NPs and the body, resulting in enhanced efficacy and immune activation. Furthermore, this review describes the current trend of NPs used in the treatment of CRC.

Focused Ultrasound as Targeted Therapy for Colorectal Cancer: A Comprehensive Review

“…The innate immune response is activated when synergistic mechanical and thermal FUS effects with immunotherapy, anti-PD-1 antibodies, and CpG are employed [9]. HIFU treatment triggered the maturation of DCs, the concentration of tumor-specific IFNsecreting cells, and augmented effects of cytotoxic T lymphocytes as proposed by initial experimentation [11]. Recent investigations talk about the biological and immunological impacts of mechanical FUS, specifically relating to tumors.…”

“…As a result, fine-tuning ultrasound exposure parameters is essential to achieve the desired immune response [6]. Research has documented inflammatory responses linked to the NF-κB pathway and macrophage infiltration in the murine colon following LIFU treatment, particularly in scenarios necessitating colorectal cancer opening without notable immune reactions [11]. In colorectal cancer, the implementation of pulsed LIFU treatment through an ultrasound-guided FUS exposure system elicited prolonged elevations in tumor cytotoxic T lymphocytes and the regulatory T lymphocytes ratio relative to control groups [56].…”

“…Focused ultrasound (FUS) is an ultrasound with a curved transducer that focuses the ultrasound beam on the target tissue. There are two types of FUS: high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) [11]. HIFU works through a concave transducer that has a fixed focal length and aperture.…”

Recent Progress in Phage‐Based Nanoplatforms for Tumor Therapy

“…[200] At the same time, some studies have shown that the combined treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors can get a better curative effect while targeting the target bacteria. [201] Fn can increase the level of immunosuppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cells and inhibit the anticancer immune response in the host. Dong et al used the M13 phage display library to screen phage strains in vitro and obtained phage strains that could specifically bind Fn.…”