1. Ivermectin Enhanced Antitumor Activity of Resiquimod in a Co-Loaded Squalene Emulsion.
- Author
-
Zhang, Zhongkun, Kuo, Jimmy Chun-Tien, Zhang, Chi, Huang, Yirui, and Lee, Robert J.
- Subjects
- *
ANTINEOPLASTIC agents , *IVERMECTIN , *SQUALENE , *TUMOR growth , *EMULSIONS - Abstract
Immunogenic cell death (ICD) plays an important role in sensitizing tumor cells to antigen-presenting cells followed by antitumor immunity. However, a successful antitumor response by ICD requires both apoptotic tumor microenvironments and activated immune systems. Ivermectin (IVM) has been shown to induce cell apoptosis through autophagy which can be a great candidate for ICD therapy. However, a single treatment of IVM-free drug is not an ideal anticancer therapy due to its anti-inflammatory effects and cytotoxicity. In the present study, IVM was shown to enhance the ICD process in addition to the treatment of resiquimod (R848), a TLR7/8 agonist, when co-loaded in a squalene-based nanoemulsion (NE). R848-IVM co-loaded NE was developed and characterized in vitro. Antitumor activity of R848-IVM NE was also evaluated in vitro and in vivo. R848-IVM NE exhibited long-term stability and reduced cytotoxicity by IVM. In vivo studies demonstrated that IVM significantly augments the ICD by upregulating Cd8a and releasing HMGB1 in tumor tissue, which could enhance R848-driven antitumor immunity. R848-IVM NE treatment showed strong antitumor activity with over 80% tumor growth inhibition, suggesting a potential combination therapy of systemic co-delivering IVM with TLR agonists against solid cancer. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF