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Ablation (Surgery)

Novel Cancer Gene Therapy Shows Promise in Treating Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Researchers from the Department of Gastroenterology at the Shanghai Institute of Pancreatic Diseases have made a breakthrough in cancer gene therapy. The study, which was supported by the Sanming Project of Medicine in Shenzhen, aimed to develop a targeted nanoco-delivery system to enhance the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The team used ribonucleotide reductase M2 (RRM2) upregulation in post-RFA HCC tissues as a therapeutic target and developed a red blood cell membrane/cRGD-modified pH-sensitive liposome (sS@RBCM/cRGD-phLips) to increase RFA efficacy. The results showed that the combination of RFA and RRM2-targeted nanoparticles significantly suppressed tumor growth and prolonged survival in HCC-bearing mice with minimal systemic toxicity.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study investigated RRM2 upregulation in post-RFA HCC tissues and developed a targeted nanoco-delivery system to increase RFA efficacy.
  • The RRM2-targeted nanocarrier enhanced the efficacy of RFA in treating HCC through ferroptosis amplification and immune remodeling.
  • The combination of RFA and RRM2-targeted nanoparticles significantly suppressed tumor growth and prolonged survival in HCC-bearing mice.
  • The dual-loaded nanoparticles also enhanced the efficacy of anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) therapy.
  • The study presents a novel therapeutic strategy that integrates RRM2-targeted gene editing with RFA, offering a robust and synergistic approach for improving HCC outcomes.
  • Weifeng Hong, Songhua Cai, Dandan Guo, Zhiping Yan, Jinyu Zhu, Yang Shen, Juncheng Wan, Xudong Qu, Wen Zhang, Runkang Zhao, Zhao Xie, Zhongji Chen, Tong Jiang, Yaling Lin, Wenlong Jia, Ling Wang, Zhao Huang, Xuexin Li, and Bufu Tang contributed to the research.
  • The study was supported by the Sanming Project of Medicine in Shenzhen.

Statistics:

  • The study showed that the combination of RFA and RRM2-targeted nanoparticles significantly suppressed tumor growth in HCC-bearing mice.
  • The dual-loaded nanoparticles also enhanced the efficacy of PD-1 therapy.
  • The research identified RRM2 upregulation as a potential therapeutic target for HCC.
  • The RRM2-targeted nanocarrier system enhanced dendritic cell maturation and cytotoxic T cell infiltration, remodeling the tumor immune microenvironment.
  • The study reported that the combination of RFA and RRM2-targeted nanoparticles prolonged survival in HCC-bearing mice.

Sources:

  • RRM2-targeted nanocarrier enhances radiofrequency ablation efficacy in hepatocellular carcinoma through ferroptosis amplification and immune remodeling. iMeta, 2025, 4(5): n/a-n/a. Wiley.
  • NewsRx. Research on Cancer Gene Therapy Described by Researchers at Department of Gastroenterology (RRM2-targeted nanocarrier enhances radiofrequency ablation efficacy in hepatocellular carcinoma through ferroptosis amplification and immune remodeling). Cancer Weekly. November 4, 2025; p 42.

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