Sign in Subscribe
Cancer research

Breakthrough in Cancer Gene Therapy: Researchers Develop Enhanced Prostate Cancer Treatment

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Researchers at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) have made a significant discovery in the field of cancer gene therapy. According to a new report published in Biomaterials Advances, a novel nano-carrier system has been developed that combines darolutamide and hesperetin to effectively manage prostate cancer. The research, led by Ekta Pardhi, has shown promising results in in vitro and in vivo studies, demonstrating a 2.83-fold increase in cytotoxicity and a 1.7- and 3.4-fold increase in the plasma half-life of darolutamide and hesperetin, respectively.

Key Takeaways:

  • A novel nano-carrier system, DHLP (darolutamide and hesperetin co-loaded PEGylated liposomal formulation), has been developed for the treatment of non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC).
  • The DHLP formulation exhibited colloidal stability, with a mean particle size of 106.5 ± 3.2 nm and a polydispersity index of 0.128 ± 0.023.
  • In vitro drug release experiments showed a sustained release profile from the DHLP, with high encapsulation efficiencies for both darolutamide (90.1 ± 3.3 %) and hesperetin (91.3 ± 2.7 %).
  • Cytotoxicity assessment in PC3 prostate cancer cells revealed a 2.83-fold increase in cytotoxicity compared to free darolutamide solution and a 3.89-fold increase compared to free hesperetin solution.
  • In-vivo pharmacokinetic studies in BALB/c mice demonstrated a 1.7- and 3.4-fold increase in the plasma half-life of darolutamide and hesperetin, respectively, compared to their free drug solutions.
  • Acute toxicity assessment at three dose levels showed no histopathological alterations, indicating a favorable safety profile.
  • The combination index value of 0.89 confirmed synergistic anticancer activity.
  • The research concluded that DHLP is a potential nanocarrier system for the effective management of prostate cancer.

Statistics:

  • 2.83-fold increase in cytotoxicity compared to free darolutamide solution
  • 3.89-fold increase in cytotoxicity compared to free hesperetin solution
  • 1.7-fold increase in the plasma half-life of darolutamide
  • 3.4-fold increase in the plasma half-life of hesperetin
  • 0.128 ± 0.023 polydispersity index
  • 106.5 ± 3.2 nm mean particle size
  • 90.1 ± 3.3 % encapsulation efficiency for darolutamide
  • 91.3 ± 2.7 % encapsulation efficiency for hesperetin
  • 0.89 combination index value

Sources:

  • Pardhi E, Patil R, Khemchandani R, et al. PEGylated liposomes co-encapsulating darolutamide and hesperetin for enhanced prostate cancer therapy: 2D, 3D PC3 models and in-vivo evaluation. Biomaterials Advances, 2025;180:214542.
  • NewsRx. Researchers at National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Target Cancer Gene Therapy (PEGylated liposomes co-encapsulating darolutamide and hesperetin for enhanced prostate cancer therapy: 2D, 3D PC3 models and in-vivo ...). Cancer Weekly. October 28, 2025; p 62.

Read more