Overcoming Cisplatin Resistance in Laryngeal Cancer through Gene Therapy

Strategic Insights -

Researchers from the First Hospital of China Medical University in Shenyang, People's Republic of China, have made significant progress in understanding and addressing the challenge of cisplatin resistance in laryngeal cancer treatment. By identifying the role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced protein 2 (TNFAIP2) in chemoresistance, the team developed a novel second near-infrared (NIR-II) light-responsive CRISPR-Cas9 nanosystem (APC@RBCs) to target it. This groundbreaking approach has shown promising results in overcoming cisplatin resistance and improving treatment outcomes for laryngeal cancer patients.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study identifies TNFAIP2 as a key gene associated with cisplatin resistance in laryngeal cancer, modulating chemoresistance via the NRF2 pathway and affecting oxidative stress response and epithelial-mesenchymal transition.
  • The researchers developed a NIR-II light-responsive CRISPR-Cas9 nanosystem (APC@RBCs) to target TNFAIP2, which successfully increased cisplatin sensitivity in cisplatin-resistant Tu177/CDDP cells.
  • The rate of cisplatin sensitivity increased from 12.55 to 4.37 g/mL, and the study demonstrated the potential of APC@RBCs as a precise, non-invasive gene therapy platform for laryngeal cancer treatment.
  • The findings establish TNFAIP2 as a critical mediator of chemoresistance and offer a promising approach to overcoming cisplatin resistance in laryngeal cancer patients.

Statistics:

  • The IC50 of cisplatin sensitivity reduced from 12.55 to 4.37 g/mL after light-activated knockout of TNFAIP2.
  • The study demonstrates a significant increase in cisplatin sensitivity in cisplatin-resistant Tu177/CDDP cells.
  • The research establishes TNFAIP2 as a key gene associated with cisplatin resistance in laryngeal cancer.

Sources:

  • npj Precision Oncology (2025; 9(1): 263)
  • First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
  • Nature Portfolio (Heidelberger Platz 3, Berlin, 14197, Germany)
  • Jiashuo Wang et al. (Dept. of Otorhinolaryngology, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China)
  • Xiaoli Li, Jiaxing Guo, and Ming Zhang (co-authors)
  • NewsRx (Report Summarizes Cancer Gene Therapy Study Findings from First Hospital of China Medical University (Targeting TNFAIP2 with NIR-II CRISPR-Cas9 nanosystem to overcome cisplatin resistance in laryngeal cancer))