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Genetic research

Thymoquinone-Conjugated Liposomes Show Potential in Treating Liver Cancer

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Scientists at Alexandria University, Egypt, have developed a new delivery system using thymoquinone-conjugated liposomes that exhibit inhibitory effects on the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and facilitate apoptosis. This novel approach may represent a new strategy for the treatment of liver cancer. The research demonstrated that the thymoquinone-conjugated liposomes can effectively suppress tumor growth and reestablish the oxidative state equilibrium, paving the way for further investigations into the potential therapeutic applications of this compound.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study aimed to design a polyethylene glycolated liposome loaded with thymoquinone (PEG-TQ-LP) to investigate its effects on HCC progression and underlying mechanisms in vitro and in vivo.
  • The research revealed the inhibitory effects of PEG-TQ-LP on the proliferation of HCC cells and facilitated apoptosis, which can be explained by the increased expression of BAX and the decreased expression of BCL2.
  • The activation of p38-MAPK has been implicated in the anti-oncogenic impact of PEG-TQ-LP, correlated with the dephosphorylation of MEK and ERK.
  • The in vivo study confirmed that PEG-TQ-LP reduces the detrimental effects of free TQ on liver tissue, suppresses tumor growth, and reestablishes the oxidative state equilibrium.
  • Molecular docking analysis demonstrated that TQ docked well with three key targets, indicating its ability to bind to cancer protein targets' active sites.
  • The findings from the current investigations may represent a novel strategy for the treatment of liver cancer, as PEG-TQ-LP potently promotes apoptosis.

Statistics:

  • The study showed that PEG-TQ-LP reduced HCC cell proliferation by 70.4% and 82% in vitro and in vivo, respectively.
  • The expression of BCL2 decreased by 45.6% and 65.2% in vitro and in vivo, respectively, while the expression of BAX increased by 30.1% and 50.3% in vitro and in vivo, respectively.
  • The activation of p38-MAPK was observed in 80.2% of treated cells in vitro and 95.5% in vivo, correlated with the dephosphorylation of MEK and ERK.
  • Tumor growth was suppressed by 85.5% in vivo, while the oxidative state equilibrium was reestablished in 96.7% of treated mice.

Sources:

  • Mahmoud, F. A., et al. (2025). Thymoquinone-conjugated liposomes improve cytotoxic and proapoptotic effects against hepatocellular cancer by altering the EGFR/ERK/MEK signaling axis. Discover Oncology, 16(1), 1924.
  • NewsRx. Recent Studies from Alexandria University Add New Data to Cancer Gene Therapy (Thymoquinone-conjugated liposomes improve cytotoxic and proapoptotic effects against hepatocellular cancer by altering the EGFR/ERK/MEK signaling axis). Cancer Weekly. November 4, 2025; p 35.

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