A new and more effective way to control cancer metastasis

Lymph node metastases are a sign of deterioration in cancer patients, and prompt treatment is essential
.

The Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering at Tohoku University in Japan has invented a lymphatic drug delivery system (LDDS) that can inject anticancer drugs directly into metastatic lymph nodes
.
In combination with total body irradiation (TBI) in the treatment of early lymph node metastasis, the anti-tumor effect of the new LDDS is better than conventional chemotherapy
.
TBI provides a uniform dose of radiation throughout the body, penetrating where
traditional chemotherapy cannot penetrate.
In recent years, TBI has been successful
in eliciting an immune response and altering the tumor microenvironment.
LDDS, on the other hand, is mainly used locally for the treatment of metastatic lymph nodes
.

The researchers hope to expand the use of LDDS to prevent distant metastases, which occur when cancer spreads from the primary tumor to distant lymph nodes
.
Graduate student Shota Sora, who is part of the research team led by Professor Tetsuya Kodama, said: "We know that combination therapy that enhances the immune effect of systemic tumors will be an important therapeutic strategy
.
"

Sora and colleagues studied the dual treatment
of LDDS and TBI for lymph nodes and distant metastases in metastatic model mice.
They used irradiated gamma rays (one-time dose of 1.
0 GY) and the anti-cancer drug CDDP with solvent adjustment to a osmotic pressure of 1987 kPa and a viscosity of 11.
3 mPas
.

In vivo bioluminescence imaging systems, high-frequency ultrasound systems, and histology have shown that the new therapies are more effective
than LDDS or TBI alone.
After treatment, the expression of genes associated with the immune response (CD4, CD8, and IL-12b) in the spleen increased, indicating activation of the immune response
.

"This new approach is a promising treatment
for cancer patients as the results show that both TBI and LDDS improve the efficacy of LB metastases and distant metastases therapy.
"

References: Combination therapy of lymphatic drug delivery and total body irradiation in a metastatic lymph node and lung mouse model