{"title":"Redefining hepatocellular carcinoma treatment: nanotechnology meets tumor immune microenvironment.","authors":"Chuanliang Mi, Sai Liu, Zhida Chen","doi":"10.1080/1061186X.2025.2479757","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide, characterised by its complex pathogenesis and poor therapeutic outcomes. Despite recent advances in targeted molecular therapies, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), radiotherapy and conventional chemotherapy, the 5-year survival rate for this neoplasm remains dismally low. The progress in nanotechnology has revolutionised cancer treatment in recent years. These advances provide unprecedented opportunities to overcome the current limitations of different therapeutic modalities. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of how nanotechnology interfaces with the tumour immune microenvironment (TIME) in HCC and can present a new frontier in therapeutic interventions for HCC. We critically overview the latest developments in nanoparticle-based delivery systems for various drugs and also other antitumor agents like thermal therapy and radiotherapy. We also highlight the unique ability of nanoparticles to modulate the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment (TME) and enhance therapeutic efficacy. Furthermore, we analyse emerging strategies that exploit nanoformulations to overcome biological barriers and enhance drug bioavailability in HCC treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":15573,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Drug Targeting","volume":" ","pages":"1-20"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Drug Targeting","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/1061186X.2025.2479757","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"PHARMACOLOGY & PHARMACY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide, characterised by its complex pathogenesis and poor therapeutic outcomes. Despite recent advances in targeted molecular therapies, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), radiotherapy and conventional chemotherapy, the 5-year survival rate for this neoplasm remains dismally low. The progress in nanotechnology has revolutionised cancer treatment in recent years. These advances provide unprecedented opportunities to overcome the current limitations of different therapeutic modalities. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of how nanotechnology interfaces with the tumour immune microenvironment (TIME) in HCC and can present a new frontier in therapeutic interventions for HCC. We critically overview the latest developments in nanoparticle-based delivery systems for various drugs and also other antitumor agents like thermal therapy and radiotherapy. We also highlight the unique ability of nanoparticles to modulate the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment (TME) and enhance therapeutic efficacy. Furthermore, we analyse emerging strategies that exploit nanoformulations to overcome biological barriers and enhance drug bioavailability in HCC treatment.
期刊介绍:
Journal of Drug Targeting publishes papers and reviews on all aspects of drug delivery and targeting for molecular and macromolecular drugs including the design and characterization of carrier systems (whether colloidal, protein or polymeric) for both vitro and/or in vivo applications of these drugs.
Papers are not restricted to drugs delivered by way of a carrier, but also include studies on molecular and macromolecular drugs that are designed to target specific cellular or extra-cellular molecules. As such the journal publishes results on the activity, delivery and targeting of therapeutic peptides/proteins and nucleic acids including genes/plasmid DNA, gene silencing nucleic acids (e.g. small interfering (si)RNA, antisense oligonucleotides, ribozymes, DNAzymes), as well as aptamers, mononucleotides and monoclonal antibodies and their conjugates. The diagnostic application of targeting technologies as well as targeted delivery of diagnostic and imaging agents also fall within the scope of the journal. In addition, papers are sought on self-regulating systems, systems responsive to their environment and to external stimuli and those that can produce programmed, pulsed and otherwise complex delivery patterns.