Lenvatinib delivery using a Gd/Fe bimetallic MOF: Enhancing antitumor immunity following microwave-based thermal therapy

Microwave (MW) thermal therapy has been developed as an effective clinical strategy that can achieve pronounced antitumor activity and also has the potential to trigger antitumor immunity. However, patients generally face high rates of tumor recurrence following MW treatment, limiting the long-term benefits of such treatment. The combination of MW treatment and immunomodulatory strategies may represent a promising means of reprogramming the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) in a manner conducive to lower recurrence rates. In this study, a Lenvatinib-loaded Gd/Fe metal-organic framework (Gd/FeMOF) was designed as a promising approach to enhancing such antitumor immunity. MW-enhanced dynamic Gd/FeMOF sensitization can facilitate high levels of reactive oxygen species production under MW irradiation, resulting in stronger immunogenic tumor cell death. In parallel, the Lenvatinib released from Gd/FeMOF preparations can serve as an immune adjuvant that suppresses programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and drives the reprogramming of the immunosuppressive TME. The Gd and Fe present within this MOF preparation also imbue it with magnetic resonance imaging capabilities. Importantly, in vivo animal model experiments confirmed the ability of GdFeMOF treatment to significantly enhance antitumor immunity while protecting against recurrence. Accordingly, this study offers a foundation for promising strategies aimed at the integrated diagnosis and durable treatment of cancer.

Statement of Significance

High rates of tumor recurrence following MW thermal therapy limit the long-term benefits of such treatment. We found that the administration of Lenvatinib-loaded Gd/FeMOF nanoparticles significantly reduced tumor recurrence after MW thermal therapy. Under MW irradiation, the Gd/FeMOF nanoparticles were found to augment the immune response due to facilitation of the process of immunogenic cell death. In addition, the released Lenvatinib could act as an immune adjuvant to downregulate the expression of PD-L1 and reprogram the immunosuppressive state of the tumor microenvironment, thus further enhancing the immune response. This is significant because MW-induced immune responses are relatively weak and usually fail to effectively prevent tumor recurrence. The combination of MW treatment with an immunomodulatory strategy may solve this problem.