A pH-responsive nanoplatform with dual-modality imaging for enhanced cancer phototherapy and diagnosis of lung metastasis.

To address the limitations of traditional photothermal therapy (PTT)/ photodynamic therapy (PDT) and real-time cancer metastasis detection, a pH-responsive nanoplatform (NP) with dual-modality imaging capability was rationally designed. Herein, 1 H,1 H-undecafluorohexylamine (PFC), served as both an oxygen carrier and a 19F magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) probe, and photosensitizer indocyanine green (ICG) were grafted onto the pH-responsive peptide hexahistidine (H6) to form H6-PFC-ICG (HPI). Subsequently, the heat shock protein 90 inhibitor, gambogic acid (GA), was incorporated into hyaluronic acid (HA) modified HPI (HHPI), yielding the ultimate HHPI@GA NPs. Upon self-assembly, HHPI@GA NPs passively accumulated in tumor tissues, facilitating oxygen release and HA-mediated cell uptake. Once phagocytosed by lysosomes, protonation of H6 was triggered due to the low pH, resulting in the release of GA. With near-infrared laser irradiation, GA-mediated decreased HSP90 expression and PFC-mediated increased ROS generation amplified the PTT/PDT effect of HHPI@GA, leading to excellent in vitro and in vivo anticancer efficacies. Additionally, the fluorescence and 19F MRI dual-imaging capabilities of HHPI@GA NPs enabled effective real-time primary cancer and lung metastasis monitoring. This work offers a novel approach for enhanced cancer phototherapy, as well as precise cancer diagnosis.

Randomized controlled study on effect of Quxie capsule on the median survival time and qualify of life in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of Quxie Capsule (QXC) on the median survival time and quality of life in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma were observed in a randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT). Out of them the 37 evaluable patients were assigned into the treatment group (18 patients) and the control group (19 patients). They were all treated by the routine treatment for cancer, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, while those in the treatment group were administered with QXC additionally. After being treated for 3 months, the follow-up study was carried out to evaluate the fatality rate (FR), survival time (ST), median survival time (mST), time to progression (TTP), and quality of life (QOF).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>FR, mST, ST and TTP in the treatment group were 11.1% (2/18), 17 months, 22.63 +/- 7.34 months, and 17.76 +/- 5.62 months respectively, and those in the control group were 42.1% (8/19), 13 months, 19.76 +/- 8.28 months and 12.68 +/- 9.26 months respectively, showing significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The scores of TCM symptom, QOF and KPS in the treatment group were 15.59 +/- 3.78, 54.06 +/- 3.96 and 64.71 +/- 6.24 before treatment, and 10.53 +/- 5.57, 58.65 +/- 4.03, 69.41 +/- 4.29 after treatment, respectively, showing significant improvement (P < 0.05). While the three scores in the control group were 16.11 +/- 3.99, 54.06 +/- 4.39 and 64.44 +/- 5.11 before treatment, and 19.61 +/- 7.78, 50.17 +/- 8.26 and 60.00 +/- 9.70 after treatment, respectively, showing a statistically significant worsening tendency in the latter two (P <0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>QXC can reduce the FR, prolong the ST, mST, mCFPT, and improve the QOF in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma.</p>