Haihua Xiao

Polymer‐PARPi Conjugates Delivering USP1i for Maximizing Synthetic Lethality to Stimulate STING Pathway in High‐Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer

Abstract Overcoming the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and therapeutic resistance remains a significant challenge in ovarian cancer treatment. In this study, a glutathione‐responsive polymeric nanoparticle platform for the co‐delivery of the USP1 inhibitor SJB3‐019A and the PARP inhibitor Niraparib is developed. This system synergistically enhances DNA damage accumulation, suppresses homologous recombination repair, and robustly activate the STING signaling pathway, leading to enhanced type I interferon responses and mitigation of immune evasion. Mechanistically, USP1 inhibition significantly impairs DNA repair, amplifying the synthetic lethality of PARP inhibition and promoting immunogenic cell death. In vivo studies demonstrated precise, glutathione‐responsive drug release and substantial tumor accumulation of the nanoparticles, resulting in remarkable antitumor efficacy in murine ovarian cancer models. Importantly, this combinational approach effectively remodels the tumor microenvironment by increasing CD8⁺ T cell infiltration and enhancing tumor sensitivity to immune checkpoint blockade therapies. This innovative strategy targeting DNA damage responses presents a promising platform for precise and effective ovarian cancer immunotherapy.

Near Infrared‐Fluorescent Dinuclear Iridium(III) Nanoparticles for Immunogenic Sonodynamic Therapy

AbstractDinuclear iridium(III) complexes activated by light‐inducible spatiotemporal control are emerging as promising candidates for cancer therapy. However, broader applications of current light‐activated dinuclear iridium(III) complexes are limited by the ineffective tissue penetration and undesirable feedback on guidance activation. Here, an ultrasound (US) triggered near infrared‐fluorescent dinuclear iridium(III) nanoparticle, NanoIr, is first reported to precisely and spatiotemporally inhibit tumor growth. It is demonstrated that reactive oxygen species can be generated by NanoIr upon exposure to US irradiation (NanoIr + US), thereby inducing immunogenic cell death. When combined with cisplatin, NanoIr + US elicits synergistic effects in patient‐derived tumor xenograft mice models of ovarian cancer. This work first provides a design of dinuclear iridium(III) nanoparticles for immunogenic sonodynamic therapy.

Targeting Cancer Metabolism Plasticity with JX06 Nanoparticles via Inhibiting PDK1 Combined with Metformin for Endometrial Cancer Patients with Diabetes

AbstractDiabetes is closely related to the occurrence of endometrial cancer (EC) and its poor prognosis. However, there is no effective clinical treatment for EC patients with diabetes (patientEC+/dia+). To explore new therapeutic targets, Ishikawa is cultured with high glucose (IshikawaHG) mimicking hyperglycemia in patientEC+/dia+. Subsequently, it is discovered that IshikawaHG exhibits glucose metabolic reprogramming characterized by increased glycolysis and decreased oxidative phosphorylation. Further, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 (PDK1) is identified to promote glycolysis of IshikawaHG by proteomics. Most importantly, JX06, a novel PDK1 inhibitor combined metformin (Met) significantly inhibits IshikawaHG proliferation though IshikawaHG is resistant to Met. Furthermore, a reduction‐sensitive biodegradable polymer is adopted to encapsulate JX06 to form nanoparticles (JX06‐NPs) for drug delivery. It is found that in vitro JX06‐NPs have better inhibitory effect on the growth of IshikawaHG as well as patient‐derived EC cells (PDC) than JX06. Additionally, it is found that JX06‐NPs can accumulate to the tumor of EC‐bearing mouse with diabetes (miceEC+/dia+) after intravenous injection, and JX06‐NPs combined Met can significantly inhibit tumor growth of miceEC+/dia+. Taken together, the study demonstrates that the combination of JX06‐NPs and Met can target the cancer metabolism plasticity, which significantly inhibits the growth of EC, thereby provides a new adjuvant therapy for patientsEC+/dia+.

Activating the cGAS-STING Pathway by Manganese-Based Nanoparticles Combined with Platinum-Based Nanoparticles for Enhanced Ovarian Cancer Immunotherapy

Recent research has demonstrated that activating the cGAS-STING pathway can enhance interferon production and the activation of T cells. A manganese complex, called TPA-Mn, was developed in this context. The reactive oxygen species (ROS)-sensitive nanoparticles (NPMn) loaded with TPA-Mn are developed. NPMn activates the cGAS-STING pathway via cGAS activation (i.e., 1.6-fold enhancement of P-STING), which in turn increases the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-2). This promotes dendritic cell maturation, enhances the infiltration of cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and reduces the percentage of immunosuppressive regulatory T cells. In addition, it is crucial to emphasize that cisplatin-induced DNA damage can potentially trigger activation of the cGAS-STING pathway. NPMn, in combination with low-dose NPPt, a carrier of a Cis(IV) prodrug capable of causing DNA damage, augments the cGAS-STING pathway activation and significantly activates the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Furthermore, combined with anti-PD-1 antibody, NPPt+NPMn shows synergistic efficacy in both ovarian cancer peritoneal metastases and recurrence models. It not only effectively eliminates tumors but also induces a strong immune memory response, providing a promising strategy for the clinical management of ovarian cancer. This work offers a design of manganese-based nanoparticles for immunotherapy.