Nifuroxazide in combination with CpG ODN exerts greater efficacy against hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumour in China that remains a major challenge to the medical community, and effective treatment is urgently needed. Due to complex tumorigenesis, monotherapy shows poor therapeutic effects, and combined treatment becomes a necessary option. YW002, a CpG ODNcontaining sequence, has been proven to enhance antitumor effects in tumour-bearing mouse models. Moreover, as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial drug, nifuroxazide exhibited an anti-HCC effect through activation of pStat3. Here, we tested the effect of nifuroxazide on HCC in vitro and then explored the therapeutic effect of combined nifuroxazide and CpG ODN on HCC in vivo. Nifuroxazide inhibited proliferation, induced apoptosis and suppressed migration and invasion in HepG2 cells in vitro. The combination therapy using nifuroxazide and CpG ODN significantly suppressed the growth of tumours in tumour-bearing mice with few side effects and achieved better therapeutic effects on HCC than monotherapy. Moreover, combined nifuroxazide and CpG ODN therapy significantly induced apoptosis, enhanced the infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes and macrophages in tumour tissue, and increased the ratio of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in the spleens of tumour-bearing mice. The introduction of this combination therapy combining nifuroxazide and CpG ODN provided a new strategy for HCC treatment.

Automated summary

The combination therapy using nifuroxazide and CpG ODN showed significant therapeutic effects on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Nifuroxazide inhibited proliferation and migration of HCC cells in vitro, while CpG ODN enhanced the antitumor effects. In vivo experiments demonstrated that the combination therapy effectively suppressed tumor growth and induced tumor cell apoptosis.