CuS-131I-PEG Nanotheranostics-Induced Multiple Mild-Hyperthermia Strategy to Overcome Radio-Resistance in Lung Cancer Brachytherapy

Brachytherapy is one mainstay treatment for lung cancer. However, a great challenge in brachytherapy is radio-resistance, which is caused by severe hypoxia in solid tumors. In this research, we have developed a PEGylated I-131-labeled CuS nanotheranostics (CuS-I-131-PEG)-induced multiple mild-hyperthermia strategy to reverse hypoxia-associated radio-resistance. Specifically, after being injected with CuS-I-131-PEG nanotheranostics, tumors were irradiated by NIR laser to mildly increase tumor temperature (39 similar to 40 degrees C). This mild hyperthermia can improve oxygen levels and reduce expression of hypoxia-induced factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha) inside tumors, which brings about alleviation of tumor hypoxia and reversion of hypoxia-induced radio-resistance. During the entire treatment, tumors are treated by photothermal brachytherapy three times, and meanwhile mild hyperthermia stimulation is conducted before each treatment of photothermal brachytherapy, which is defined as a multiple mild-hyperthermia strategy. Based on this strategy, tumors have been completely inhibited. Overall, our research presents a simple and effective multiple mild-hyperthermia strategy for reversing radio-resistance of lung cancer, achieving the combined photothermal brachytherapy.

Automated summary

This research presents a new treatment strategy for reversing radio-resistance in lung cancer by using multiple mild hyperthermia treatments. By injecting nanotheranostics and irradiating with laser, oxygen levels in tumors can be improved and tumor hypoxia can be alleviated, leading to effective tumor inhibition.