A Novel Therapeutic Tool for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Monoclonal Antibodies Conjugated Nanoparticles in Experimental Model

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the dominant form of liver cancer and is a hypervascular tumor. Nanotechnology has been used in oncology for the delivery of some drugs. Targeting VEGF with bevacizumab may be an effective approach to the treatment of HCC. Dumbell-like Au−Fe3O4 nanoparticles which are specific to cancer stem cells markers like CD90 and also carring VEGF monoclonal antibody, inhibit the process of angiogenesis in the vicinity of cancer stem cells. The main goal in cancer therapy is to destroy cancer cells without damaging normal cells. Dumbell-like nanoparticles is a novel treatment of cancer to target endothelial cells in the niche of cancer stem cell. The aim of this study is to assess the therapeutic role of dumbell-like nanoparticles conjugated with monoclonal antibodies against both VEGF and cancer stem cell in hepatocellular carcinoma experimental model In this study, HCC was induced chemically in male Balb/c mice by intra-peritoneal injection of diethylnitrosamine diluted in saline for eight consecutive weeks. Mice were divided into four groups; Pathological control group, Conjugated-nano treated group, Nano treated group and Avastin treated group. Twenty mice served as normal control group; they were injected with an equal volume of saline and injections were passed over in a comparable schedule as in the DEN-group. Animals were sacrificed after one and two months of treatment for assessment of HCC response to treatment. Serum samples were collected and analyzed for AFP, caspases-3, VEGF-A by ELISA technique and ALT & AST by automated analyzer. Liver sections of sacrificed animals were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) for histopathological assessment.