Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Demonstrates enhanced chemotherapy effectiveness in hepatocellular carcinoma, suggesting a new treatment strategy.
The therapeutic efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is strongly limited by the hypoxic and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Herein, monodisperse perfluorooctyl bromide (PFOB)‐loaded fucoidan/gelatin microspheres (P@FGMS) with excellent oxygen‐carrying capability were prepared for enhanced TACE treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It was found that the introduction of fucoidan endowed P@FGMS with excellent electrostatic affinity for positively charged doxorubicin (DOX) and metformin (MET), enabling their efficient co‐loading and sustained release. The resulting drug‐loaded microspheres (DMP@FGMS) largely enhanced chemotherapy sensitivity through an in‐outside hypoxia remodeling strategy: the supplement of exogenous O 2 via PFOB and inhibition of intracellular oxygen consumption by MET. Notably, DMP@FGMS could not only modulate hypoxic TME, but also generate intracellular ROS and disrupt the redox homeostasis, thereby triggering cancer ferroptosis. Moreover, DMP@FGMS effectively remodeled the immunosuppressive TME by alleviating tumor hypoxia and inducing immunogenic cell death (ICD), thereby enhancing CD8 + T cell infiltration while reducing immunosuppressive cell populations. Consequently, DMP@FGMS could effectively suppress tumor growth in an orthotopic HCC rat model, with this effect further potentiated by combination with immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Therefore, this study demonstrates that DMP@FGMS is a potent embolic agent capable of remodeling the hypoxic/immunosuppressive TME, representing a promising strategy for TACE treatment of HCC.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Shu et al. (2026) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: