Targeting Xkr8 via nanoparticle-mediated in situ codelivery of siRNA and chemotherapy drugs for cancer immunochemotherapy

Downregulation of specific proteins named scramblases might enhance tumour immunosuppression. In this paper the authors first show that the scramblase Xrk8 is overexpressed in tumour cells upon treatment with chemotherapeutics, and then developed a nanomedicine platform for co-delivery of a cancer pro-drug and of a siRNA directed against the Xrk8 gene, showing therapeutic effect and enhanced immune response in animal tumour models. Overall design: BALB/c mice (n=3) bearing s.c. CT26 tumors (~200 mm3) received i.v. injection of FuOXP NPs (10 mg FuOXP/kg) with empty NPs as a control once every five days for three times. Tumors were harvested at 24 h after the last treatment.