Gadolinium-doped iron oxide nanoparticles induced magnetic field hyperthermia combined with radiotherapy increases tumour response by vascular disruption and improved oxygenation

Abstract

The gadolinium-doped iron oxide nanoparticles (GdIONP) with greater specific power adsorption rate (SAR) than Fe₃O₄ was developed and its potential application in tumour therapy and particle tracking were demonstrated in transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate C1 (TRAMP-C1) tumours. The GdIONPs accumulated in tumour region during the treatment could be clearly tracked and quantified by T2-weighted MR imaging. The therapeutic effects of GdIONP-mediated hyperthermia alone or in combination with radiotherapy (RT) were also evaluated. A significant increase in the tumour growth time was observed following the treatment of thermotherapy (TT) only group (2.5 days), radiation therapy only group (4.5 days), and the combined radio-thermotherapy group (10 days). Immunohistochemical staining revealed a reduced hypoxia region with vascular disruption and extensive tumour necrosis following the combined radio-thermotherapy. These results indicate that GdIONP-mediated hyperthermia can improve the efficacy of RT by its dual functions in high temperature (temperature greater than 45 °C)-mediated thermal ablation and mild-temperature hyperthermia (MTH) (temperature between 39 and 42 °C)-mediated reoxygenation.

Keywords:

• Nanoparticle
• magnetic field hyperthermia
• tumour therapy
• radiotherapy
• thermal ablation

Acknowledgements

This work is supported by MOST 104–2627-M-007–008 from the Ministry of Science and Technology, 104N2741E1 from National Tsing Hua University, and 104-EC-17-A-22–0777 from Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan.

Disclosure statement

The author reports no conflicts of interest. The author alone is responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Additional information

Funding

This work is supported by MOST 104–2627-M-007–008 from the Ministry of Science and Technology, 104N2741E1 from National Tsing Hua University, and 104-EC-17-A-22–0777 from Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan.