EpCAM-targeted betulinic acid analogue nanotherapy improves therapeutic efficacy and induces anti-tumorigenic immune response in colorectal cancer tumor microenvironment.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Betulinic acid (BA) has been well investigated for its antiproliferative and mitochondrial pathway-mediated apoptosis-inducing effects on various cancers. However, its poor solubility and off-target activity have limited its utility in clinical trials. Additionally, the immune modulatory role of betulinic acid analogue in the tumor microenvironment (TME) is largely unknown. Here, we designed a potential nanotherapy for colorectal cancer (CRC) with a lead betulinic acid analogue, named as 2c, carrying a 1,2,3-triazole-moiety attached to BA through a linker, found more effective than BA for inhibiting CRC cell lines, and was chosen here for this investigation. Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is highly overexpressed on the CRC cell membrane. A single-stranded shor

SUBMITTER: Dutta D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11334571 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature