Radiofrequency hyperthermia enhances the antitumor efficacy of oncolytic peptide LTX-315 in liver cancer cells by activating of cGAS-STING pathway

Purpose This study evaluated whether radiofrequency hyperthermia (RFH) could enhance the effects of LTX-315, an oncolytic peptide, for hepatic cancer.Methods In vitro experiments using rat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and in vivo experiments with HCC rat models were conducted. Treatments inc...

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Main Authors: Guanhui Zhou, Bo Sun, Feng Zhang, Hongxiu Ji, Xuefeng Kan, Xiaoming Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:International Journal of Hyperthermia
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02656736.2025.2511031
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author Guanhui Zhou
Bo Sun
Feng Zhang
Hongxiu Ji
Xuefeng Kan
Xiaoming Yang
author_facet Guanhui Zhou
Bo Sun
Feng Zhang
Hongxiu Ji
Xuefeng Kan
Xiaoming Yang
author_sort Guanhui Zhou
collection DOAJ
description Purpose This study evaluated whether radiofrequency hyperthermia (RFH) could enhance the effects of LTX-315, an oncolytic peptide, for hepatic cancer.Methods In vitro experiments using rat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and in vivo experiments with HCC rat models were conducted. Treatments included (1) phosphate buffered saline, (2) RFH at 42 °C for 30 min, (3) LTX-315 alone, and (4) a combination of RFH with LTX-315. Cell viability and apoptosis were measured using MTS assay, flow cytometry, and fluorescence microscopy. Tumor growth was monitored for two weeks using ultrasound and optical imaging. The western blotting, enzyme-linked immunoassay, real-time polymerase chain reaction, were performed to detect the activation of cGAS-STING pathway. The immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunoassay, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and flow cytometry analysis were performed to evaluate changes of immune cells in tumors, and changes of cytokines in plasma and tumors after the treatment.Results The combination treatment (RFH + LTX-315) resulted in the highest level of apoptosis and the lowest cell viability, along with the smallest tumor volume and strongest reduction in bioluminescence signal compared to other groups (p < 0.001). LTX-315 activated the cGAS-STING pathway, with RFH further enhancing this activation. After combination therapy, significant increases in CD8+ T cells, CD8+/IFN-γ+ T cells, CD8+/TNF-α+ T cells, and natural killer cells, along with a decrease in Tregs, were observed in tumors (p < 0.001).Conclusion RFH significantly enhanced the effects of LTX-315 on orthotopic HCC by activating the cGAS-STING pathway.
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publishDate 2025-12-01
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record_format Article
series International Journal of Hyperthermia
spelling doaj-art-34357f1fea3f44cd892343cb98cf53132025-08-20T02:34:47ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Hyperthermia0265-67361464-51572025-12-0142110.1080/02656736.2025.2511031Radiofrequency hyperthermia enhances the antitumor efficacy of oncolytic peptide LTX-315 in liver cancer cells by activating of cGAS-STING pathwayGuanhui Zhou0Bo Sun1Feng Zhang2Hongxiu Ji3Xuefeng Kan4Xiaoming Yang5Image-Guided Bio-Molecular Intervention Research and Section of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USADepartment of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, ChinaImage-Guided Bio-Molecular Intervention Research and Section of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USAImage-Guided Bio-Molecular Intervention Research and Section of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USAImage-Guided Bio-Molecular Intervention Research and Section of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USAImage-Guided Bio-Molecular Intervention Research and Section of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USAPurpose This study evaluated whether radiofrequency hyperthermia (RFH) could enhance the effects of LTX-315, an oncolytic peptide, for hepatic cancer.Methods In vitro experiments using rat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and in vivo experiments with HCC rat models were conducted. Treatments included (1) phosphate buffered saline, (2) RFH at 42 °C for 30 min, (3) LTX-315 alone, and (4) a combination of RFH with LTX-315. Cell viability and apoptosis were measured using MTS assay, flow cytometry, and fluorescence microscopy. Tumor growth was monitored for two weeks using ultrasound and optical imaging. The western blotting, enzyme-linked immunoassay, real-time polymerase chain reaction, were performed to detect the activation of cGAS-STING pathway. The immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunoassay, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and flow cytometry analysis were performed to evaluate changes of immune cells in tumors, and changes of cytokines in plasma and tumors after the treatment.Results The combination treatment (RFH + LTX-315) resulted in the highest level of apoptosis and the lowest cell viability, along with the smallest tumor volume and strongest reduction in bioluminescence signal compared to other groups (p < 0.001). LTX-315 activated the cGAS-STING pathway, with RFH further enhancing this activation. After combination therapy, significant increases in CD8+ T cells, CD8+/IFN-γ+ T cells, CD8+/TNF-α+ T cells, and natural killer cells, along with a decrease in Tregs, were observed in tumors (p < 0.001).Conclusion RFH significantly enhanced the effects of LTX-315 on orthotopic HCC by activating the cGAS-STING pathway.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02656736.2025.2511031Radiofrequency hyperthermiaoncolytic immunotherapyHepatocellular carcinomaoptical imagingcGAS-STING
spellingShingle Guanhui Zhou
Bo Sun
Feng Zhang
Hongxiu Ji
Xuefeng Kan
Xiaoming Yang
Radiofrequency hyperthermia enhances the antitumor efficacy of oncolytic peptide LTX-315 in liver cancer cells by activating of cGAS-STING pathway
International Journal of Hyperthermia
Radiofrequency hyperthermia
oncolytic immunotherapy
Hepatocellular carcinoma
optical imaging
cGAS-STING
title Radiofrequency hyperthermia enhances the antitumor efficacy of oncolytic peptide LTX-315 in liver cancer cells by activating of cGAS-STING pathway
title_full Radiofrequency hyperthermia enhances the antitumor efficacy of oncolytic peptide LTX-315 in liver cancer cells by activating of cGAS-STING pathway
title_fullStr Radiofrequency hyperthermia enhances the antitumor efficacy of oncolytic peptide LTX-315 in liver cancer cells by activating of cGAS-STING pathway
title_full_unstemmed Radiofrequency hyperthermia enhances the antitumor efficacy of oncolytic peptide LTX-315 in liver cancer cells by activating of cGAS-STING pathway
title_short Radiofrequency hyperthermia enhances the antitumor efficacy of oncolytic peptide LTX-315 in liver cancer cells by activating of cGAS-STING pathway
title_sort radiofrequency hyperthermia enhances the antitumor efficacy of oncolytic peptide ltx 315 in liver cancer cells by activating of cgas sting pathway
topic Radiofrequency hyperthermia
oncolytic immunotherapy
Hepatocellular carcinoma
optical imaging
cGAS-STING
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02656736.2025.2511031
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