Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B
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2026, 16(3): 1584-1604
• Original articles •
A triple combination strategy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Aptamer-guided liposomal chemotherapy, engineered NK cells, and Fc-enhanced PD-L1 antibody therapy
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Chaoyan Yao1,2,3,4,5, Lei Wang1,3,5, Weidong Liu1,3,5, Ning Shi1,2,3,4,5, Ziling Liao3,5, Yuxuan Fu3,5, Jinhao Ouyang3,5, Xuan Lei3,5, Qianping Huang2,3,5, Siyu Li3, Yihua Zhouyang2, Pinnan Zhao2, Jie Wang2, Hongjuan Xu1,3,4,5,6, Wenhu Zhou7, Xingjun Jiang1,4, Xiang Gao2, Caiping Ren1,3,4,5, Longlong Luo2
Affiliations
1 Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China;
2 Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China;
3 Cancer Research Institute, Xiangya School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China;
4 National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China;
5 The NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and the Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China;
6 NHC Key Laboratory of Biological Nanotechnology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China;
7 Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
doi: 10.1016/j.apsb.2025.10.007
Outline
The effective treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is challenged by an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and insufficient immune effector cell activation. Herein, we design a synergistic tri-modal therapeutic strategy to overcome these barriers. This platform integrates: (1) a CD109-targeted liposomal doxorubicin (S3-Lip-DOX) for precise chemotherapy and induction of immunogenic cell death (ICD); (2) non-genetically engineered natural killer (NK) cells armed with dual aptamers (targeting CD109 and PD-L1) via bio-orthogonal chemistry for enhanced tumor recognition (S3-P-NK); and (3) an Fc-engineered anti-PD-L1 antibody (Atezolizumab/IgG1) that restores antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Crucially, we uncovered a key mechanistic synergy: S3-Lip-DOX treatment, as a stress-adaptive response, upregulates PD-L1 expression on NPC cells. This finding provides a compelling rationale for the integration, turning a potential immune escape mechanism into a therapeutic vulnerability. The complete regimen, comprising S3-Lip-DOX, S3-P-NK, and Atezolizumab/IgG1, demonstrated potent synergistic antitumor effects in vitro and in vivo. This triple-combination therapy not only achieved significant tumor regression but also robustly reprogrammed the innate tumor microenvironment, evidenced by enhanced dendritic cell (DC) maturation and pro-inflammatory macrophage activation. This work establishes a mechanism-driven, modular therapeutic platform that effectively coordinates targeted chemotherapy with innate immunotherapy, holding significant translational potential for solid tumors.
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC)
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Chemo-immunotherapy
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Triple-combination therapy
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Liposomal doxorubicin
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Aptamer-engineered NK cells
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ADCC
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CD109
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PD-L1
Chaoyan Yao, Lei Wang, Weidong Liu, Ning Shi, Ziling Liao, Yuxuan Fu, Jinhao Ouyang, Xuan Lei, Qianping Huang, Siyu Li, Yihua Zhouyang, Pinnan Zhao, Jie Wang, Hongjuan Xu, Wenhu Zhou, Xingjun Jiang, Xiang Gao, Caiping Ren, Longlong Luo.
A triple combination strategy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Aptamer-guided liposomal chemotherapy, engineered NK cells, and Fc-enhanced PD-L1 antibody therapy[J].
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B,
2026
, 16
(3)
: 1584
-1604
.
DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2025.10.007
Year 2026 volume 16 Issue 3
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Article Info
doi: 10.1016/j.apsb.2025.10.007
- Receive Date:2025-08-13
- Online Date:2026-09-17