INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF
CancerGenetics
Exploring the Promising Role of Echinococcus granulosus and Nanotechnology in Cancer Immunotherapy: A Prospective Review
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Soroush Partovi Moghaddam,1 Soheil Sadr,2 Mahya Hashempour,3 Ashkan Hajjafari,4 Abbas Rahdar,5 Hassan Borji,6,*
1. Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2. Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
3. Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Students, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
4. Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
5. Department of Physics, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran
6. Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
- Introduction: Several approaches to cancer treatment using immunotherapy have been developed to treat cancer in recent decades. It has been shown that immunotherapy stimulates the immune system, which, in turn, identifies and destroys cancer cells. Additionally, nanocoatings can deliver immunostimulating molecules precisely and efficiently to minimize side effects. Research has shown that Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) can modulate and strengthen the body's immune system, offering a possible new way to treat cancer. Some studies have shown parasites combined with nanotechnology and nanocoatings can significantly improve cancer treatment results. However, they require refinement and strengthening to treat patients despite their limited effectiveness and variable responses effectively. This review aims to discuss some of the critical characteristics of E. granulosus and how parasites and nanotechnology are combined to improve cancer treatment outcomes significantly.
- Methods: From 2015 to 2024, research data from several databases, such as PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar, were collected. The search strategy aimed to download and retrieve published articles on cancer treatment using parasites, especially E. granulosus. Several keywords were used, such as "nanomedicine," "nanocoating," "drug delivery, "nanotechnology," "Echinococcus granulosus," " immunotherapy," and "cancer" were used. Our comprehensive search identified 10,000 studies. With the development of nanotechnology, several innovative treatments and drug delivery systems have been developed to fight cancer.
- Results: Several studies have shown that E. granulosus antigens can activate and stimulate T cells, thereby increasing their proliferation and fight against several cancers, such as colon cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, melanoma, and hepatic cancer. Echinococcus granulosus antigen B (EgAgB) was one of the markers that stimulate the immune response against cancer by enhancing the production of interleukin-12 and interferon-gamma. An experiment on mice with melanoma indicated that injections of E. granulosus antigens could activate killer T cells, leading to smaller tumors in mice with melanoma. Some studies suggested that these nanocoating can coat this antigen and exhibit better properties. Through the use of nanocoatings, immunostimulating molecules can be delivered precisely and effectively in order to minimize side effects and optimize therapeutic outcomes; as a result of their unique properties, these nanocoatings and their specific structure have become valuable tools for enhancing biological functions and drug delivery. Through nanotechnology, effective molecules can be delivered to the desired parts of the body in a more precise way. So, as a consequence, fewer drugs are needed, and adverse side effects in other areas of the body are reduced, increasing the patient's quality of life and the effectiveness of treatment even though combinations of parasites and nanocoatings can significantly improve cancer treatment results.
- Conclusion: Multiple antigens associated with E. granulosus have demonstrated antitumor properties. Despite their capabilities, delivering them effectively and strategically remains the main challenge. Using nanocoatings to deliver parasite antigens improves cancer treatment side effects and effectiveness. Several challenges remain, including immune reactions, nanocoating stability, and production costs. Nanocoating technologies need to be optimized, and the mechanism of parasite antigen action needs to be studied.
- Keywords: E. granulosus, Nanocoating, Immunotherapy, Cancer, Nanotechnology
