Targeted magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia for the treatment of oral cancer

INTRODUCTION: Patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma currently experience a five year survival rate of approximately 60% with conventional surgical, chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments. Magnetic hyperthermia offers an alternative treatment method by utilising the heating properties of magnetic nanoparticles to produce thermo-ablation of the tumour site when exposed to an alternating magnetic field. In this study we investigate in vitro if targeted magnetic hyperthermia offers a potential treatment for oral squamous cell carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, with a biocompatible silica coating, were produced and conjugated with antibodies to target integrin αvβ6, a well-characterised oral squamous cell carcinoma biomarker. Utilising the heating properties of the magnetic nanoparticles we exposed them to an alternating magnetic field to produce thermo-ablation of tumour cells either negative for or over-expressing integrin αvβ6.

RESULTS: The cell surface biomarker, αvβ6 integrin, was upregulated in tissue biopsies from oral squamous cell carcinoma patients compared to normal tissue. Functionalisation of the silica coating with anti-αvβ6 antibodies enabled direct targeting of the nanoparticles to αvβ6-overexpressing cells and applying thermal therapy significantly increased killing of the targeted tumour cells compared to control cells.

CONCLUSION: Combining antibody-targeting magnetic nanoparticles with thermal-ablation offers a promising therapy for the targeted treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma.