A single local delivery of paclitaxel and nucleic acids via an immunoactive polymer eliminates tumors and induces antitumor immunity

Abstract

Significance The rationale of local cancer immunotherapy is that the treated tumor cells can serve as a depot of tumor antigens and activate/mobilize the patient’s immune system to address systemic diseases. However, the challenge is to coordinate several events involved in the activation of antitumor immune responses, colocalize and retain multiple therapies in tumors, and support the functions of immune cells. Our carrier polyethyleneimine-lithocholic acid conjugate (2E′) addresses these challenges based on the amphiphilic structure and inherent immunostimulatory activity. 2E′ codelivers hydrophobic drugs and nucleic acids and leverages their effects to eliminate primary tumors and protect the hosts from distant and recurrent diseases. The versatility of 2E′ will enable the use of therapeutic combinations to improve clinical outcomes of cancer immunotherapy.