PTEN as a prognostic factor for radiotherapy plus immunotherapy response in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Abstract Background In the context of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treatment, radiotherapy combined with immunotherapy (IR + RT) is gaining traction. This study focuses on analyzing exosomal proteins, particularly Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog (PTEN), for predicting the efficacy of NPC treatments...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jiaxing Guo, Ming Zhang, Xiaoli Li, Jiashuo Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:Journal of Nanobiotechnology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12951-025-03315-z
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Summary:Abstract Background In the context of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treatment, radiotherapy combined with immunotherapy (IR + RT) is gaining traction. This study focuses on analyzing exosomal proteins, particularly Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog (PTEN), for predicting the efficacy of NPC treatments. Serum samples from NPC patients and IR + RT recipients were utilized for exosome (Exo) extraction and subsequent transcriptomic and proteomic analyses to identify treatment-related proteins. Flow cytometry of cells and exosomal analysis were performed to examine these proteins. In vitro experiments using C666-1 cells and their Exos explored various cellular responses, while a murine subcutaneous NPC model investigated the impact of PTEN modulation on tumor growth and the immune microenvironment. Results The study demonstrated that PTEN serves as a crucial predictive biomarker, with its expression changes correlated with M2 macrophage polarization and CD8+ T cell activity. This highlights the potential significance of PTEN in predicting treatment outcomes and influencing the immune response in NPC. Conclusion The findings suggest that PTEN could play a key role in enhancing the efficacy of NPC radiotherapy and immunotherapy. By shedding light on PTEN's impact on tumor growth and the immune microenvironment, this study lays the groundwork for future personalized therapeutic strategies in NPC treatment. Graphical abstract
ISSN:1477-3155