Enhanced Chemo-Immunotherapy Strategy Utilizing Injectable Thermosensitive Hydrogel for The Treatment of Diffuse Peritoneal Metastasis in Advanced Colorectal Cancer

Patients with colorectal Cancer (CRC) and diffuse peritoneal metastasis (PM) are not eligible for surgical intervention. Thus, palliative treatment remains the standard of care in clinical practice. Systemic chemotherapy fails to cause drug accumulation at the lesion sites, while intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IPC) is limited by high clearance rates and associated complications. Given the poor prognosis, a customized OxP/R848@PLEL hydrogel delivery system has been devised to improve the clinical benefit of advanced CRC with diffuse PM. This system is distinguished by its simplicity, security, and efficiency. Specifically, the PLEL hydrogel exhibits excellent injectability and thermosensitivity, enabling the formation of drug depots within the abdominal cavity, rendering it an optimal carrier for IPC. Oxaliplatin (OxP), a first-line drug for advanced CRC, is cytotoxic and enhances the immunogenicity of tumors by inducing immunogenic cell death. Furthermore, OxP and resiquimod (R848) synergistically enhance the maturation of dendritic cells, promote the expansion of cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and induce the formation of central memory T cells. Moreover, R848 domesticates macrophages to an anti-tumor phenotype. OxP/R848@PLEL effectively eradicates peritoneal metastases, completely inhibits ascites production, and significantly prolongs mice lifespan. As such, it provides a promising approach to managing diffuse PM in patients with CRC without surgical indications.

chemo-immunotherapy; colorectal cancer; diffuse peritoneal metastasis; intraperitoneal chemotherapy; thermosensitive hydrogel.