A nano-platform combats the "attack" and "defense" of cytoskeleton to block cascading tumor metastasis

Abstract

The cytoskeleton facilitates tumor cells invasion into the bloodstream via vasculogenic mimicry (VM) for "attack", and protects cells against external threats through cytoskeletal remodeling and tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) for "defense". However, the existing strategies involving cytoskeleton are not sufficient to eliminate tumor metastasis due to mitochondrial energy supply, both within tumor cells and from outside microenvironment. Here, considering the close relationship between cytoskeleton and mitochondria both in location and function, we construct a nano-platform that combats the "attack" and "defense" of cytoskeleton in the cascading metastasis. The nano-platform is composed of KF^Csk@LIP and KT^Mito@LIP for the cytoskeletal collapse and mitochondrial dysfunction. KF^Csk@LIP prevents the initiation and circulation of cascading tumor metastasis, but arouses limited suppression in tumor cell proliferation. KT^Mito@LIP impairs mitochondria to trigger apoptosis and impede energy supply both from inside and outside, leading to an amplified effect for metastasis suppression. Further mechanisms studies reveal that the formation of VM and TNTs are seriously obstructed. Both in situ and circulating tumor cells are disabled. Subsequently, the broken metastasis cascade results in a remarkable anti-metastasis effect. Collectively, based on the nano-platform, the cytoskeletal collapse with synchronous mitochondrial dysfunction provides a potential therapeutic strategy for cascading tumor metastasis suppression.

Keywords: Cascading tumor metastasis; Cytoskeletal collapse; Mitochondrial dysfunction; Tunnel nanotubes; Vasculogenic mimicry.