Therapeutic and Preventive Potential of Novel Sulfur Nanoparticles via Immunomodulation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has one of the highest mortality rates of solid cancers. The incidence of HCC has been rising over the past 20 years. This study was designed in three arms, the first was to evaluate the safety of sulfur extract nanoparticles (SEx-NP) on the liver, and then the second was studying the ability of SEx-NP to prohibit the occurrence of HCC, while the third was evaluating the therapeutic effect of SEx-NP on HCC. Materials and Acute toxicity study was done using 1800 mg/kg of SEx-NP which was the maximum soluble dose, it was safe. Sub-chronic toxicity study proved that 180 mg/kg of SEx-NP was safe. Preventive and therapeutic efficacy studies were done, animal groups were: Negative control, positive control received diethyl-nitrosamine (DENA) (200mg/kg), and carbon tetrachloride (CCL ₄ ) 9% (0.5 ml/kg) intra-peritoneally, to induce a rat model of HCC, preventive groups were given SEx-NP orally (90 and 180 mg/kg), together with DENA and CCL ₄ for three and six months, therapeutic group was given SEx-NP orally (90 mg/kg) for one month, after induction of HCC. Biochemical parameters measured in sera were: GPT, GOT, MDA, IL-β ₆ , TNF-α, α-fetoprotein, ova albumin, TGF-β ₁ and pyruvate kinase levels in addition to histopathologic and immuno-histochemical examination of hepatic tissues. SEx-NP reduced GPT, GOT, MDA, IL-β ₆ , TNF-α, α-fetoprotein, ova albumin, TGF-β ₁ and pyruvate kinase with better effect in the therapeutic study, it also improved the hepatic histopathologic pictures. Our results demonstrate the potential inhibitory effect of SEx-NP tumor on growth during early HCC stages, reinforcing its prophylactic promise in liver cancer prevention and liver health support. Finally, we can conclude that SEx-NP is a promising anti-neoplastic supplement.