# Tryptamine-Functionalized Lipid Nanocarriers Co-delivering SMO/BRD4 Inhibitors for Synergistic Medulloblastoma Therapy

## TL;DR

A new treatment for medulloblastoma uses lipid nanoparticles to deliver drugs that target cancer stem cells and reduce tumor growth.

## Contribution

A novel combination therapy using BRD4 and SMO inhibitors delivered via tryptamine-functionalized lipid nanocarriers for medulloblastoma treatment.

## Key findings

- JQ1 and SSB1 synergistically inhibited medulloblastoma proliferation and metastasis.
- Targeted lipid nanoparticles improved drug accumulation in tumors and reduced toxicity.
- The combination therapy suppressed stem cell phenotypes and tumor recurrence in mice.

## Abstract

The management of medulloblastoma (MB) remains a significant challenge, primarily attributed to the presence of cancer stem cells and the inadequate delivery of therapeutic agents across the blood–brain barrier. GLI, as a regulator of the hedgehog signaling pathway in normal cerebellum development, also exerts pivotal functions in MB initiation, progression, and metastasis and maintains the stemness of MB stem cells. In this study, we devised a combined therapeutic approach by integrating the BRD4 inhibitor JQ1 with the SMO inhibitor saikosaponin B1 (SSB1) to inhibit MB via regulation of GLI activation. The results suggested that JQ1 and SSB1 synergistically inhibited MB proliferation, constricted MB metastasis, and down-regulated stem cell phenotypes via reduced GLI and MYC expression. Tryptamine-derived lipid nanoparticles (NPs) transported JQ1 and SSB1 to MB tissues. The targeted NPs demonstrated prolonged drug release kinetics and significantly improved their accumulation in MB tumors. Systemic administration of drug-loaded targeted NPs significantly decreased tumor burden without hepatic toxicity in xenograft MB-bearing mice. The combination of JQ1 and SSB1 presents an innovative therapeutic paradigm for suppressing MB proliferation, recurrence, and metastasis, with the potential to drive the development of novel MB treatment strategies in the future.