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Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Disease · Journal article
Nanotechnology · August 18, 2026
Raises a question worth testing. It does not answer one.
This is a preclinical nanoparticle formulation study combining disulfiram with aptamer-targeted albumin nanoparticles, tested in colon cancer cell lines and mouse models. The work demonstrates selective cellular uptake and enhanced cytotoxicity in vitro and superior antitumor efficacy in vivo compared to non-targeted controls, but provides no human data, clinical outcomes, or mechanistic insight into systemic toxicity.
Preclinical in vitro and in vivo proof-of-concept study. CT26 colon cancer cell line and immunocompetent mouse xenograft model; no human subjects.. Intervention: Aptamer-functionalized albumin nanoparticles loaded with disulfiram (Apt-NPs-DSF). Compared with: Non-targeted nanoparticles and control cells; standard chemotherapy regimens not mentioned.
Apt-NPs-DSF nanoparticles had mean size 96.4 ± 7.4 nm with zeta potential −19.1 ± 2.2 mV Aptamer-guided nanoparticles were preferentially internalized by nucleolin-expressing CT26 colon cancer cells versus control cells In vitro cytotoxicity assay showed Apt-NPs-DSF significantly enhanced killing of CT26 colon cancer cells
Magnitude of cytotoxicity effect, tumor size reduction, or survival benefit not numerically reported No dose-response studies, pharmacokinetics, or mechanistic investigation of disulfiram activity provided in abstract
This work is exploratory and does not yet support clinical decision-making. Disulfiram repurposing for colorectal cancer remains at the proof-of-concept stage and requires IND studies, Phase 1 human trials, and demonstration of tolerability and activity before clinical use can be considered.
Preclinical proof-of-concept in cell lines and xenograft models; no human trials, clinical efficacy data, or regulatory evidence reported.
As stated by the source record.
Quoted from the source exactly as published.
This work is exploratory and does not yet support clinical decision-making. Disulfiram repurposing for colorectal cancer remains at the proof-of-concept stage and requires IND studies, Phase 1 human trials, and demonstration of tolerability and activity before clinical use can be considered.
Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.
Abstract Chemotherapy remains the primary treatment for most patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), yet its efficacy is often limited by severe adverse effects. Drug repurposing offers a promising strategy to accelerate oncology drug development. Disulfiram (DSF), a licensed anti-alcoholism agent, has demonstrated broad-spectrum anticancer activity in preclinical models. However, its clinical translation for oncology is hindered by poor aqueous solubility, rapid metabolism, and lack of tumor selectivity. To overcome these limitations, we developed a novel targeted drug delivery system (Apt-NPs-DSF) by encapsulating disulfiram (DSF) within albumin nanoparticles (NPs) functionalized with the nucleolin-targeting AS1411 aptamer. Apt-NPs-DSF had an average size of 96.4 ± 7.4 nm and was negatively charged with a zeta potential of -19.1 ± 2.2 mV. Furthermore, DSF was released from the albumin NPs with a typical sustained release profile. Apt-NPs-DSF demonstrated favorable serum stability and hemocompatibility. Of note, aptamer-guided NPs were preferentially internalized by nucleolin-expressing CT26 colon cancer cells vs control cells. Moreover, in vitro cytotoxicity assay revealed that Apt-NPs-DSF significantly enhanced the killing of CT26 colon cancer cells. Importantly, in vivo study confirmed that Apt-NPs-DSF achieved superior antitumor efficacy without raising systemic toxicity, outperforming non-targeted counterparts. Collectively, these results suggest that Apt-NPs-DSF has potential in the targeted treatment of colon cancer.
Taken from the source record, never inferred. Follow any of these and new work involving them reaches your briefing.