Targeting GPX4-Dependent Ferroptosis via a Dihydroartemisinin-Conjugated Cross-Linked Lipoic Acid Nanodrug for Endometrial Carcinoma Therapy

Endometrial cancer (EC) is a significant global cause of cancer-related mortality. Chemoresistance is a major challenge in treating advanced or recurrent EC, necessitating the search for new anti-EC drugs. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA)-induced ferroptosis shows promise as a therapy for EC, but its poor solubility and insufficient antitumor potency hinder its clinical use. A novel nanodrug delivery system, DHA@cLAVs, was developed using cross-linked lipoic acid to enhance DHA solubility and antitumor efficacy. Benefiting from the pro-oxidant effects of lipoic acid on tumor cells and its improved water solubility, DHA@cLAVs outperformed DHA alone, showing promising ferroptosis-based antitumor effects via the c-jun/c-fos-GPX4 pathway in both in vitro and in vivo experiments, offering promising prospects for endometrial carcinoma treatment.