Evidence mapPaperPMID 42046739Full record

ReviewInternational journal of nanomedicine2026

CXCR4-Targeted Nanotherapeutics: A Promising Approach for Liver Fibrosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Management.

Aftab Ullah, Marina Khan, Yibang Zhang, Muhammad Shafiq, Mohsan Ullah, Azar Abbas, Kifayat Ullah, Xu Xiangxiang, Gang Chen, Yong Diao

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in International journal of nanomedicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Aftab Ullah *School of Medicine, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China.ORCID 0000-0002-5019-8313
Marina Khan *Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Yibang ZhangSchool of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.ORCID 0000-0002-0290-0569
Muhammad ShafiqResearch Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.ORCID 0000-0002-4346-5903
Mohsan UllahSchool of Medicine, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China.
Azar Abbas *Institute of Medicine, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.ORCID 0000-0001-8864-684X
Kifayat UllahDepartment of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Xu XiangxiangSchool of Medicine, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China.
Gang ChenSchool of Rehabilitation Sciences and Engineering, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
Yong DiaoSchool of Medicine, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China.ORCID 0000-0002-0633-1906

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

CXCR4 plays a pivotal role in liver fibrosis (LF) by mediating the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), which contribute to extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and scar formation. The CXCR4/CXCL12 axis is essential in fibrogenesis, promoting HSCs activation, inflammation, and angiogenesis, which exacerbates fibrosis and creates an environment conducive to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. In HCC, CXCR4 signaling supports tumor cell proliferation, survival, and metastasis, linking chronic liver injury to cancer progression. Recent advancements in targeted drug delivery have facilitated the development of CXCR4-targeted therapies, improving treatment efficacy while minimizing systemic toxicity. This review examines the interactions between CXCR4 and its ligand CXCL12, the associated signaling pathways, and their role in LF and HCC. Furthermore, it explores CXCR4 as a therapeutic target, focusing on CXCR4 blockers, peptide inhibitors, and gene silencing/editing strategies. The review also highlights various CXCR4-targeted nano therapeutic strategies, such as liposomes, lipid NPs, microbubbles, polymeric NPs incorporating siRNA, miRNA, small molecules, peptides etc for the management of LF and HCC. Additionally, the review addresses the clinical progress of monoclonal antibodies, small molecules, and peptides targeting CXCR4 in both preclinical and clinical trials. Challenges and future directions of CXCR4-targeted nanotherapeutic are also discussed. In conclusion, this review emphasizes the therapeutic potential of CXCR4-targeted nanotherapeutic strategies for combating LF and HCC.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, HepatocellularLiver CirrhosisLiver NeoplasmsNanoparticlesReceptors, CXCR4AnimalsAntineoplastic AgentsDrug Delivery SystemsHumansMolecular Targeted TherapySignal TransductionAntineoplastic AgentsCXCR4 protein, humanReceptors, CXCR4CXCR4CXCR targeted drug delivery systemsHCCHSCsLF

Identifiers

PMID42046739
PMCPMC13110751

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.