Nanoparticles for cancer therapy

• Nanoparticles carry a big promise in oncology, for diagnosis/imaging, therapy, or both (theragnostics). As common in medical history, there is a huge gap between the exciting experimental possibilities and data and clinical studies making use of it. Of the cell-containing nanoparticles, only one formulation using gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT) with CYP2B1 and ifosfamide was used in early clinical studies. Of the cellfree nanoparticles, some drug-releasing (doxorubicin) ones are in clinical use for trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in liver tumors and metastasis. Using liposomes, both paclitaxel and irinotecan have been used in pancreatic cancer as the model indication. Nanoparticle-albumin-bound paclitaxel (NAB-paclitaxel) has also been developed and is now registered as a drug for first-line therapy of pancreatic cancer, as is the liposomal irinotecan. The novel nanoparticle formulations carry a big promise for even better performance, both in diagnosis and therapy; however, few of these has entered the clinic as of today.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Annan kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Other Chemistry Topics (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)