Nanomedicine-Based Delivery Strategies for Breast Cancer Treatment and Management

Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Mar 5;23(5):2856. doi: 10.3390/ijms23052856.

Abstract

Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among women globally. It is caused by mutations in the estrogen/progesterone receptors and conventional treatment methods are commonly utilized. About 70-80 percent of individuals with the early-stage non-metastatic disease may be cured. Conventional treatment is far less than the optimal ratio, as demonstrated through the high mortality rate of women with this cancer. However, conventional treatment methods like surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy are not as effective as expected and lead to concerns about low bioavailability, low cellular uptake, emerging resistance, and adverse toxicities. A nanomedicine-based approach is a promising alternative for breast cancer treatment. The present era is witnessing rapid advancements in nanomedicine as a platform for investigating novel therapeutic applications and modern intelligent healthcare management strategies. This paper focuses on nanomedicine-based therapeutic interventions that are becoming more widely accepted for improving treatment effectiveness and reducing undesired side effects in breast cancer patients. By evaluating the state-of-the-art tools and taking the challenges involved into consideration, various aspects of the proposed nano-enabled therapeutic approaches have been discussed in this review.

Keywords: breast cancer; combinational approach; drug resistance; drug therapy; nanomedicine; targeted delivery.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Breast Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Nanomedicine / methods
  • Nanoparticles*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents