Liposomes targeting tumour stromal cells.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Nanotechnology
• Drug Delivery

Background:

• Liposomes are clinically used for targeted delivery of cytostatic agents in cancer therapy, widening the therapeutic window by minimizing toxicity to healthy tissues.
• Cancer therapy is increasingly focusing on tumor stromal cells, which promote tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis through chronic pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic signaling.
• Tumor microenvironment modulation by cancer cells creates a pro-tumorigenic state, necessitating novel therapeutic approaches targeting these stromal components.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review emerging liposomal formulations targeting key stromal cell types involved in tumor progression.
• To discuss promising, yet untargeted, stromal cell populations in cancer therapy.
• To highlight the shift from stromal cell depletion to modulating their activity towards an anti-tumor phenotype.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on liposomal drug delivery systems in cancer therapy.
• Analysis of studies focusing on targeting tumor microenvironment and stromal cells.
• Identification of novel stromal cell targets and therapeutic strategies.

Main Results:

• Liposomal formulations have been developed to target specific stromal cells contributing to tumor growth.
• Many potential stromal cell targets remain underexplored in current research.
• Existing strategies often focus on depleting stromal cells rather than reprogramming them.

Conclusions:

• Future cancer therapy requires liposomal formulations that target specific stromal cells to modulate the tumor microenvironment.
• Developing drugs that suppress pro-tumorigenic signals while preserving anti-tumor activities is crucial.
• Optimizing liposomal strategies to reprogram stromal cells represents a significant challenge and opportunity for improved cancer treatment.