Targeting cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment: opportunities and challenges in combinatorial nanomedicine

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Oncology

Background:

• Future cancer therapies require drug synergy for maximum efficacy and reduced toxicity.
• Nanoscale drug delivery vehicles (nanocarriers) offer a promising approach for targeted combination therapy.
• Solid tumors present unique challenges and opportunities for drug delivery within the tumor microenvironment (TME).

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential of nanocarriers for co-delivering synergistic drug combinations in cancer therapy.
• To highlight the development of 'smart' nanocarriers that exploit the TME for targeted drug release.
• To discuss the translational and commercial viability of nanocarrier-based nanomedicines.

Main Methods:

• Co-encapsulation of multiple anticancer drugs within tunable nanomaterials.
• Design of nanocarriers that respond to the pathological conditions of the tumor microenvironment (TME).
• Development of nanocarriers for spatially and temporally controlled drug payload release.

Main Results:

• Nanocarriers enable simultaneous, cell-selective delivery of synergistic drug ratios to solid tumors.
• Smart nanocarriers leverage the TME for enhanced targeting and controlled drug release.
• Several companies are advancing nanocarrier-based combinatorial nanomedicines into human clinical trials.

Conclusions:

• Nanocarrier-based combinatorial nanomedicines represent a significant advancement in targeted cancer therapy.
• The exploitation of the TME is key to developing sophisticated and effective nanocarrier systems.
• The initiation of human clinical trials signifies the clinical and commercial readiness of this technology.