Nanotechnology in the war against cancer: new arms against an old enemy - a clinical view

Clinical oncology is facing a paradigm shift. A new treatment philosophy is emerging and new targets are appearing that require new active agents. The medical use of nanotechnology - nanomedicine - holds several promising possibilities in the war against cancer. Some of these include: new formats for old drugs, that is, increasing efficacy while diminishing side effects; and new administration routes - that is, dermal, oral and pulmonary. In this overview, we describe some nanoparticles and their medical uses as well as highlight advantages of nanoparticles compared with conventional pharmaceuticals. We also point to some of the many technical challenges and potential risks with using nanotechnology for oncological applications.