Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 16, 2026
Integration of Wet and Dry Bench Processes Optimizes Targeted Next-generation Sequencing of Low-quality and Low-quantity Tumor Biopsies
Published on: April 11, 2016
Nanotechnology Strategies To Advance Outcomes in Clinical Cancer Care
Christopher M Hartshorn1, Michelle S Bradbury2, Gregory M Lanza3
1National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States.
Abstract:
Ongoing research into the application of nanotechnology for cancer treatment and diagnosis has demonstrated its advantages within contemporary oncology as well as its intrinsic limitations. The National Cancer Institute publishes the Cancer Nanotechnology Plan every 5 years since 2005. The most recent iteration helped codify the ongoing basic and translational efforts of the field and displayed its breadth with several evolving areas. From merely a technological perspective, this field has seen tremendous growth and success. However, an incomplete understanding of human cancer biology persists relative to the application of nanoscale materials within contemporary oncology. As such, this review presents several evolving areas in cancer nanotechnology in order to identify key clinical and biological challenges that need to be addressed to improve patient outcomes. From this clinical perspective, a sampling of the nano-enabled solutions attempting to overcome barriers faced by traditional therapeutics and diagnostics in the clinical setting are discussed. Finally, a strategic outlook of the future is discussed to highlight the need for next-generation cancer nanotechnology tools designed to address critical gaps in clinical cancer care.
Insights
Nanotechnology offers promising cancer treatment and diagnostic tools, but challenges remain. Future research must bridge the gap between nano-scale materials and cancer biology for improved patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Nanotechnology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Nanotechnology applications in oncology are rapidly advancing.
- The National Cancer Institute's Cancer Nanotechnology Plan guides research efforts.
- Despite technological success, a full understanding of cancer biology is lacking for effective nano-material integration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review evolving areas in cancer nanotechnology.
- To identify key clinical and biological challenges.
- To discuss nano-enabled solutions and future strategic outlooks.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature and research trends in cancer nanotechnology.
- Analysis of clinical and biological challenges.
- Discussion of emerging nano-enabled therapeutic and diagnostic strategies.
Main Results:
- Cancer nanotechnology has shown significant technological growth.
- Clinical and biological challenges hinder the full potential of nano-therapeutics and diagnostics.
- Nano-enabled solutions are emerging to address traditional treatment and diagnostic barriers.
Conclusions:
- Further research is needed to integrate nanotechnology with cancer biology.
- Next-generation cancer nanotechnology tools are essential to address critical gaps in cancer care.
- Improving patient outcomes requires overcoming current limitations in the field.
Related Concept Videos
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
02:50Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
02:49Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
02:18Cancer
01:21Cancer Survival Analysis