[Inhaled chemotherapy - Part 1: General concept and current technological challenges]

Despite severe adverse effects, chemotherapy is still widely used in the treatment of lung tumors, including primary lung tumors and metastases. In order to reduce the risk of harm and to intensify treatment responses, several strategies have been described recently. These include the use of nanomedicine-based chemotherapies and pulmonary drug delivery. However, to treat lung tumors, inhalation cannot be effective and safe without an adaptation of current inhalation techniques, i.e. inhalation devices and drug formulations. This can be very challenging. This review presents recent preclinical developments that could address the limitations observed with aerosolized chemotherapy. The solutions involve the use of dry powder inhalers and advanced drug formulations, such as controlled and sustained release formulations and nanomedicine-based formulations.