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Pancreatic Cancer: Recent Advances in Nanoformulation-Based Therapies
Preshita Desai1, David Ann1, Jeffrey Wang1
1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California, USA.
Abstract:
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and has a 5-year life expectancy of ~8%. Currently, only a few drugs have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for pancreatic cancer treatment. Despite available drug therapy and ongoing clinical investigations, the high prevalence and mortality associated with pancreatic cancer mean that there is an unmet chemopreventive and therapeutic need. From ongoing studies with various novel formulations, it is evident that the development of smart drug delivery systems will improve delivery of drug cargo to the pancreatic target site to ensure and enhance the therapeutic/chemoprevention efficacy of existing drugs and newly designed drugs in the future. With this in view, nanotechnology is emerging as a promising avenue to enhance drug delivery to the pancreas via both passive and active targeting mechanisms. Research in this field has grown extensively over the past decade, as is evident from available scientific literature. This review summarizes the recent advances that have brought nanotechnology-based formulations to the forefront of pancreatic cancer treatment.
Insights
Nanotechnology offers a promising approach to improve pancreatic cancer treatment by enhancing drug delivery. These advanced formulations aim to increase the efficacy of existing and new therapies for this deadly disease.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Nanotechnology
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Pancreatic cancer is a leading cause of death with a low survival rate.
- Limited approved treatments highlight an unmet need for effective therapies.
- Current drug delivery methods face challenges in targeting pancreatic tumors effectively.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advances in nanotechnology-based drug delivery for pancreatic cancer.
- To highlight how nanotechnology can improve therapeutic and chemopreventive efficacy.
- To discuss the potential of nanotechnology in addressing unmet needs in pancreatic cancer treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of scientific literature on nanotechnology applications in pancreatic cancer.
- Analysis of passive and active targeting mechanisms employed by nanocarriers.
- Summary of recent developments in nanotechnology-based formulations.
Main Results:
- Nanotechnology enables enhanced drug delivery to pancreatic tumors.
- Both passive and active targeting strategies show promise.
- Nanotechnology-based formulations are emerging as key strategies in pancreatic cancer treatment.
Conclusions:
- Nanotechnology represents a significant advancement in pancreatic cancer therapy.
- Smart drug delivery systems utilizing nanotechnology can improve treatment outcomes.
- Further research in this area is crucial for developing next-generation pancreatic cancer treatments.
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