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Pancreatic Cancer: Recent Advances in Nanoformulation-Based Therapies
Preshita Desai1, David Ann2, 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
- Nanomedicine
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Pancreatic cancer is a leading cause of death with a low survival rate.
- Current treatments have limited efficacy, highlighting an unmet need for better therapies.
- Novel drug delivery systems are crucial for improving pancreatic cancer chemoprevention and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advances in nanotechnology-based drug delivery for pancreatic cancer.
- To highlight the potential of nanotechnology in enhancing therapeutic efficacy.
- To discuss passive and active targeting mechanisms for pancreatic drug delivery.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of scientific publications on nanotechnology in pancreatic cancer.
- Analysis of recent developments in nanotechnology-based formulations.
- Summary of research on passive and active targeting strategies.
Main Results:
- Nanotechnology is emerging as a key strategy to improve drug delivery to the pancreas.
- Nanoparticle-based formulations show potential for enhanced therapeutic and chemopreventive effects.
- Both passive and active targeting mechanisms are being explored to optimize drug delivery.
Conclusions:
- Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems represent a significant advancement in pancreatic cancer treatment.
- These systems are vital for improving the efficacy of current and future pancreatic cancer drugs.
- Further research in this area holds promise for overcoming the challenges in pancreatic cancer therapy.
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