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Engineered EV-Mimetic Nanoparticles as Therapeutic Delivery Vehicles for High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer
Amal A Al-Dossary1, Essam A Tawfik2, Adaugo C Isichei1
1Department of Basic Sciences, Deanship of Preparatory Year and Supporting Studies, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 34212, Saudi Arabia.
Abstract:
High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is the most lethal gynecological malignancy among women. Several obstacles impede the early diagnosis and effective treatment options for ovarian cancer (OC) patients, which most importantly include the development of platinum-drug-resistant strains. Currently, extensive efforts are being put into the development of strategies capable of effectively circumventing the physical and biological barriers present in the peritoneal cavity of metastatic OC patients, representing a late stage of gastrointestinal and gynecological cancer with an extremely poor prognosis. Naturally occurring extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been shown to play a pivotal role in progression of OC and are now being harnessed as a delivery vehicle for cancer chemotherapeutics. However, there are limitations to their clinical application due to current challenges in their preparation techniques. Intriguingly, there is a recent drive towards the use of engineered synthetic EVs for the delivery of chemotherapeutics and RNA interference therapy (RNAi), as they show the promise of overcoming the obstacles in the treatment of OC patients. This review discusses the therapeutic application of EVs in OC and elucidates the potential use of engineered EV-mimetic nanoparticles as a delivery vehicle for RNAi therapy and other chemotherapeutics, which would potentially improve clinical outcomes of OC patients.
Insights
Engineered extracellular vesicles (EVs) offer a promising strategy to overcome treatment challenges in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). These synthetic EVs can deliver chemotherapy and RNA interference therapy, potentially improving patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biotechnology
- Nanomedicine
Background:
- High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is a leading cause of cancer death in women, with platinum-drug resistance posing a major therapeutic challenge.
- Metastatic ovarian cancer (OC) presents significant treatment barriers due to peritoneal cavity involvement.
- Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are implicated in OC progression and are explored as drug delivery systems, but natural EVs have preparation limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the therapeutic applications of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in ovarian cancer (OC).
- To explore the potential of engineered EV-mimetic nanoparticles for delivering RNA interference (RNAi) therapy and chemotherapeutics in OC treatment.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on the role of EVs in OC progression and therapeutic strategies.
- Discussion of challenges associated with natural EVs and the advantages of engineered synthetic EVs.
- Analysis of EV-mimetic nanoparticles as delivery vehicles for RNAi and chemotherapy.
Main Results:
- Natural EVs play a role in OC progression but face clinical application hurdles due to preparation difficulties.
- Engineered synthetic EVs show promise in overcoming physical and biological barriers in OC treatment.
- EV-mimetic nanoparticles offer a potential platform for enhanced delivery of RNAi and chemotherapeutics.
Conclusions:
- Engineered EVs and EV-mimetic nanoparticles represent a promising frontier for improving therapeutic strategies in ovarian cancer.
- These engineered systems have the potential to circumvent current treatment limitations and enhance clinical outcomes for OC patients.
- Further development of engineered EV-based delivery systems could revolutionize OC treatment paradigms.
