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Nanotechnology-aided advancement in the combating of cancer metastasis

Leela Rani Avula1, Piotr Grodzinski2

  • 1Nanodelivery Systems and Devices Branch, Cancer Imaging Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA. leelarani.avula@nih.gov.

Cancer Metastasis Reviews
|April 2, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Nanotechnology offers new strategies to combat metastatic cancer, a major cause of cancer deaths. These approaches target the metastatic cascade, improving identification and treatment of cancer spread.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Nanomedicine
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Metastatic cancer presents a significant clinical challenge, responsible for the majority of cancer-related mortality.
  • The metastatic cascade, a multi-step process of cancer cell dissemination, offers therapeutic targets.
  • Conventional diagnostic and treatment methods for metastatic cancer have limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the potential of nanotechnology in improving the identification and treatment of metastatic cancer.
  • To link nanotechnology-aided strategies with the biological steps of the metastatic cascade.
  • To discuss the translation of nanomedicine into clinical practice for metastatic cancer care.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive review of current literature on nanotechnology applications in cancer metastasis.
  • Analysis of how nanotechnology can address specific stages of the metastatic cascade.
  • Discussion of combined therapeutic approaches using nanotechnology and conventional methods.

Main Results:

  • Nanotechnology can enhance the targeting and efficacy of anti-metastatic therapies.
  • Specific nanotechnological strategies can be tailored to different steps of the metastatic cascade.
  • Nanomedicine holds promise for improved diagnostics and treatments for metastatic disease.

Conclusions:

  • Nanotechnology-aided approaches present significant potential to overcome challenges in treating metastatic cancer.
  • Targeting the metastatic cascade with nanomedicine can lead to novel anti-metastatic agents.
  • Translation of nanotechnology into patient care for metastatic cancer is progressing.
Keywords:
CancerMetastasisNanoparticlesNanotechnologyTranslation

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