Breaking the niche: multidimensional nanotherapeutics for tumor microenvironment modulation

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Nanomedicine
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Traditional antitumor therapeutics focus solely on cancer cells, often proving ineffective due to cancer's complex multicellular nature.
• The tumor microenvironment (TME), comprising tumor cells and supporting cells, significantly influences tumor progression.
• Emerging research highlights the TME's critical role, leading to therapies targeting its supporting components.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the components of the tumor microenvironment (TME).
• To highlight advancements in nanoparticle-based combination therapies.
• To discuss innovative nanoparticle-mediated targeting strategies for synergistic antitumor effects.

Main Methods:

• Overview of major tumor microenvironment (TME) components.
• Review of recent preclinical and clinical studies on nanoparticle-based combination therapies.
• Discussion of nanoparticle-mediated targeting strategies.

Main Results:

• Simultaneously targeting cancer cells and TME components with drug combinations demonstrates high efficacy.
• Nanomedicine facilitates tumor-specific delivery of multidimensional therapeutics.
• Combination therapies utilizing nanoparticles show synergistic effects by targeting both cancer cells and TME.

Conclusions:

• Multidimensional therapy, combining drugs targeting cancer cells and the TME, holds significant potential for cancer treatment.
• Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems are crucial for overcoming the challenge of tumor-specific delivery in combination therapies.
• Innovative nanomedicine strategies are advancing the efficacy of combination cancer treatments.