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Published on: February 9, 2019
Functionalized liposomes for targeted breast cancer drug delivery
Janske Nel1, Kamil Elkhoury2, Émilie Velot3
1Université de Lorraine, LIBio, F-54000, Nancy, France.
Abstract:
Despite the exceptional progress in breast cancer pathogenesis, prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment strategies, it remains a prominent cause of female mortality worldwide. Additionally, although chemotherapies are effective, they are associated with critical limitations, most notably their lack of specificity resulting in systemic toxicity and the eventual development of multi-drug resistance (MDR) cancer cells. Liposomes have proven to be an invaluable drug delivery system but of the multitudes of liposomal systems developed every year only a few have been approved for clinical use, none of which employ active targeting. In this review, we summarize the most recent strategies in development for actively targeted liposomal drug delivery systems for surface, transmembrane and internal cell receptors, enzymes, direct cell targeting and dual-targeting of breast cancer and breast cancer-associated cells, e.g., cancer stem cells, cells associated with the tumor microenvironment, etc.
Insights
This review highlights actively targeted liposomal drug delivery systems for breast cancer treatment, addressing chemotherapy limitations like systemic toxicity and multi-drug resistance (MDR). It explores novel targeting strategies for improved efficacy and reduced side effects.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Nanotechnology
- Drug Delivery
Background:
- Breast cancer remains a leading cause of female mortality globally.
- Conventional chemotherapy faces limitations including systemic toxicity and multi-drug resistance (MDR).
- Existing liposomal drug delivery systems lack active targeting, limiting clinical translation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in actively targeted liposomal drug delivery systems for breast cancer.
- To explore strategies targeting various cellular components and associated cells in the tumor microenvironment.
- To discuss dual-targeting approaches for enhanced therapeutic outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on actively targeted liposomal systems.
- Categorization of targeting strategies based on cellular receptors, enzymes, and direct cell targeting.
- Analysis of dual-targeting approaches for breast cancer and associated cells (e.g., cancer stem cells, tumor microenvironment cells).
Main Results:
- Emerging strategies focus on active targeting of surface, transmembrane, and internal cell receptors.
- Targeting enzymes and direct cell targeting show promise for improved specificity.
- Dual-targeting approaches are being developed to address tumor heterogeneity and the tumor microenvironment.
Conclusions:
- Actively targeted liposomal systems offer a promising strategy to overcome limitations of conventional breast cancer chemotherapy.
- Further development and clinical translation of these targeted systems are crucial for improved patient outcomes.
- Targeting strategies should consider both cancer cells and their associated microenvironment for maximal efficacy.
