Nanomedicine-induced programmed cell death in cancer therapy: mechanisms and perspectives

Lin Luobin1,2, He Wanxin1, Guo Yingxin1

  • 1School of Health Sciences, Guangzhou Xinhua University, 19 Huamei Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, 510520, China.

Cell Death Discovery
|August 29, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Nanomedicine precisely targets cancer cells by activating programmed cell death (PCD) pathways like apoptosis and necroptosis. This approach enhances treatment efficacy and reduces side effects compared to traditional chemotherapy.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Nanotechnology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Programmed cell death (PCD) pathways are crucial for cancer progression and treatment.
  • Dysregulation of PCD leads to uncontrolled cell growth and therapy resistance.
  • Nanomedicine offers targeted drug delivery to improve cancer treatment outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the role of PCD mechanisms in cancer.
  • To review nanomedicine strategies for activating PCD pathways in cancer cells.
  • To highlight the potential of nanotechnology in enhancing cancer therapy specificity and reducing toxicity.

Main Methods:

  • Detailed review of various PCD pathways (apoptosis, autophagy, necroptosis).
  • Analysis of nanomedicine approaches for targeted delivery and PCD induction.
  • Examination of studies demonstrating enhanced therapeutic efficacy and reduced side effects.

Main Results:

  • Nanomedicine enables precise targeting of cancer cells, activating specific PCD pathways.
  • Targeted activation of PCD pathways by nanomedicine reduces damage to healthy tissues.
  • This approach improves treatment efficacy and minimizes adverse effects of conventional therapies.

Conclusions:

  • The synergy between nanotechnology and targeted PCD activation offers a promising strategy for improved cancer treatment.
  • Nanomedicine-mediated PCD induction can lead to more effective and less toxic cancer therapies.
  • This innovative approach heralds a new era in oncology, improving patient outcomes.

Related Concept Videos

Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
7.5K
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response01:27

Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response

Cytotoxic T cells are a vital component of the immune system. They have the remarkable ability to identify and target antigens on infected or abnormal cells. These antigens often originate from intracellular pathogens such as viruses or abnormal proteins cancer cells produce.
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
861
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
4.9K
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:31

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

Internal cellular stress, such as cellular injury or hypoxia, triggers intrinsic apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are the primary regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. For example, during DNA damage, checkpoint proteins, such as Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM protein) and Checkpoints Factor-2 (Chk2) proteins, are activated. These proteins phosphorylate p53 which further activates pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, Bak, PUMA, and Noxa, and inhibits...
6.4K
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
5.7K
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:17

The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

The extrinsic apoptotic pathway is initiated when extracellular death-inducing signals, such as specific cytokines, activate the death receptors expressed on the cell surface. The immune cells involved in this pathway are natural killer cells (NK cells) and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. NK cells are critical in innate immune response, while cytotoxic T-lymphocytes are associated with adaptive immune response. These cells recognize specific receptors expressed on the altered cells and activate...
6.3K