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Targeted endocytosis: Strategies in drug delivery systems for enhancing antitumor efficacy

Xinghua Peng1, Mengxia Zhang2, Yuan Gao3

  • 1Institute of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China; Hunan Province Key Laboratory for Antibody-Based Drug and Intelligent Delivery System, Biomedical research Institute, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hunan University of Medicine, Huaihua 418000, China.

Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces
|November 16, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Targeting cancer cell endocytosis improves drug delivery. Exploiting dysregulated endocytic pathways in tumors enhances therapeutic efficacy and overcomes drug resistance for better cancer treatment outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Endocytosis is crucial for cellular drug delivery, yet inefficient delivery limits cancer therapy efficacy.
  • Targeted therapies and immunotherapies have improved cancer survival, but drug delivery remains a challenge.
  • Tumor cell endocytic pathway alterations impact treatment effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review how cancer cells dysregulate endocytosis.
  • To highlight strategies for targeting endocytic pathways to improve drug delivery in cancer.
  • To examine drug internalization mechanisms and endocytosis-targeted delivery applications in oncology.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of endocytosis mechanisms in cancer.
  • Analysis of endocytic pathway dysregulation in tumor cells.
  • Summary of strategies and applications for endocytosis-targeted drug delivery.

Main Results:

  • Cancer cells exhibit distinct endocytic pathway dysregulations.
  • Targeting these pathways can enhance intracellular drug accumulation and overcome resistance.
  • Various strategies exist for exploiting endocytosis in drug delivery platforms.

Conclusions:

  • Strategic targeting of cancer cell endocytosis offers a promising approach to improve drug delivery and therapeutic outcomes.
  • Understanding endocytic mechanisms is key to developing effective cancer treatments.
  • Further research is needed to address current limitations and advance endocytosis-targeted drug delivery.
Keywords:
CancerDrug delivery systemEndocytosisEndosome recycling

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