A Review of Novel Cancer Therapeutics and Current Research Trends

The unchecked growth and spread of aberrant cells describe a widely diverse collection of disorders that collectively constitute cancer. Conventional therapies for cancer, including radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery, have increased the chances of survival significantly in most patients. These traditional methods usually result in low tumor or tumor cell specificity, significant systemic toxicity, and the development of drug resistance. This review summarizes updates in cancer therapy, some of which include cutting-edge therapies represented by CAR-T therapy, targeted therapies, gene therapy, arginine-depriving therapy, mitochondria-targeted therapies, neutrophil-targeted therapies, and the latest PROTAC technology for proteolysis-targeting chimera. It has emphasized mechanisms underlying these new therapeutic strategies and their translational potential for treating human cancers. We further discuss, for each approach, the challenges, limitations, side effects, and delivery systems. The review proceeds with a dynamic change in the landscape of cancer research in biology, where machine learning and artificial intelligence are increasingly important to improve our understanding of the mechanisms of cancer and treatment responses. We also describe the potential of stem cell therapy, metabolomics, and novel drug delivery systems toward better patient outcomes. The paper pulls together some of the current research findings and results of clinical trials in new therapeutic developments and emerging areas of research that hold out exciting promises for the future progress of cancer treatment.