Research Progress of Docetaxel Nano-Drug Delivery System in the Treatment of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignant tumor in women. Docetaxel (DTX), a chemotherapeutic agent derived from paclitaxel (PTX), has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of BC and various other malignancies. Nevertheless, its utility in clinical settings is constrained due to its poor water solubility and low oral bioavailability, dose-dependent toxicity, and a short systemic circulation half-life. Developing nano-drug delivery systems for DTX represents a well-established strategy to overcome these limitations. This review, based on a literature search of the PubMed database from 2019 to 2024 using the keywords "docetaxel", "breast cancer", and "nano-drug delivery system", summarises recent advances in targeted nanomedicine delivery systems for DTX and their application in BC treatment when combined with other delivery therapies. Nano-drug delivery systems encompass passive targeting (such as: nanomicelles, liposomes), active targeting (such as: G protein-coupled oestrogen receptor, integrin protein receptor), physicochemical targeting (such as: magnetic-responsive, temperature-responsive), and combined delivery (such as: photothermal therapy, chemotherapeutic drugs, and active components of traditional Chinese medicine). These systems hold great promise for enhancing DTX bioavailability, improving tumor targeting, and regulating drug release. Furthermore, key challenges limiting clinical translation are analysed. This paper provides a theoretical foundation and practical guidance for rationally designing DTX nanomedicines, accelerating their transition from laboratory research to clinical application and offering new hope for BC treatment.