Inhalable Therapeutics in Lung Cancer: Overcoming Barriers for Effective Treatment

Lung cancer (LC) is one of the major causes of mortality due to cancer throughout the world, primarily due to difficulties in early detection and the restricted efficacy of conventional therapies. Inhalation drug delivery systems provide a potential strategy for targeted LC therapy by allowing direct deposition of drugs into the lungs, therefore improving therapeutic effectiveness and reducing systemic side effects. This review offers a comprehensive outlook on different inhalation formulations, highlighting their benefits in enhancing drug bioavailability and patient outcomes. It also explores the molecular pathways involved in LC progression and identifies critical LC treatment targets. Although substantial progress has been made in the field of LC treatment, numerous challenges hamper the clinical translation of inhalation therapeutic systems, such as formulation instability, physiological barriers, patient-specific variations, and immune responses. The strategies to deal with these problems are discussed, aiming at the modification of nanocarriers, stimuli-sensitive systems, and immunomodulatory approaches. In conclusion, the review underscores the potential of inhalation systems in the treatment of LC with special emphasis on the promise of personalized medicine and combination therapies to transform LC management.