Developments & Potential of Nanotechnology for the Detection and Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is projected to become the second leading cause of cancer death by 2030 with a dismal 5-year survival rate compared to other cancers (12%). Due to the absence of clear early symptoms, diagnosis is often delayed resulting in many patients presenting with advanced disease and limited treatment options. Surgery remains the only potential curative option. However, only about 20% of cases are detected early enough for surgery. Consequently, most patients rely on chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiotherapy. Among these, chemotherapy offers the best chance of tumor shrinkage, it comes with many problems such as harsh side effects which kill healthy cells and cancer cells, leaving the patient sometimes too ill to continue treatment. With immuno- and radiotherapy, it offers limited success in the treatment of pancreatic cancer despite its success in treating other forms of cancer. Nanotechnology offers promising opportunities for more effective diagnosis and less aggressive treatment. Fortunately, there has been some success for pancreatic cancer with two nano formulations currently approved by the Food and Drug Agency (Onivyde and Abraxane) offering greater survival rates and reduced side effects compared to traditional chemotherapy. Unfortunately, progress in nanotechnology-based diagnostics for pancreatic cancer remains limited. However, numerous different types of nanoparticles are under investigation in preclinical and clinical studies showing positive results. This review gives an overview of the potential of nanotechnology within this area looking at harnessing its potential in more effective diagnosis strategies and for more efficient therapy.