Sensitizing nanomedicine for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynecologic malignancy globally, partly due to its nonspecific presentation resulting in late diagnosis. Early in treatment, platinum drugs such as cisplatin are the main chemotherapeutic choice. Unfortunately, with repeated exposure, cancer cells frequently develop platinum resistance through various genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, limiting the use of platinum agents as a treatment option. This poses a major problem in ovarian cancer treatment as it significantly reduces the efficacy of platinum drugs and ultimately worsens the prognosis of these patients. Recent advances in nanotechnology for platinum-resistant ovarian cancers have created new opportunities to overcome this barrier. In particular, nanoparticle-based technology can help resensitize cancer cells to platinum drugs, allowing these potent cytotoxic agents to become effective again. The authors reviewed 41 peer-reviewed articles on nanomedicine-based approaches for platinum resensitization identified through searches of the MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and CENTRAL databases. Nanoparticle-based strategies may be promising options for overcoming platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, although more research is needed to establish safety and clinical feasibility.