Nano Chemotherapy: An Emergent Anti-Cancer Modality


Authored by Alain L Fymat

The notion that even relatively indiscriminate cytotoxic agents discovered largely by accident would cure cancer continues to captivate oncology. Thus, with a three-drug cocktail called BVP (bleomycin, vinblastine, cisplatin abbreviated P for platinum), metastatic testes cancer can be cured, and a high-dose cocktail of seven drugs can cure Burkitt’s lymphoma. From there, an avalanche of such drugs have poured in: taxol, Adriamycin, etoposide, bleomycin (an antibiotic), and an alphabet soup of other combinations (ABVD, BEP, C-POMP, ChlaVIP, CHOP, ACT). Yet, despite these successes and the escalation of drugs and doses, the efficacy of the drug regimen remains minimal. The pattern repeats itself regularly for many forms of cancer. Fortunately, through the ability of nano particles and the nano devices that deliver these drugs more efficiently and more judiciously at tumor sites, nano chemotherapy (NCT) is evolving as an emergent, viable anti-cancer modality that builds upon and supplements conventional chemotherapy. This article introduces NCT and discusses the several nano particles and the nano devices delivering them that have been found useful. The clinical advantages of this novel strategy are outlined as well as ways of overcoming multi-drug resistance. However, like for any anti-cancer modality, toxic effects may be lurking in the background and are briefly considered.

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