Title:Perspectives in Breast and Ovarian Cancer Chemotherapy by Nanomedicine Approach: Nanoformulations in Clinical Research
Volume: 28
Issue: 17
Author(s): Cristina Martín-Sabroso, Ana Isabel Fraguas-Sánchez, Rafaela Raposo-González and Ana Isabel Torres-Suárez*
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Food Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, Pl Ramon y Cajal s/n., 28040 Madrid,Spain
Keywords:
Breast cancer, camptothecin, chemotherapy, liposomes, nanocarriers, ovarian cancer, paclitaxel.
Abstract:
Background: Breast and ovarian carcinomas represent major health problems in
women worldwide. Chemotherapy constitutes the main treatment strategy, and the use of
nanocarriers, a good tool to improve it. Several nanoformulations have already been approved,
and others are under clinical trials for the treatment of both types of cancers.
Objective: This review focuses on the analysis of the nanoformulations that are under clinical
research in the treatment of these neoplasms.
Results: Currently, there are 6 nanoformulations in clinical trials for breast and ovarian
carcinomas, most of them in phase II and phase III. In the case of breast cancer treatment,
these nanomedicines contain paclitaxel; and, for ovarian cancer, nanoformulations containing
paclitaxel or camptothecin analogs are being evaluated. The nanoencapsulation of these
antineoplastics facilitates their administration and reduces their systemic toxicity.
Nevertheless, the final approval and commercialization of nanoformulations may be limited
by other aspects like lack of correlation between the efficacy results evaluated at in vitro and
in vivo levels, difficulty in producing large batches of nanoformulations in a reproducible
manner and high production costs compared to conventional formulations of antineoplastics.
However, these challenges are not insurmountable and the number of approved
nanoformulations for cancer therapy is growing.
Conclusion: Reviewed nanoformulations have shown, in general, excellent results, demonstrating
a good safety profile, a higher maximum tolerated dose and a similar or even slightly
better antitumor efficacy compared to the administration of free drugs, reinforcing the use of
nano-chemotherapy in both breast and ovarian tumors.