Novel
and emerging nanotechnology approaches used in the treatment of skin cancer are
generating interest as they enable the efficient delivery of drugs and other
bioactive molecules to target tissues with low toxic effects. A recent study1
examined current investigations of nanoparticle and nanosystems and highlighted
the therapeutic benefit and potentially larger role in the treatment of skin
cancer.
Depending
on disease stage, melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers can be treated in a
variety of ways. However, the limitations of some treatment modalities have led
research to explore new delivery systems and approaches to help improve
clinical outcomes.
“The
molecular mechanisms of melanoma have not been entirely elucidated; therefore,
treating the disease is difficult. To overcome this challenge, innovative
therapies are required that are mainly based on delivery systems using
nanotechnology,†writes Livia Neves Borgheti-Cardoso, Ph.D., School of
Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paolo, Ribeirao
Preto, San Paolo, Brazil, and fellow colleagues, in a study published in
Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews.
One
of the many recent advancements in the treatment of cancer has been
nanotechnology and the nanosystems that they employ. Nanoparticles efficiently
deliver therapeutic agents to the tumor site which can include
chemotherapeutics, immune and vaccine molecules, and nucleic acids.
“Nanosystems
can be developed to overcome biological barriers and to target drug delivery to
the tumor sites, thus enabling the use of lower doses, increasing treatment
efficacy and decreasing the number and/or the severity of the side effects,â€
the study authors write.
Most
nanotechnology approaches and systems are still in the research and development
phase; however, some have reached the clinical stage and are currently
available on the market. There are no commercially available nanosystems to
date for bioactive molecule topical delivery for skin cancer, the study authors
write that some nanoparticle applications and products are being evaluated in
clinical trials for advanced solid tumors as well as nonmelanoma skin cancers. The
latter is a dose-rising study2 currently underway evaluating a topical
nanoparticle paclitaxel ointment for safety, tolerability, and the preliminary
efficacy of three concentrations (0.15 percent, 1.0 percent, and 2.0 percent)
of the nanoparticle for the treatment of cutaneous metastases from nonmelanoma
skin cancer.
Nanoparticles
are currently being investigated to enhance the drug delivery of different
agents in skin cancer therapies such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy including
the PD-1 inhibitors, as well as therapeutic vaccines, with the hope of
promoting more robust antitumor effects and improved clinical outcomes.
In
cancer immunotherapy, nanoparticles can be directed to different cells and
tissues related to the immune response including antigen presenting cells,
lymphocytes and lymphoid tissues, thereby overcoming the limitations of direct
cancer cell targeting. According to the study authors, one important advantage
of using nanoparticles for antigen delivery is their capability to carry several
adjuvants or neoantigens, which is ideal for treating different cancers.
When
used in combination with physical techniques, nanocarriers could also help
enhance topical and transdermal drug delivery in the treatment of melanoma and
nonmelanoma skin cancers. Physical enhancement methods used include laser
irradiation (i.e., phototherapy, thermotherapy, and acoustic therapy),
iontophoresis, ultrasound, and microneedling systems.
A
promising alternative for overcoming multidrug resistance, the authors explained
that nanotechnology can also help the clinician provide treatment in a specific
and orderly fashion, with smaller doses of therapeutic agents and fewer toxic
effects.
“The
use of nanocarriers enables the effective, targeted delivery of several therapeutic
agents made from combinations of molecules aimed at acting synergistically and
effectively against cancer types that are resistant and no longer responsive to
conventional therapies,†the authors write.
Nanoparticles
also used together with high-cost therapies including immunotherapies and gene
therapies enable a more efficient administration of treatment, which can result
in a more cost-effective approach and improved clinical outcomes.
“The
versatility of these nanocarriers grows exponentially because although their
use adds to the cost of therapy, it comes with innumerable benefits, which in
terms of cost-effectiveness, are worth conceding, as these benefits lead to
greater prospects for diagnosis and treatments, in addition to allowing the use
of theranostics in cancer patients,†the study authors say.