Co-delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs and cell cycle regulatory agents using nanocarriers for cancer therapy

Abstract

Combination chemotherapy is widely exploited to overcome multidrug resistance (MDR) and enhance the therapeutic effect of anti-tumor agents clinically. The traditional combination regimens applied in clinical practice still suffer from various obstacles, such as inevitable side effects. Fortunately, the application of nanotechnology and the proposal of co-delivery systems make the combination therapy more effective. The occurrence, development, and metastasis of tumors are closely related to the cell cycle. The sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapeutic drugs can be improved with the cooperation of cell cycle regulators. In this review, the influence of the cell cycle on tumorigenesis and development is introduced briefly. The current strategies of combining chemotherapeutic drugs and cell cycle regulators through codelivery systems are discussed in detail. We also sketch the possibility of treating tumors mildly via artificially controlling the cell cycle and outline the challenges and perspectives about the improvement of co-delivery systems for cancer therapy.

The Influence of Cell Cycle Regulation on Chemotherapy

“…According to the mechanism at the molecular level, chemotherapeutic drugs can be divided into four categories: alkylating agents, nucleotide reductase inhibitors and their anti-metabolites, antibiotics, and anti-tumor plant drugs [22,23]. There are dozens or even hundreds of drugs in each class.…”

Recent research progress of biologically active peptides

“…104,105 Conventional cancer chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery can cause serious side effects. 106 The quality of life of cancer patients declines. 107 Because of its LMW, relatively simple structure, strong tumor selectivity, few adverse reactions, easy absorption, diverse routes of administration, and low risk of inducing multidrug resistance, polypeptides have attracted widespread attention in cancer-related fields.…”

“…Cancer is a disease with high morbidity and mortality, which constitutes a serious health burden and a global economic burden 104,105 . Conventional cancer chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery can cause serious side effects 106 . The quality of life of cancer patients declines 107 .…”

Application of Nano-Drug Delivery System Based on Cascade Technology in Cancer Treatment

“…Selectins are C-type lectins that bind to properly modified glycan ligands, such as CD44, Eselectin ligand-1, CD43, CD34, or addresses with a variable specificity. For example, the study by Hao et al showed that both CD147 and CD44 are involved in cancer drug resistance [25]. CD44 is a multifunctional protein involved in cell adhesion, migration and drug resistance, with a critical role in cell signaling and cell-ECM interactions in cancer.…”