Current Status of Brain Tumor in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Application of Nanobiotechnology for Its Treatment: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Objective: Brain tumors are the most challenging of all tumors and accounts for about 3% of all cancer allied deaths. The aim of the present review is to examine the brain tumor prevalence and treatment modalities available in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It also provides a comprehensive analysis of the application of various nanotechnology-based products for brain cancer treatments along with their prospective future advancements. Methods: A literature review was performed to identify and summarize the current status of brain cancer in Saudi Arabia and the scope of nanobiotechnology in its treatment. Results: Depending upon the study population data analysis, gliomas, astrocytoma, meningioma, and metastatic cancer have a higher incidence rate in Saudi Arabia than in other countries, and are mostly treated in accordance with conventional treatment modalities for brain cancer. Due to the poor prognosis of cancer, it has an average survival rate of 2 years. Conventional therapy includes surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and a combination thereof, but these do not control the disease’s recurrence. Among the various nanomaterials discussed, liposomes and polymeric nanoformulations have demonstrated encouraging outcomes for facilitated brain cancer treatment. Conclusions: Nanomaterials possess the capacity to overcome the shortcomings of conventional therapies. Polymer-based nanomaterials have shown encouraging outcomes against brain cancer when amalgamated with other nano-based therapies. Nonetheless, nanomaterials could be devised that possess minimal toxicity towards normal cells or that specifically target tumor cells. In addition, rigorous clinical investigations are warranted to prepare them as an efficient and safe modality for brain cancer therapy.

Calotropis procera: A double edged sword against glioblastoma, inhibiting glioblastoma cell line growth by targeting histone deacetylases (HDAC) and angiogenesis

“…In Saudi Arabia, brain and central nervous system tumours rank 15th among all occurring cancers, with an incidence rate of 5.39 new cases per 100,000 population [ 2 ]. This rate is higher than in other countries based on population density [ 3 ].…”

Brain Tumors in Saudi Arabia: An Observational and Descriptive Epidemiological Analysis

“…In Saudi Arabia, the most prevalent cancers are breast, colorectal, prostate, brain, lymphoma, kidney, and thyroid. Their prevalence rates and OR values (95% CI), respectively, are as follows: breast cancer: 53% and 0.93 (0.84–1.00); colon-rectal cancer (CRC): 50.9% and 1.2 (0.81–1.77); prostate cancer: 42.6% and 3.2 (0.88–31.11); brain/central nervous system cancer: 9.6% and 2.3 (0.01–4.2); Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma: 9.2% and 3.02 (1.48–6.17); kidney cancer: 4.6% and 2.05 (1.61–2.61); thyroid cancer: 12.9% and 6.77 (2.34–19.53) [ 22 ].…”

“…According to the recent Saudi Cancer Registry study, executed in 2016, more than 300 new brain cancer cases accounted for 2.8% of the total cancer patients. The Riyadh region, followed by the Jouf region, the Northern region, the Eastern region, and the Qassim region were the five regions with the highest ASRs for brain cancer, whereas after the Jazan, Hail, and Asir areas, the Madina region had the lowest ASR for brain cancer [ 22 , 23 ].…”

Long-Term Outcomes of Patients with Primary Brain Tumors after Acute Rehabilitation: A Retrospective Analyses of Factors

“…The size, location and grade of the tumor have a major impact on the type and severity of such impairments. They may be secondarily aggravated by sequelae of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or secondary disease progression [ 21 , 22 ]. As patients can present with a diversity of impairments, an individualized and multidisciplinary rehabilitative approach is required.…”