Development and Perspectives: Multifunctional Nucleic Acid Nanomedicines for Treatment of Gynecological Cancers

Abstract

Gynecological malignancies are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality across the globe. Due to delayed presentation, gynecological cancer patients are often referred late in the disease's course, resulting in poor outcomes. A considerable number of patients ultimately succumb to chemotherapy‐resistant disease, which reoccurs at advanced stages despite treatment interventions. Although efforts have been devoted to developing therapies that demonstrate reduced resistance to chemotherapy and enhanced toxicity profiles, current clinical outcomes remain unsatisfactory due to treatment resistance and unfavorable off‐target effects. Consequently, innovative biological and nanotherapeutic approaches are imperative to strengthen and optimize the therapeutic arsenal for gynecological cancers. Advancements in nanotechnology‐based therapies for gynecological malignancies offer significant advantages, including reduced toxicity, expanded drug circulation, and optimized therapeutic dosing, ultimately leading to enhanced treatment effectiveness. Recent advances in nucleic acid therapeutics using microRNA, small interfering RNA, and messenger RNA provide novel approaches for cancer therapeutics. Effective single‐agent and combinatorial nucleic acid therapeutics for gynecological malignancies have the potential to transform cancer treatment by giving safer, more tailored approaches than conventional therapies. This review highlights current preclinical studies that effectively exploit these approaches for the treatment of gynecological malignant tumors and malignant ascites.

VEGF-Leptin Crosstalk in Breast and Ovarian Cancer: Drivers of Angiogenesis and Progression

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VEGF-Leptin Crosstalk in Breast and Ovarian Cancer: Drivers of Angiogenesis and Progression

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Recent development of nanotechnology-based approaches for gynecologic cancer therapy

“…Conventional therapeutic methods such as chemotherapy for the management of gynecological are limited by toxicity, poor selectivity and administration, low efficiency, and severe side effects [ 55 ]. Developments in nanotechnology-based targeted therapeutic approaches for gynecological cancer have witnessed substantial progress in overcoming the limitations of traditional methods and improving treatment efficiency [ 56 - 60 ]. Tumor targeting typically involves the incorporation of nanoparticles with targeting molecules, including ligands, antibodies, proteins, and peptides, on the surfaces of nanomaterials, owing to their significant affinity towards receptors that are overexpressed in gynecological cancers [ 61 - 66 ].…”

Research progress and treatment status of malignant ascites

“…Nucleic acid treatments ( 111 ) including the application of messenger RNA (mRNA), small interfering RNA (siRNA), and microRNA (miRNA) work by precisely regulating the expression and silencing of specific genes or gene products closely related to cancer growth and progression, achieving precise targeted therapy for cancer.…”

“…Here, siRNA can specifically target and interfere with the normal function of resistance-related genes, thereby reducing multidrug resistance in gynecological cancers and enhancing the sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapy drugs ( 115 ). However, it is worth noting that siRNA therapy may promote genes related to fluid accumulation, including VEGF, leptin, and IL-10 ( 111 ).…”

VEGF-Leptin Crosstalk in Breast and Ovarian Cancer: Drivers of Angiogenesis and Progression

“……”

Recent development of nanotechnology-based approaches for gynecologic cancer therapy

“…Conventional therapeutic methods such as chemotherapy for the management of gynecological are limited by toxicity, poor selectivity and administration, low efficiency, and severe side effects [ 55 ]. Developments in nanotechnology-based targeted therapeutic approaches for gynecological cancer have witnessed substantial progress in overcoming the limitations of traditional methods and improving treatment efficiency [ 56 - 60 ]. Tumor targeting typically involves the incorporation of nanoparticles with targeting molecules, including ligands, antibodies, proteins, and peptides, on the surfaces of nanomaterials, owing to their significant affinity towards receptors that are overexpressed in gynecological cancers [ 61 - 66 ].…”

Research progress and treatment status of malignant ascites

“…Nucleic acid treatments ( 111 ) including the application of messenger RNA (mRNA), small interfering RNA (siRNA), and microRNA (miRNA) work by precisely regulating the expression and silencing of specific genes or gene products closely related to cancer growth and progression, achieving precise targeted therapy for cancer.…”

“…Here, siRNA can specifically target and interfere with the normal function of resistance-related genes, thereby reducing multidrug resistance in gynecological cancers and enhancing the sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapy drugs ( 115 ). However, it is worth noting that siRNA therapy may promote genes related to fluid accumulation, including VEGF, leptin, and IL-10 ( 111 ).…”

VEGF-Leptin Crosstalk in Breast and Ovarian Cancer: Drivers of Angiogenesis and Progression

“……”

Recent development of nanotechnology-based approaches for gynecologic cancer therapy

“…Conventional therapeutic methods such as chemotherapy for the management of gynecological are limited by toxicity, poor selectivity and administration, low efficiency, and severe side effects [ 55 ]. Developments in nanotechnology-based targeted therapeutic approaches for gynecological cancer have witnessed substantial progress in overcoming the limitations of traditional methods and improving treatment efficiency [ 56 - 60 ]. Tumor targeting typically involves the incorporation of nanoparticles with targeting molecules, including ligands, antibodies, proteins, and peptides, on the surfaces of nanomaterials, owing to their significant affinity towards receptors that are overexpressed in gynecological cancers [ 61 - 66 ].…”

Research progress and treatment status of malignant ascites

“…Nucleic acid treatments ( 111 ) including the application of messenger RNA (mRNA), small interfering RNA (siRNA), and microRNA (miRNA) work by precisely regulating the expression and silencing of specific genes or gene products closely related to cancer growth and progression, achieving precise targeted therapy for cancer.…”

“…Here, siRNA can specifically target and interfere with the normal function of resistance-related genes, thereby reducing multidrug resistance in gynecological cancers and enhancing the sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapy drugs ( 115 ). However, it is worth noting that siRNA therapy may promote genes related to fluid accumulation, including VEGF, leptin, and IL-10 ( 111 ).…”