The Use of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Pancreatic Cancer Therapy

Abstract

malignant stages, making curative therapy impossible and leading to poor prognosis and incidence equalling mortality [8]. In the year 2000, there were 217,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer with 213,000 deaths worldwide, while in Europe there were 60,139 new patients with 64,801 deaths [9]. In the UK, 7,152 new cases were seen with 7,250 deaths as a result of PDAC [10]. PDAC affects more western/industrialized citizens than other parts of the world. The highest prevalence has been shown among Maoris in native Hawaiians, New Zealand, and Black American societies, while people living in India and Nigeria have the lowest reported morbidity [11,12]. Gemcitabine is the only chemotherapy available clinically for pancreatic cancer treatment. Unfortunately, it proves effective in as few as 23.8% of patients with the only alternative being surgical removal of the localized tumor (Figure 1) [13-15]. Thus, there is huge requirement to increase the efficacy of this treatment as well as exploring alternative therapies. Nanoparticles in Biomedicine Nanoscience and nanotechnology has become a versatile and promising platform for creating novel materials with enhanced properties and potential applications in cancer therapy. Nanotechnology, a wide research field which includes chemistry, engineering, biology and medicine, has excellent potential for early detection, accurate diagnosis, and treatment of cancer [16]. Using materials at nanoscale leads to a "big revolution" in healthcare and medical therapies. Nanoparticles (NPs) are

Emerging Therapeutic Potential of Nanoparticles in Pancreatic Cancer: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials

“…For example, nanoparticles were shown to increase the delivery, cellular targeting of gemcitabine the current first line chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer, whilst reducing associated adverse effects [14]. Gemcitabine is known to be plagued by issues such as low solubility and poor expression of intracellular gemcitabine-uptake regulating nucleoside transporters on pancreatic cells [27].…”

“…Despite promising research showing the efficacy and safety of nanoparticles in in vitro and in vivo studies in animal models, more research is required to determine the clearance mechanisms of nanoparticles and their molecular interactions in human participants [14]. The long-term side effects of using nanoparticles are yet to be defined.…”

“…Due to the poor lymphatic drainage in tumours, nanoparticles are able to accumulate within tumour capillaries and are large enough to escape filtration by the kidney and small enough to evade phagocytic removal by Kupffer cells and splenocytes. However, the non-physiological surface chemistry of nanoparticles may cause non-specific cellular targeting and precipitation leading to cell damage [14]. Alternatively, nanoparticles can be used to actively target tumour cells by combination of specific recognition motifs such as antibodies, sugar molecules, etc.…”

Emerging Therapeutic Potential of Nanoparticles in Pancreatic Cancer: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials

“…Overall, clinical trials have demonstrated that nanoparticles can improve the efficacy of anticancer agents [7,8,[41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48]. For example, nanoparticles were shown to increase the delivery, cellular targeting of gemcitabine the current first line chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer, whilst reducing associated adverse effects [14]. Gemcitabine is known to be plagued by issues such as low solubility and poor expression of intracellular gemcitabine-uptake regulating nucleoside transporters on pancreatic cells [27].…”

“…These studies highlight the potential of nanoparticles to be used in human participants; the results demonstrate a safe toxicity profile and ability to increase overall survival. Despite promising research showing the efficacy and safety of nanoparticles in in vitro and in vivo studies in animal models, more research is required to determine the clearance mechanisms of nanoparticles and their molecular interactions in human participants [14]. The long-term side effects of using nanoparticles are yet to be defined.…”