Abstract
Simple SummaryAs lung cancer has the highest incidence rate compared to any other type of cancer, there have been extensive research studies aiming at finding a better treatment for curing this disease. One of the many approaches is by improving the delivery of anticancer drugs towards cancer cells using advanced technologies. In this review, we focused on docetaxel as one of the most commonly used drugs for lung cancer treatment and discussed the properties of the drug and the application of nanotechnology in delivering this drug to improve its efficacy and specificity while reducing its side effects. Docetaxel (DCX) is a highly effective chemotherapeutic drug used in the treatment of different types of cancer, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The drug is known to have low oral bioavailability due to its low aqueous solubility, poor membrane permeability and susceptibility to hepatic first-pass metabolism. To mitigate these problems, DCX is administered via the intravenous route. Currently, DCX is commercially available as a single vial that contains polysorbate 80 and ethanol to solubilize the poorly soluble drug. However, this formulation causes short- and long-term side effects, including hypersensitivity, febrile neutropenia, fatigue, fluid retention, and peripheral neuropathy. DCX is also a substrate to the drug efflux pump P-glycoprotein (P-gp) that would reduce its concentration within the vicinity of the cells and lead to the development of drug resistance. Hence, the incorporation of DCX into various nanocarrier systems has garnered a significant amount of attention in recent years to overcome these drawbacks. The surfaces of these drug-delivery systems indeed can be functionalized by modification with different ligands for smart targeting towards cancerous cells. This article provides an overview of the latest nanotechnological approaches and the delivery systems that were developed for passive and active delivery of DCX via different routes of administration for the treatment of lung cancer.
Highlights
Among all types of cancers, lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed in both males and females globally and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths [1]
Several studies have investigated the effect of cigarette smoke on the metabolism of anticancer drugs including docetaxel [21]; some evidence has pointed out that cigarette smoking does not alter the pharmacokinetic determinants of DCX and PCX, smokers treated with DCX and PCX have less neutropenia and leukopenia [22]
In addition to APT, conjugation of Lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPHNPs) with epidermal growth factor (EGF) was studied to target the endothelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) that are overexpressed on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells [126]
Summary
Among all types of cancers, lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed in both males and females globally and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths [1]. Docetaxel, discovered by Pierre Potier in National Center for Scientific Research in France during the 1980s, belongs to the taxoid class of cytotoxic agents together with paclitaxel (PCX) [2]. A cocktail administration of DCX and a photosensitizing agent incorporated in hyaluronic acid-coated nanoparticles improved the intracellular drug concentration with a concomitant slow-release inside the human breast cancer cells as compared to the free drug group treatment group [11]. These findings signify that the hybridization of DCX with nanotechnology is a promising. This review aims to provide an exhaustive overview of the current nanotechnological advances that utilized various nanoparticle platforms and DCX for effective treatment of cancer
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