A review of nanotechnology-based approaches for breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer

• Published in: Journal of controlled release 2020-10, Vol.326, p.628-647
• Main Authors: Jain, Vikas, Kumar, Hitesh, Anod, Haritha V., Chand, Pallavi, Gupta, N. Vishal, Dey, Surajit, Kesharwani, Siddharth S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anticancer therapy; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Breast Neoplasms - drug therapy; Cancer stem cells; Female; Humans; Nanomedicine; Nanotechnology; Receptors, Estrogen; Targeting; Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms - drug therapy; Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC); Tumor heterogeneity
• ISSN: 0168-3659; 1873-4995
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2020.07.003

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most prevalent cancers in women. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in which the three major receptors i.e. estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), are absent is known to express the most aggressive phenotype and increased metastasis which results in the development of resistance to chemotherapy. It offers various therapeutic advantages in treating BC and TNBC. Nanotechnology offers various unique characteristics such as small size (nanometric), active and passive targeting, and the ability to attach multiple targeting moieties, controlled release, and site-specific targeting. This review focuses on conventional drug therapies, recent treatment strategies, and unique therapeutic approaches available for BC and TNBC. The role of breast cancer stem cells in the recurrence of BC and TNBC has also been highlighted. Several chemotherapeutic agents delivered using nanocarriers such as polymeric nanoparticles/micelles, metallic/inorganic NPs, and lipid-based NPs (Liposome, solid-lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs)), etc. with excellent responses in the treatment of BC/TNBC along with breast cancer stem cells have been discussed in details. Moreover, the application of nanomedicine including CRISPR nanoparticle, exosomes for the treatment of BC/TNBC and other molecular targets available such as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), etc. for further exploration have also been discussed. [Display omitted] •BC and TNBC prevalence & recurrence attributed to tumor heterogeneity & individual variations.•The identification of the role of stem cells in tumor progression and metastasis is the need of the era.•Nanotechnology-based approaches offer significant potential to address the unmet needs of cancer treatments.•Phytoconstituents can offer broad spectrum of solutions to target multiple pathways involved in breast cancer progression.•The future of BC therapy lies in close collaboration among phytochemists, molecular biologists, & formulation scientists.