Glycans as Targets for Drug Delivery in Cancer

Innovative strategies have been proposed to increase drug delivery to the tumor site and avoid cytotoxicity, improving the therapeutic efficacy of well-established anti-cancer drugs. Alterations in normal glycosylation processes are frequently observed in cancer cells and the resulting cell surface...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cancers 2022-02, Vol.14 (4), p.911
Main Authors: Diniz, Francisca, Coelho, Pedro, Duarte, Henrique O, Sarmento, Bruno, Reis, Celso A, Gomes, Joana
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acids
Antigens
Antitumor agents
Biosynthesis
Cancer
Cancer therapies
Cancer vaccines
Cell surface
Chemotherapy
Cytotoxicity
Drug delivery
Drugs
Enzymes
Glycoproteins
Glycosylation
Heparan sulfate
Kinases
Monoclonal antibodies
Nanoparticles
Polysaccharides
Proteins
Review
Tumor cells
Tumor microenvironment
Tumors
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Summary:Innovative strategies have been proposed to increase drug delivery to the tumor site and avoid cytotoxicity, improving the therapeutic efficacy of well-established anti-cancer drugs. Alterations in normal glycosylation processes are frequently observed in cancer cells and the resulting cell surface aberrant glycans can be used as direct molecular targets for drug delivery. In the present review, we address the development of strategies, such as monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates and nanoparticles that specific and selectively target cancer-associated glycans in tumor cells. The use of nanoparticles for drug delivery encompasses novel applications in cancer therapy, including vaccines encapsulated in synthetic nanoparticles and specific nanoparticles that target glycoproteins or glycan-binding proteins. Here, we highlight their potential to enhance targeting approaches and to optimize the delivery of clinically approved drugs to the tumor microenvironment, paving the way for improved personalized treatment approaches with major potential importance for the pharmaceutical and clinical sectors.
ISSN:2072-6694
2072-6694
DOI:10.3390/cancers14040911