Nanoparticle therapeutics: an emerging treatment modality for cancer

Key Points Nanoparticles are emerging as a new class of therapeutics for cancer because they can perform in ways that other therapeutic modalities cannot. Newer nanoparticle therapeutics are showing enhanced efficacy with lower side effects than traditional small-molecule chemotherapeutics in early clinic studies, and are doing so without creating additional new side effects due to the nanoparticle. Although there are many types of nanoparticles, few will have the proper attributes to reach clinical use because of the issues involved in translating research grade nanoparticles to clinic grade nanoparticles. Newer nanoparticle therapeutics have a greater degree of multifunctionality and involve not only delivery to the tumour but intracellular delivery so that multidrug resistance can be bypassed and therapeutic agents such as siRNA that require intracellular delivery can be utilized. Nanoparticles that contain cancer cell-surface targeting ligands are now in the clinic. Several nanoscaled systems for cancer therapy are approved or in clinical trials. Here, Davis and colleagues discuss the key properties of nanotherapeutics for cancer, summarize clinical findings with first- and second-generation nanoparticles, and discuss the issues involved in translating experimental nanotherapeutics to the clinic. Nanoparticles — particles in the size range 1–100 nm — are emerging as a class of therapeutics for cancer. Early clinical results suggest that nanoparticle therapeutics can show enhanced efficacy, while simultaneously reducing side effects, owing to properties such as more targeted localization in tumours and active cellular uptake. Here, we highlight the features of nanoparticle therapeutics that distinguish them from previous anticancer therapies, and describe how these features provide the potential for therapeutic effects that are not achievable with other modalities. While large numbers of preclinical studies have been published, the emphasis here is placed on preclinical and clinical studies that are likely to affect clinical investigations and their implications for advancing the treatment of patients with cancer.