Combined chemotherapy delivered by nanoparticulate systems: An old concept with modern innovations

摘要

Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are three main approaches in the treatment of cancer. When the tumor is in its early stage, highly localized and accessible, then surgery is the choice of treatment. Surgery alone will very often be sufficient for these cases, although chemotherapy may still be instituted after operation to prevent relapse of the cancer. The consolidation chemotherapy is particularly important as it has been suggested that even one surviving cancer cell might be sufficient for a fatal recrudescence [1]. Radiation is also useful for localized but radio-responsive tumors, such as tumors of the larynx, oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, prostate, and some tumors of the brain and spinal cord. However, most cancers are diagnosed at fairly late stages of development, by which time, the tumors would have metastasized to different parts of the body. In these cases, surgery or radiation alone will not be sufficient to eradicate the cancer, or even, not suitable at all for the patients, and chemotherapy would be the only choice of treatment.