Liposomal-Based Formulations: A Path from Basic Research to Temozolomide Delivery Inside Glioblastoma Tissue

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a lethal brain cancer with a very difficult therapeutic approach and ultimately frustrating results. Currently, therapeutic success is mainly limited by the high degree of genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity, the blood brain barrier (BBB), as well as increased drug resistance. Temozolomide (TMZ), a monofunctional alkylating agent, is the first line chemotherapeutic drug for GBM treatment. Yet, the therapeutic efficacy of TMZ suffers from its inability to cross the BBB and very short half-life (~2 h), which requires high doses of this drug for a proper therapeutic effect. Encapsulation in a (nano)carrier is a promising strategy to effectively improve the therapeutic effect of TMZ against GBM. Although research on liposomes as carriers for therapeutic agents is still at an early stage, their integration in GBM treatment has a great potential to advance understanding and treating this disease. In this review, we provide a critical discussion on the preparation methods and physico-chemical properties of liposomes, with a particular emphasis on TMZ-liposomal formulations targeting GBM developed within the last decade. Furthermore, an overview on liposome-based formulations applied to translational oncology and clinical trials formulations in GBM treatment is provided. We emphasize that despite many years of intense research, more careful investigations are still needed to solve the main issues related to the manufacture of reproducible liposomal TMZ formulations for guaranteed translation to the market.

Mechanisms of Resistance to Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer and Possible Targets in Drug Delivery Systems

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most important cancers worldwide, and usually, chemotherapy can be used in an integrative approach. Usually, chemotherapy treatment is performed in association with surgery, radiation or hormone therapy, providing an increased outcome to patients. However, tumors can develop resistance to different drugs, progressing for a more aggressive phenotype. In this scenario, the use of nanocarriers could help to defeat tumor cell resistance, providing a new therapeutic perspective for patients. Thus, this systematic review aims to bring the molecular mechanisms involved in BC chemoresistance and extract from the previous literature information regarding the use of nanoparticles as potential treatment for chemoresistant breast cancer.