Journal article
Applications of nanotechnology in the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma
International Journal of Nanomedicine, Vol.8, pp.2677-2688
2013
Abstract
Melanoma is the most aggressive type of skin cancer and has very high rates of mortality. An early stage melanoma can be surgically removed, with a survival rate of 99%. However, metastasized melanoma is difficult to cure. The 5-year survival rates for patients with metastasized melanoma are still below 20%. Metastasized melanoma is currently treated by chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and radiotherapy. The outcome of most of the current therapies is far from optimistic. Although melanoma patients with a mutation in the oncogene v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF) have an initially higher positive response rate to targeted therapy, the majority develop acquired drug resistance after 6 months of the therapy. To increase treatment efficacy, early diagnosis, more potent pharmacological agents, and more effective delivery systems are urgently needed. Nanotechnology has been extensively studied for melanoma treatment and diagnosis, to decrease drug resistance, increase therapeutic efficacy, and reduce side effects. In this review, we summarize the recent progress on the development of various nanoparticles for melanoma treatment and diagnosis. Several common nanoparticles, including liposome, polymersomes, dendrimers, carbon-based nanoparticles, and human albumin, have been used to deliver chemotherapeutic agents, and small interfering ribonucleic acids (siRNAs) against signaling molecules have also been tested for the treatment of melanoma. Indeed, several nanoparticle-delivered drugs have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and are currently in clinical trials. The application of nanoparticles could produce side effects, which will need to be reduced so that nanoparticle-delivered drugs can be safely applied in the clinical setting.
Details
- Title
- Applications of nanotechnology in the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma
- Authors
- Jiezhong Chen (Author) - University of QueenslandRenfu Shao (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringXu-Dong Zhang (Author) - University of NewcastleChen Chen (Author) - University of Queensland
- Publication details
- International Journal of Nanomedicine, Vol.8, pp.2677-2688
- Publisher
- Dove Medical Press Ltd.
- Date published
- 2013
- DOI
- 10.2147/IJN.S45429
- ISSN
- 1178-2013
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2013 Chen et al, publisher and licensee Dove Medical Press Ltd. This is an Open Access article which permits unrestricted noncommercial use, provided the original work is properly cited.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99448652202621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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