Electrochemotherapy of Deep-Seated Tumors: State of Art and Perspectives as Possible “EPR Effect Enhancer” to Improve Cancer Nanomedicine Efficacy
Surgical resection is the gold standard for the treatment of many kinds of tumor, but its success depends on the early diagnosis and the absence of metastases. However, many deep-seated tumors (liver, pancreas, for example) are often unresectable at the time of diagnosis. Chemotherapies and radiothe...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Cancers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/17/4437 |
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| author | Maria Cristina Bonferoni Giovanna Rassu Elisabetta Gavini Milena Sorrenti Laura Catenacci Maria Luisa Torre Sara Perteghella Luca Ansaloni Marcello Maestri Paolo Giunchedi |
| author_facet | Maria Cristina Bonferoni Giovanna Rassu Elisabetta Gavini Milena Sorrenti Laura Catenacci Maria Luisa Torre Sara Perteghella Luca Ansaloni Marcello Maestri Paolo Giunchedi |
| author_sort | Maria Cristina Bonferoni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Surgical resection is the gold standard for the treatment of many kinds of tumor, but its success depends on the early diagnosis and the absence of metastases. However, many deep-seated tumors (liver, pancreas, for example) are often unresectable at the time of diagnosis. Chemotherapies and radiotherapies are a second line for cancer treatment. The “enhanced permeability and retention” (EPR) effect is believed to play a fundamental role in the passive uptake of drug-loaded nanocarriers, for example polymeric nanoparticles, in deep-seated tumors. However, criticisms of the EPR effect were recently raised, particularly in advanced human cancers: obstructed blood vessels and suppressed blood flow determine a heterogeneity of the EPR effect, with negative consequences on nanocarrier accumulation, retention, and intratumoral distribution. Therefore, to improve the nanomedicine uptake, there is a strong need for “EPR enhancers”. Electrochemotherapy represents an important tool for the treatment of deep-seated tumors, usually combined with the systemic (intravenous) administration of anticancer drugs, such as bleomycin or cisplatin. A possible new strategy, worthy of investigation, could be the use of this technique as an “EPR enhancer” of a target tumor, combined with the intratumoral administration of drug-loaded nanoparticles. This is a general overview of the rational basis for which EP could be envisaged as an “EPR enhancer” in nanomedicine. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:14:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5c1d5d55c1aa496bb8aa97477291db3c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6694 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:14:32Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cancers |
| spelling | doaj.art-5c1d5d55c1aa496bb8aa97477291db3c2023-11-22T10:27:25ZengMDPI AGCancers2072-66942021-09-011317443710.3390/cancers13174437Electrochemotherapy of Deep-Seated Tumors: State of Art and Perspectives as Possible “EPR Effect Enhancer” to Improve Cancer Nanomedicine EfficacyMaria Cristina Bonferoni0Giovanna Rassu1Elisabetta Gavini2Milena Sorrenti3Laura Catenacci4Maria Luisa Torre5Sara Perteghella6Luca Ansaloni7Marcello Maestri8Paolo Giunchedi9Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, Via Muroni 23/a, 07100 Sassari, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, Via Muroni 23/a, 07100 Sassari, ItalyDepartment of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, ItalyIRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation and Department of Clinical-Surgical, Diagnostic and Paediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, ItalyIRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation and Department of Clinical-Surgical, Diagnostic and Paediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, Via Muroni 23/a, 07100 Sassari, ItalySurgical resection is the gold standard for the treatment of many kinds of tumor, but its success depends on the early diagnosis and the absence of metastases. However, many deep-seated tumors (liver, pancreas, for example) are often unresectable at the time of diagnosis. Chemotherapies and radiotherapies are a second line for cancer treatment. The “enhanced permeability and retention” (EPR) effect is believed to play a fundamental role in the passive uptake of drug-loaded nanocarriers, for example polymeric nanoparticles, in deep-seated tumors. However, criticisms of the EPR effect were recently raised, particularly in advanced human cancers: obstructed blood vessels and suppressed blood flow determine a heterogeneity of the EPR effect, with negative consequences on nanocarrier accumulation, retention, and intratumoral distribution. Therefore, to improve the nanomedicine uptake, there is a strong need for “EPR enhancers”. Electrochemotherapy represents an important tool for the treatment of deep-seated tumors, usually combined with the systemic (intravenous) administration of anticancer drugs, such as bleomycin or cisplatin. A possible new strategy, worthy of investigation, could be the use of this technique as an “EPR enhancer” of a target tumor, combined with the intratumoral administration of drug-loaded nanoparticles. This is a general overview of the rational basis for which EP could be envisaged as an “EPR enhancer” in nanomedicine.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/17/4437electroporationelectrochemotherapydeep-seated tumorsEPR effectEPR enhancercancer nanomedicine |
| spellingShingle | Maria Cristina Bonferoni Giovanna Rassu Elisabetta Gavini Milena Sorrenti Laura Catenacci Maria Luisa Torre Sara Perteghella Luca Ansaloni Marcello Maestri Paolo Giunchedi Electrochemotherapy of Deep-Seated Tumors: State of Art and Perspectives as Possible “EPR Effect Enhancer” to Improve Cancer Nanomedicine Efficacy Cancers electroporation electrochemotherapy deep-seated tumors EPR effect EPR enhancer cancer nanomedicine |
| title | Electrochemotherapy of Deep-Seated Tumors: State of Art and Perspectives as Possible “EPR Effect Enhancer” to Improve Cancer Nanomedicine Efficacy |
| title_full | Electrochemotherapy of Deep-Seated Tumors: State of Art and Perspectives as Possible “EPR Effect Enhancer” to Improve Cancer Nanomedicine Efficacy |
| title_fullStr | Electrochemotherapy of Deep-Seated Tumors: State of Art and Perspectives as Possible “EPR Effect Enhancer” to Improve Cancer Nanomedicine Efficacy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Electrochemotherapy of Deep-Seated Tumors: State of Art and Perspectives as Possible “EPR Effect Enhancer” to Improve Cancer Nanomedicine Efficacy |
| title_short | Electrochemotherapy of Deep-Seated Tumors: State of Art and Perspectives as Possible “EPR Effect Enhancer” to Improve Cancer Nanomedicine Efficacy |
| title_sort | electrochemotherapy of deep seated tumors state of art and perspectives as possible epr effect enhancer to improve cancer nanomedicine efficacy |
| topic | electroporation electrochemotherapy deep-seated tumors EPR effect EPR enhancer cancer nanomedicine |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/17/4437 |
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