Abstract

Nanotheranostic Systems for Pancreatic Cancer: Therapeutic Potential and Challenges

Preeti Nigam Joshi, INSPIRE Faculty, National Chemical Laboratory

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive malignancy and its late prognosis and complex stromal vesicular structure makes it the most difficult malignancy to handle. It is considered as the deadliest cancer with less than 5% survival rate. In spite of tremendous medical advancements, pancreatic cancer is almost resistant to chemotherapy and even with the most aggressive treatment options; its resurgence is observed in most of the cases.  Thus it is imperative to design effective diagnostics and therapeutic strategies to treat this deadly cancer and nanotechnology has the potential to overcome the challenges associated with current cancer therapy.

Here different strategies for selective delivery of nano based chemotherapeutics to pancreatic cancer site and simultaneous imaging (theranostics) will be described. ADCs, siRNA and ligand receptor based multifunctional nanoconjugates and their therapeutic potential against this deadly cancer will be discussed. In spite of promising nanotheranostic approach for cancer therapy, few challenges like overcoming biological barriers and enhanced bioimaging strategies are still there to deal with. The other part of the discussion will be focused on the major challenges associated with successful clinical translation of nanotheranostic systems and their possible solutions for early diagnosis of cancers.