Inhaled chemotherapy in lung cancer: future concept of nanomedicine

Abstract

Paul Zarogoulidis1, Ekaterini Chatzaki2, Konstantinos Porpodis1, Kalliopi Domvri1, Wolfgang Hohenforst-Schmidt3, Eugene P Goldberg4, Nikos Karamanos5, Konstantinos Zarogoulidis11Pulmonary Department, "G Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece; 2Pharmacology Laboratory, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece; 3II Medical Clinic, Hospital Coburg, University of Wurzburg, Coburg, Germany; 4Biomaterials Science and Engineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Florida, FL; 5Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Patra, GreeceAbstract: Regional chemotherapy was first used for lung cancer 30 years ago. Since then, new methods of drug delivery and pharmaceuticals have been investigated in vitro, and in animals and humans. An extensive review of drug delivery systems, pharmaceuticals, patient monitoring, methods of enhancing inhaled drug deposition, safety and efficacy, and also additional applications of inhaled chemotherapy and its advantages and disadvantages are presented. Regional chemotherapy to the lung parenchyma for lung cancer is feasible and efficient. Safety depends on the chemotherapy agent delivered to the lungs and is dose-dependent and time-dependent. Further evaluation is needed to provide data regarding early lung cancer stages, and whether regional chemotherapy can be used as neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment. Finally, inhaled chemotherapy could one day be administered at home with fewer systemic adverse effects.Keywords: inhaled chemotherapy, carriers, transducers