Nanoparticles: The future of effective diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer?

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most challenging malignancies in terms of diagnosis and treatment. Conventional diagnostic methods are primarily based on colonoscopy and often lack accuracy, while standard treatment options typically include chemotherapy, which can be unsuccessful due to side effects and (development of) drug resistance. Although new diagnostic methods and timely screening have decreased the death rate from cancer in developed countries in recent years, there still is an urgent need for (novel) therapeutic strategies that render better disease management and clinical outcomes. Nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as promising candidates for the improvement of diagnosis and treatment by promoting drug targeting, solubility and bioavailability. For example, NPs can reduce toxicity of drugs by increasing solubility and can be engineered to specifically target malignancies, thereby minimizing unwanted side effects. In this review, we evaluated the potential of implementing various NPs for the diagnosis and treatment of CRC.

Investigating the role of peptides in effective therapies against cancer.

Early diagnosis and effective treatment of cancer are challenging. To diagnose and treat cancer effectively and to overcome these challenges, fundamental innovations in traditional diagnosis and therapy are necessary. Peptides can be very helpful in this regard due to their potential and diversity. To enhance the therapeutic potential of peptides, their limitations must be properly identified and their structures engineered and modified for higher efficiency. Promoting the bioavailability and stability of peptides is one of the main concerns. Peptides can also be effective in different areas of targeting, alone or with the help of other therapeutic agents. There has been a lot of research in this area, and the potential for variability of peptides will continue to improve this process. Another promising area in which peptides can help treat cancer is peptide vaccines, which are undergoing promising research, and high throughput technologies can lead to fundamental changes in this area. Peptides have been effective in almost all areas of cancer treatment, and some have even gone through clinical phases. However, many barriers need to be overcome to reach the desired point. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the mechanisms associated with peptides in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Therefore, related studies in this area will be discussed.