Nanomedicine for improvement of dendritic cell-based cancer immunotherapy.

Dendritic cell (DC)-based cancer immunotherapy has shown impressive outcomes, including the development of the first FDA-approved anti-cancer vaccine. However, the clinical application of DC-based cancer immunotherapy is associated with various challenges. Promising novel tools for the administration of cancer vaccines has emerged from recent developments in nanoscale biomaterials. One current strategy to enhance targeted drug delivery, while minimizing drug-related toxicities, is the use of nanoparticles (NPs). These can be utilized for antigen delivery into DCs, which have been shown to provide potent T cell-stimulating effects. Therefore, NP delivery represents one promising approach for creating an effective and stable immune response without toxic side effects. The current review surveys cancer immunotherapy with particular attention toward NP-based delivery methods that target DCs.

S1PR1 as a Novel Promising Therapeutic Target in Cancer Therapy.

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) can regulate several physiological and pathological processes. S1P signaling via its cell surface receptor S1PR1 has been shown to enhance tumorigenesis and stimulate growth, expansion, angiogenesis, metastasis, and survival of cancer cells. S1PR1-mediated tumorigenesis is supported and amplified by activation of downstream effectors including STAT3, interleukin-6, and NF-κB networks. S1PR1 signaling can also trigger various other signaling pathways involved in carcinogenesis including activation of PI3K/AKT, MAPK/ERK1/2, Rac, and PKC/Ca, as well as suppression of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). It also induces immunological tolerance in the tumor microenvironment, while the immunosuppressive function of S1PR1 can also lead to the generation of pre-metastatic niches. Some tumor cells upregulate S1PR1 signaling pathways, which leads to drug resistant cancer cells, mainly through activation of STAT3. This signaling pathway is also implicated in some inflammatory conditions leading to the instigation of inflammation-driven cancers. Furthermore, it can also increase survival via induction of anti-apoptotic pathways, for instance, in breast cancer cells. Therefore, S1PR1 and its signaling pathways can be considered as potential anti-tumor therapeutic targets, alone or in combination therapies. Given the oncogenic nature of S1PR1 and its distribution in a variety of cancer cell types along with its targeting advantages over other molecules of this family, S1PR1 should be considered a favorable target in therapeutic approaches to cancer. This review describes the role of S1PR1 in cancer development and progression, specifically addressing breast cancer, glioma, and hematopoietic malignancies. We also discuss the potential use of S1P signaling modulators as therapeutic targets in cancer therapy.

Chitosan-based nanotherapeutics for ovarian cancer treatment.

Chitosan is one of the low toxic and natural polysaccharides which is obtained from deacetylation of chitin. Chitosan-based nanoparticles have good biodegradation and bio-distribution in the biological milieu, which have made it as one of the most attractive nanocarriers for delivering different therapeutic agents to the tumour cells especially ovarian cancer cell lines. Chitosan can covalently and non-covalently be modified and attached to different polymers and targeting moieties through its free amine groups and reach to the tumour site through passive and active targeting strategies. Ovarian cancer is one of the most common and resistant cancers with poor prognosis among women, which scientists are trying to prepare new methods for improving their treatments outcomes in past decades. In this article, we tried to take an overview on the recent developments in different modifications of chitosan-based nanoformulations, which are utilised for ovarian cancer therapy.