Nanotechnology-based strategies for combating toxicity and resistance in melanoma therapy

Abstract

Drug toxicity and resistance remain formidable challenges in cancer treatment and represent an area of increasing attention in the case of melanoma. Nanotechnology represents a paradigm-shifting field with the potential to mitigate drug resistance while improving drug delivery and minimizing toxicity. Recent clinical and pre-clinical studies have demonstrated how a diverse array of nanoparticles may be harnessed to circumvent known mechanisms of drug resistance in melanoma to improve therapeutic efficacy. In this review, we discuss known mechanisms of resistance to various melanoma therapies and possible nanotechnology-based strategies that could be used to overcome these barriers and improve the pharmacologic arsenal available to combat advanced stage melanoma.

Keywords: Chemotherapy; Dabrafenib; Drug resistance; Immunotherapy; Ipilimumab; Melanoma; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Vemurafenib.