Inhaled chemotherapy in lung cancer: future concept of nanomedicine

Paul Zarogoulidis¹, Ekaterini Chatzaki², Konstantinos Porpodis¹, Kalliopi Domvri¹, Wolfgang Hohenforst-Schmidt³, Eugene P Goldberg⁴, Nikos Karamanos⁵, Konstantinos Zarogoulidis^1
1Pulmonary 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, Greece

Abstract: 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

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