Metabolism and structure of PDA as the target for new therapies: possibilities and limitations for nanotechnology.

Abstract

Introduction: Certainly, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma poses one of the greatest challenges in current oncology. The dense extracellular matrix and low vessel density in PDA tumor impede the effective delivery of drugs, primarily due to the short pharmacokinetics of most drugs and potential electrostatic interactions with stroma components.

Area covered: Owing to the distinctive metabolism of PDA and challenges in accessing nutrients, there is a growing interest in cell metabolism inhibitors as a potential means to inhibit cancer development. However, even if suitable combinations of inhibitors are identified, the question about their administration remains, as the same hindrances that impede effective treatment with conventional drugs will also hinder the delivery of inhibitors. Methods including nanotechnology to increase drugs in PDA penetrations are reviewed and discussed.

Expert opinion: Pancreatic cancer is one of the most difficult tumors to treat due to the small number of blood vessels, high content of extracellular matrix, and specialized resistance mechanisms of tumor cells. One possible method of treating this tumor is the use of metabolic inhibitors in combinations that show synergy. Despite promising results in in vitro tests, their effect is uncertain due to the tumor's structure. In the case of pancreatic cancer, priming of the tumor tissue is required through the sequential administration of drugs that generate blood vessels, increase blood flow, and enhance vascular permeability and extracellular matrix. The use of drug carriers with a size of 10-30 nm may be crucial in the therapy of this cancer.