The synergistic potential of mechanotherapy and sonopermeation to enhance cancer treatment effectiveness.

Abstract

Inefficient drug delivery in tumors, especially in desmoplastic cancers, arises from blood vessel collapse due to tumor stiffening and mechanical compression. Vessel collapse also leads to hypoxia, immune evasion, and metastasis, reducing treatment efficacy. Mechanotherapeutics and ultrasound sonopermeation, which address tumor stiffness and enhance vessel permeability, respectively, show promise in restoring tumor microenvironment abnormalities and improving drug delivery. This perspective highlights their independent and combined potential to optimize cancer therapy.