The body naturally produces hormones that act as messengers for different tissues and cells in the body. They help regulate many of your body's functions.
Some cancers are sensitive to the levels of specific hormones. That's why hormone therapy uses drugs to block hormone production.
Changes in hormone levels can affect the growth and survival of some types of cancer cells. Reducing or blocking the amount of necessary hormones can slow the growth of these types of cancer (why is cancer so difficult to cure).
Hormone therapy is sometimes used to treat breast cancer, cancer, and cancer. It is often used in conjunction with other types of cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy or targeted therapy.
Nanoparticles are tiny structures smaller than cells. Their size allows them to move around the body and interact with different cells and biomolecules.
Nanoparticles are promising tools for cancer treatment, especially in drug delivery.
Potential uses for nanoparticles in drug delivery include systems that can target cancer cells or cross tissue barriers, such as the blood-brain barrier. This could help improve the effectiveness of cancer treatments while minimizing side effects.
Nanoparticles may also affect the immune system. A 2020 study, Trusted Source, used a nanoparticle based system in mice to train immune cells to respond to cancer cells. This approach could also help improve the therapeutic effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors.
While the type of nanoparticle therapy we just discussed is still in the development stage, several nanoparticle based delivery systems, Trusted Source, have been approved by the FDA for cancer treatment. These systems use nanoparticles to deliver cancer drugs more efficiently.
Some examples of cancer drugs that can use nanoparticle-based delivery systems are paclitaxel (Abraxane) and Doxil (Doxil).
Other cancer treatments using nanoparticle technology are currently undergoing clinical trials. You can find a list of clinical trials of active nanoparticles for cancer treatment at the National Library of Medicine's Clinical Trials website. There are many different cancers, including breast cancer.
