Opening avenue for the targeted treatment of lung cancer using xanthohumol loaded nanostructured lipid carriers

Abstract

'Kamal Dua' 'Sachin Kumar Singh']  According to Global Observatory Cancer (GLOBOCAN) 2020, the number of new cases of cancer diagnosed in 2020 was about 19.3 million and among them, 10.0 million people died. GLOBOCAN predicts that the number of cancer cases will increase up to 28.4 million by 2040 (Sung et al., 2021[9]). Lung cancer (LC) has a higher prevalence rate and mortality. The estimated number of LC up to 2020 was 2.2 million and 2 million people died among them. LC is mainly caused due to smoking, exposure to second-hand smoke, radiation, exposure to radon gas, and exposure to asbestos or other carcinogenic agents. There are two types of LC, small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). SCLC accounts for the prevalence rate of 10-15 % and causes early widespread metastasis. It is most common among heavy smokers. NSCLC accounts for ~85 % of all LC cases which are given in Rosell and Karachaliou (2016[8]). NSCLC affects active as well as passive smokers. It mainly arises in bronchi and peripheral lung tissue. Metastasis is a major cause of death in patients with malignant tumors, accounting for ~90 % of cancer-associated deaths (Bielenberg and Zetter, 2015[2]; Nemeth et al., 2003[7]). NSCLC has been classified into three categories including adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma. Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of LC, about 40 % of NSCLC. It begins in the epithelial cells that line the outside of the lungs. Squamous cell carcinoma starts in squamous cells. Squamous cells are flat cells that line the inside of lung. About 25-30 % of all NSCLC cases are squamous cell LC. Large cell carcinoma is the least common type of NSCLC. It accounts for about 10 % of NSCLC. The currently available conventional methods that have been used for the treatment of LC include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy and various nanoparticle mediated formulation targeting the LC. Chemotherapy utilizes synthetic drugs such as cisplatin, carboplatin, paclitaxel, etoposide, and docetaxel. While radiotherapy utilizes gamma radiation.