Cancer continues to be the # 2 leading cause of death in the U.S. with 605,213 deaths per year according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Globally, there were 10 million deaths from cancer that were recorded in 2020. Many of us personally know between one and three people who have been diagnosed with cancer.

Where the Research Dollars Go for Cancer

When following the behind-the-scenes activity on cancer prevention, we discover that between 2016 and 2020, 24.5 billion dollars were invested into cancer research. Eighteen billion dollars were invested in pre-clinical research and $1.8 billion was used to fund Phase 1 to 4 clinical trials. Other areas that received funds included public health research and cross-disciplinary research.

The most highly funded types of cancer were breast cancer, blood cancers, and brain cancer. Forty-one percent of the investment for cross-disciplinary research went to the areas of cancer biology, while 20% went to drug treatment research and another 12.1% went to immune-oncology. Smaller amounts were spent on research about surgery for cancer (0.3 billion), radiotherapy (0.7%), and global health studies (0.5%).

Nanotechnology is the Emerging Technology Doctors Choose

Cancer research helps us understand the picture of cancer – what causes it, how to diagnose it, and how to treat it. And one of the biggest categories of emerging cancer treatments is nanotechnology used for treatment.

Nanotechnology involves the use of extremely small materials that help target the organ affected by cancer. The term “quantum dots” is used for nanoparticles that are semiconductor nanocrystals ranging from 2 nm to 10 nm in diameter and have optical and chemical properties.

The nanomaterials are complexed with drugs that can deliver the therapeutic effects to the area in a controlled release manner. Nanoparticles rapidly and accurately accumulate on a targeted organ and may also gather information about what’s happening there to send back to the doctor.

There are three types of nanoparticles that are used in this process: metal nanoparticles, silica nanoparticles, and polymer nanoparticles. In the metal nanoparticle category, gold, silver, iron, zinc, and other nanoparticles are used. Metal nanoparticles have unique properties in that they may become activated with different wavelengths of light. They are usually coated with a silica shell. Polymers include PLGA, PLA, and lipid polymers, which are made in the laboratory.

PLGA stands for poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) polymers which have been approved by the FDA for drug delivery, diagnostics, and treatment in caner. PLA is the acronym for polylactic acid polymers, which are considered to be one of the most suitable materials for the nanotechnology field. Polyethylene glycol is often used for tumor targeting.

How Other Cancer Treatments Stack Up

Scientists believe that nanotechnology used for cancer treatments could be more effective than other presently used methods of treatment. Surgery and radiotherapy have been used since the 1960s but need specialized equipment and carry high costs with them, plus they are ineffective if someone has cancer that has metastasized. Radiotherapy also causes tissue injury and gives side effects such as nausea, swelling, discomfort, and irritation to the area. Surgery is also invasive and leads to a growth in new cancers via dormant cancer cells.

Chemotherapy has become more pinpointed but high doses may not necessarily cure the cancer and can also cause toxicity in the kidneys, heart, liver, and blood, and multi-drug resistance may occur.

Nanotechnology ultimately may resolve the disadvantages of other types of cancer treatment. But nanotech naysayers fear that nanomaterials will stack up in the body and cause other types of health issues. Only the future will bring the answer.