An overview of chondrosarcoma with a focus on nanoscale therapeutics

Abstract

Background Chondrosarcoma (CHS) is the second most common sarcoma. However, pathogenesis and etiology of this malignant tumor are still unclear. The primary treatment method for CHS is surgery, and CHS is often resistant to conventional chemotherapy. There are various types of nanoscale therapeutics, such as liposomes, micelles, polymeric nanoparticles, and protein-based nanotherapeutics, which have shown promising results in the treatment of CHSs that are not capable of being surgically removed. Area covered The genetics and molecular targets of CHS and its diagnostic features observed by various modalities are introduced. Diverse types of nanoscale therapeutics and their clinical benefits in the treatment of cancer are also described. In addition, the current application of nanotechnologies to CHS treatment is discussed with various nanoplatforms designed for CHS. Expert opinion Nanotechnology-based approaches have been investigated to overcome the chemo-resistance of CHS. In particular, for CHS patients with no surgical treatment options, nanomedicine is one of the promising strategies for cancer treatment, along with the immunotherapy that is being spotlighted nowadays. We speculate that the combination of nano- and immuno-therapeutics would be a breakthrough in unresectable CHS treatment, as can be seen in the case of nivolumab plus nanoparticle albumin-bound rapamycin that has shown excellent clinical outcomes.