title: Inhaled chemotherapy in lung cancer: future concept of nanomedicine.
abstract: Regional chemotherapy was first used for lung cancer 30 years ago. Since then, new methods of drug delivery and pharmaceuticals have been investigated in vitro, and in animals and humans. An extensive review of drug delivery systems, pharmaceuticals, patient monitoring, methods of enhancing inhaled drug deposition, safety and efficacy, and also additional applications of inhaled chemotherapy and its advantages and disadvantages are presented. Regional chemotherapy to the lung parenchyma for lung cancer is feasible and efficient. Safety depends on the chemotherapy agent delivered to the lungs and is dose-dependent and time-dependent. Further evaluation is needed to provide data regarding early lung cancer stages, and whether regional chemotherapy can be used as neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment. Finally, inhaled chemotherapy could one day be administered at home with fewer systemic adverse effects.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Department, G Papanikolaou General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. pzarog@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zarogoulidis
authors.forename: Ekaterini
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chatzaki
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Porpodis
authors.forename: Kalliopi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Domvri
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hohenforst-Schmidt
authors.forename: Eugene P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.forename: Nikos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Karamanos
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zarogoulidis
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D058995:Dry Powder Inhalers; D006801:Humans; D008081:Liposomes; D008168:Lung / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D050997:Nanomedicine / Q000639:trends*; D053758:Nanoparticles; D036103:Nanotechnology; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008081:Liposomes; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins