Combined Cancer Immunotheranostic Nanomedicines: Delivery Technologies and Therapeutic Outcomes

Cancer is among the main causes of mortality all over the world. The delayed diagnosis is directly related to the decrease in survival rate. The use of immunotherapy has dramatically changed the treatment outcomes of different types of cancers. However, many patients still do not respond to immunotherapies, and many also suffer from severe immune-related side effects. Recent advances in the fields of nanomedicine bioengineering and in particular imaging offered new approaches which can enhance not only the safety but also the efficacy of immunotherapy. Theranostics has showed great progress as a branch of medicine which integrates both diagnosis and therapy in a single system. The outcomes from animal studies demonstrated an improvement in the diagnostic and immunotherapeutic potential of nanoparticles within the theranostic framework. Herein, we discuss the most recent developments in the application of nanotheranostics for combining tumor imaging and cancer immunotherapies.

Automated summary

Cancer is a major cause of death worldwide, and delayed diagnosis leads to decreased survival rates. Immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of various cancers, but many patients do not respond and experience severe immune-related side effects. Recent advances in nanomedicine and imaging have provided new approaches to improving the safety and efficacy of immunotherapy. The field of theranostics, which integrates diagnosis and therapy, shows promising results in animal studies by using nanoparticles. This article discusses the latest developments in nanotheranostics for tumor imaging and cancer immunotherapy.