Gold Nanorods as Theranostic Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy

Inadequate therapies and clinical methods for overcoming multidrug-resistant cancer constitute the major barrier for cancer treatment. Also, early detection of this disease is fundamental and new nanotechnologies emerge with clear relevance. Considering their distinctive chemical and physical properties, plasmonic nanoparticles have been proposed and are regarded as promising carriers for cancer treatment. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are the most studied plasmonic nanoparticles because of their special optical and electronic properties. Depending on size and shape, AuNPs are able to perform, simultaneously, several therapeutic functions, including photothermal therapy (PTT), photodynamic therapy (PDT), and imaging. The synergistic effect between PTT/PDT and chemotherapeutic drugs, to cooperatively suppress cancer cells, has also been studied, wherein rod-shaped AuNPs has been pointed out as suitable theranostic NP. This demonstrates their ability to integrate multiple functions in a single system. However, their performance is highly dependent on several experimental parameters including size, aspect ratio, surface modification, and morphology. All these parameters strongly affect both the physical and biological processes involved. This review focuses on AuNRs properties, their multiple applications, and the trends for the integration of theranostic applications. Also described are the difficulties imposed to an effective in vivo biodistribution and pharmacokinetic behavior. Current research and preclinical and clinical investigation will be addressed

Supportive care during treatment for breast cancer: Resource allocations in low- and middle-income countries. A Breast Health Global Initiative 2013 consensus statement

Breast cancer patients may have unmet supportive care needs during treatment, including symptom management of treatment-related toxicities, and educational, psychosocial, and spiritual needs. Delivery of supportive care is often a low priority in low- and middle-income settings, and is also dependent on resources available. This consensus statement describes twelve key recommendations for supportive care during treatment in low- and middle-income countries, identified by an expert international panel as part of the 5th Breast Health Global Initiative (BHGI) Global Summit for Supportive Care, which was held in October 2012, in Vienna, Austria. Panel recommendations are presented in a 4-tier resource-stratified table to illustrate how health systems can provide supportive care services during treatment to breast cancer patients, starting at a basic level of resource allocation and incrementally adding program resources as they become available. These recommendations include: health professional and patient and family education; management of treatment related toxicities, management of treatment-related symptoms of fatigue, insomnia and non-specific pain, and management of psychosocial and spiritual issues related to breast cancer treatment. Establishing supportive care during breast cancer treatment will help ensure that breast cancer patients receive comprehensive care that can help 1) improve adherence to treatment recommendations, 2) manage treatment-related toxicities and other treatment related symptoms, and 3) address the psychosocial and spiritual aspects of breast cancer and breast cancer treatments