Revolutionary nanomedicine: breakthrough in cancer research!

Revolutionary nanomedicine: breakthrough in cancer research!

On May 15, 2025, researchers from RWTH Aachen University published a groundbreaking study on the effectiveness of multi-drug nanomedicine in cancer treatment in the renowned journal “Nature Nanotechnology”. Under the direction of Karina Benderski, Prof. Twan Lammers and Dr. Alexandros Marios Sofias at the Institute of Experimental Molecular Imaging, a comprehensive quantitative assessment of the potential of these innovative forms of therapy was carried out. The researchers analyzed 273 preclinical studies and were able to document significant progress in the fight against tumors.

A key finding of the study is that the co-delivery of multiple active ingredients in a nanocarrier achieves up to 43% higher tumor growth inhibition compared to conventional therapies. Furthermore, the combination of two active ingredients in one nanocarrier showed 19% higher anti-tumor activity than the separate application in two different nanocarriers. Significant improvement in survival rates of various cancers has been observed in mouse models, supporting the versatility and effectiveness of nanotherapies.

Therapeutic advantage and research background

The therapeutic benefit of multidrug nanomedicine remained consistent across different tumor types and experimental conditions. These promising results were made possible with the support of the German Research Foundation, the European Research Council and the German Cancer Aid. The results of the study could have far-reaching implications for clinical practice.

In addition to the new findings on multidrug nanomedicine, further research shows that cancer nanomedicines combined with immunotherapies are making promising progress in preclinical and clinical studies. The aim of this combination is to intensify the cancer immunity cycle through improved antigen release, processing and presentation.

• Die drei Zielstrategien für Kombinationen in der Nano-Immuntherapie umfassen:

1. Targeting von Krebszellen.
2. Targeting des tumorbedingten Immunmikroumfelds (TIME).
3. Targeting des peripheren Immunsystems.

A phase III trial has demonstrated the clinical potential of nano-immunotherapy by combining nano-albumin-bound paclitaxel (Abraxane®) with atezolizumab (Tecentriq®) for the treatment of advanced triple-negative breast cancer. It turned out that nanomedicines can be used for targeted drug delivery to tumors, thereby reducing the side effects of chemotherapy.

Challenges and future prospects

Despite promising progress, there are also challenges. Complex formulation designs and problems with scaling production and clinical trial design are key obstacles. To date, approximately 150 clinical trials of nanomedicines in immuno-oncology have been conducted, mostly in phases I and II. However, some of these trials failed to deliver the expected results, highlighting the need for careful study design and selection of appropriate patient groups.

In order to further increase the therapeutic potential of nanomedicines, the identification of biomarkers for patient stratification is crucial. These measures are essential for the broader application of nano-immunotherapies in cancer treatment. Overall, current research highlights both advances and challenges that require further investigation in the coming years.

RWTH Aachen is therefore not only an important player in basic research, but also at the forefront of the development of new therapeutic options in the fight against cancer. For detailed information about the study, those interested can read the publication in the journal “Nature Nanotechnology”. RWTH Aachen provides, as well as further information on immunological areas of application, the knowledge of PMC.