ReviewInternational journal of nanomedicine2025
Wolf in Sheep's Clothing: Taming Cancer's Resistance with Human Serum Albumin?
Review in International journal of nanomedicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Analyzing Molecular Determinants of Nanodrugs' Cytotoxic Effects.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Pooled it
- Exatecan-Loaded HSA Nanoparticles for Sustained Release and Enhanced Cancer Treatment.ACS omega · 2026Article
- Cancer Drug Delivery with Nanoparticles and Biomolecules: Stimuli-Responsive, Theranostic, and AI-Guided Approaches.Materials (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Protein-Based Nanomaterials for Cancer Therapy: A Comparative and Translational Perspective.Pharmaceutics · 2026Review
- Evaluation of nanoencapsulated bevacizumab combined with paclitaxel in a colorectal cancer xenograft model.Drug delivery and translational research · 2026Article
- A lipid-centric view of endocytosis by caveolae.Nature cell biology · 2026Review
- Harnessing albumin's natural tumor-targeting properties: nanoplatform strategies for triple-negative breast cancer therapy.Discover nano · 2026Review
- TRAIL of Hope: Bioactive Dietary Component-Driven Carrier-Free Nanoplatforms for Synergistically Enhanced Tumor Multimodal Therapy.International journal of nanomedicine · 2026Review
- Physicochemical Stability and Cross-Context Validation of PEGylated Human Serum Albumin Nanoparticles for Dual Neurotrophin Delivery in the Rabbit Eye and Oxidative Stress Models.International journal of nanomedicine · 2026Article
- Folate-Functionalized Albumin-Containing Systems: Non-Covalent vs. Covalent Binding of Folic Acid.Pharmaceutics · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Human serum albumin (HSA) has emerged as a promising carrier for nanodrug delivery, offering unique structural properties that can be engineered to overcome key challenges in cancer treatment, especially resistance to chemotherapy. This review focuses on the cellular uptake of albumin-based nanoparticles and the modifications that enhance their ability to bypass resistance mechanisms, particularly multidrug resistance type 1 (MDR1), by improving targeting to cancer cells. In our unique approach, we integrate the chemical properties of albumin, its interactions with cancer cells, and surface modifications of albumin-based delivery systems that enable to bypass resistance mechanisms, particularly those related to MDR1, and precisely target receptors on cancer cells to improve treatment efficacy. We discuss that while well-established albumin receptors such as gp60 and gp18/30 are crucial for cellular uptake and transcytosis, their biology remains underexplored, limiting their translational potential. Additionally, we explore the potential of emerging targets, such as cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44), cluster of differentiation (CD36) and transferrin receptor TfR1, as well as the advantages of using dimeric forms of albumin (dHSA) to further enhance delivery to resistant cancer cells. Drawing from clinical examples, including the success of albumin-bound paclitaxel (Abraxane) and new formulations like Pazenir and Fyarro (for Sirolimus), we identify gaps in current knowledge and propose strategies to optimize albumin-based systems. In conclusion, albumin-based nanoparticles, when tailored with appropriate modifications, have the potential to bypass multidrug resistance and improve the targeting of cancer cells. By enhancing albumin's ability to efficiently deliver therapeutic agents, these carriers represent a promising approach to addressing one of oncology's most persistent challenges, with substantial potential to improve cancer treatment outcomes.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.