Strategic consideration for effective chemotherapeutic transportation via transpapillary route in breast cancer

Abstract Breast cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer in women and the second most common cancer overall. The current treatment option for breast cancer includes drug treatment (Chemotherapy and hormone therapy) or surgery (mastectomy and lumpectomy). The major drawbacks of chemotherapy include rapid metabolism, limited ductal exposure, lower bioavailability, higher elimination rate, undesirable side effects, and high dose of drug. Localized application of drug to breast achieves higher drug levels at the tumor site and reduces systemic drug distribution. Permeation of drug by local application is mainly by transepidermal and transductal routes. The multiple duct openings of mammary papilla provide a higher permeable surface for transport of drug. Various formulation approaches like conjugated nanocarriers, microemulsion, nanoemulsion, liposomes, microneedles and iontophoresis are used to achieve a tailored and targeted drug delivery to underlying breast tissue. Localized transport of drug via transpapillary route has developed a novel and effective non-invasive drug delivery approach to achieve a systemic drug level at the tumor site in the management of breast cancer.