Current practices in oncology drug delivery

Abstract Cancer is a disease which cannot be easily monitored or detected and is characterized by alterations in complex molecular and cellular interactions in different pathways. Even though there has been some success in conventional chemotherapy it still possesses certain drawbacks such as poor bioavailability, adverse effects, high-dose requirements, low therapeutic indices, and development of multidrug resistance. Drug delivery systems are those modalities through which the drug can be made available to desired tissues, organs, cells, and subcellular organs for the release and absorption of the drug. This way it can overcome challenges such as limited solubility, low bioavailability, lack of selectivity, and reduction in side effects. Hence, this chapter will be emphasizing on different modes of drug delivery currently used in the treatment of cancer.