Advances in Tracking Anticancer Drugs to Their Targeted Site: A Review

The targeted delivery of chemotherapy drugs to their specific locations in a tumor is a cornerstone of current oncology for high therapeutic efficacy and reduced systemic toxicity. Recent breakthroughs in nanotechnology, molecular and imaging modalities have revolutionized the field of targeted delivery and tracking technology. With these new advances, the real-time tracking of drug routes and increased accuracy in tumor localization have become a reality. This review has discussed advanced targeting approaches, such as passive and active targeting, multifunctional theranostics and stimuli-responsive platforms to describe their mechanism, clinical utility and challenges. In addition, tracking modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) have played a key role in noninvasive tracking and have been discussed in detail. Challenges such as immune clearance, tumor heterogeneity and translational barriers have been discussed, and new avenues through artificial intelligence, biomarker-guided approaches and therapeutic platforms have been explored in detail. Emerging studies have also shed new light on targeted oncology, combining biomarker discovery and new therapeutic platforms with individualized patient requirements. A thorough analysis reveals an interdisciplinary obstacle in developing targeted delivery technology and shaping future cancer therapy.