Cancer targeting carfilzomib nanomedicine: a comprehensive review of delivery vehicles and efficacy

Cancer therapy is an ever-changing landscape in constant demand of innovative approaches. Carfilzomib (CFZ) is a tetrapeptide epoxyketone covalent proteasome inhibitor currently approved for the treatment of refractory multiple myeloma. CFZ has a litany of anti-cancer biological effects lending itself to the treatment of a broad number of malignancies. Like many anti-cancer agents, CFZ is marred by severe offsite toxicities that limit applications of the drug. As a result, many nanomedicine approaches have been explored to improve the therapeutic index of CFZ-based treatments. Nanoparticle mediated delivery of CFZ has emerged as a leading candidate. CFZ can be encapsulated in a diverse array of nanomedical formulations including lipid-based, polymer, inorganic, and nanocrystalline vehicles. Each vehicle subtype has unique properties allowing for opportunities for enhanced delivery as well as multimodal therapy. In this review, we will categorize and summarize CFZ nanomedicine methods while demonstrating the potential of CFZ in the treatment of cancer.