Abstract

INHALED MEDICINES FOR TARGETING NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER: RECENT ADVANCES, CHALLENGES AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

Radhika Chouhan*, Umesh Parekh, Manoj Goyal

ABSTRACT

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common form of lung cancer and remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Despite significant advances in surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, the long-term survival rate of patients with advanced NSCLC remains unsatisfactory because of drug resistance, systemic toxicity, and poor drug accumulation within tumour tissues. Pulmonary drug delivery has emerged as an innovative strategy to overcome these limitations by delivering therapeutic agents directly to the lungs through inhalation. This targeted approach enhances local drug concentration, reduces systemic exposure, and improves treatment efficiency while minimizing adverse effects. Recent developments in nanotechnology have further improved inhaled drug delivery by incorporating nanoparticles, liposomes, polymeric carriers, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, and micelles into inhalable formulations. These advanced delivery systems improve drug stability, prolong pulmonary residence time, enhance cellular uptake, and facilitate controlled drug release. In addition, inhaled delivery is being investigated for the administration of chemotherapeutic agents, molecular targeted drugs, nucleic acids, peptides, proteins, and immunotherapeutic agents. Several preclinical studies and early-stage clinical trials have demonstrated encouraging therapeutic outcomes, although challenges related to aerosol formulation, particle deposition, device selection, manufacturing, regulatory approval, and patient compliance still remain. Continuous advances in pulmonary nanomedicine, precision drug delivery, and combination therapy are expected to improve clinical outcomes and establish inhaled medicines as an integral component of future NSCLC treatment. This review summarizes recent progress in inhaled medicines for NSCLC, discusses various inhalation devices and nanocarriers, highlights current clinical evidence, examines existing challenges, and explores future opportunities for pulmonary drug delivery.

Keywords: Non-small cell lung cancer; Pulmonary drug delivery; Inhaled medicines; Nanoparticles; Liposomes; Dry powder inhaler; Nebulizer; Targeted therapy; Nanomedicine; Pulmonary chemotherapy.