Effective Strategies and Applications of Dendrimers in the Treatment of Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer, the worldwide leading cause of gynecological cancer-related death, is primarily treated by surgery followed by platinum chemotherapy. Though the tumor initially responds to the treatment, only 30% of 5 year survival period has been recorded and this is mainly attributed to the acquired chemo resistance and frequent recurrence of tumor. Combination chemotherapy as well, led to therapeutic failure due to non-specificity and subsequent side effects. However, polymer mediated drug delivery aids in overcoming these impediments. In particular, three dimensional macromolecule “Dendrimer” with its unique properties and numerous functionalities offer various advantages over the conventional approach and may improve the treatment outcome in patients with ovarian cancer. The present review highlights the various strategies employed using dendrimers to achieve targeted drug delivery and enhanced therapeutic efficacy in ovarian cancer.