Haidi Chu, D Wang
Complex molecular signaling networks regulate the development of thyroid carcinoma by providing neoplastic cells with the ability to adapt, survive, and multiply. Conventional single-target systems of therapeutic administration are often insufficient to provide adequate clinical efficacy, due to redundancy in signaling pathways, and compensatory response and resultant systemic toxicity. Functionalized nanomedicines are a novel modality that can potentially overcome these challenges by allowing simultaneous modulation of multiple cascades of oncogenic pathways. This review looks into the molecular pathways that are involved in the development and progression of thyroid cancer; special attention is paid to the central signaling strings which regulate cell proliferation, cell survival, angiogenesis and apoptosis. The focus is made on the co-targeting of these pathways by the means of fine tumor specificity and controlled drug delivery. This review outlines modern developments in the field of functionalized nanomedicines that deal with thyroid carcinoma, with a particular focus on the potential and the challenges of how to target two or more molecular conduits simultaneously. As compared to the previous reviews of subjects that examine single targets or single treatments in the management of thyroid cancer, our discussion predestines the novel approach of using functionalized nanomedicines to concomitantly probe into multiple signaling pathways-an approach that is extremely important in addressing the challenges of therapeutic resistance and improving clinical efficacy. The future directions are also outlined, and the prospects of personalized and intelligent nanomedicine-based solutions to change the landscape of therapeutic options of thyroid carcinoma can be viewed.