Biomaterials for Abrogating Metastasis: Bridging the Gap between Basic and Translational Research

Herein lies the issue of how to best approach cancer metastasis therapeutics in a focused, directed and efficacious manner. The lack of standardized means to efficiently deliver therapeutic cargo to metastatic sites calls for a paradigm shift in the way we view and treat metastasis. It is crucial to leverage the potential of nanomedicine to differentially combat cancer spread at each stage of the disease (primary tumor growth and formation of metastases) while considering the optimal administration route. We propose to implement three possible strategies to treat cancer as a function of disease type and state, while leveraging the advancement in materials design and in particular nanotechnology: (1) local primary tumor abrogation; (2) primary tumor re-programming to prevent metastasis; and (3) combination (local and systemic) therapy when metastasis has already transpired. Herein, we highlight potential means to bridge the gap between basic and translational research as related to metastasis therapy.