Targeted Cancer Therapies: Integrating Natural Compounds, Synthetic Drugs, and Innovative Nanoformulations

Cancer therapy remains a dynamic and challenging field, as drug resistance, off-target toxicity, and poor bioavailability of therapeutics continue to hinder clinical outcomes. In recent years, research on natural compounds—including phytochemicals, marine derivatives, and venoms—has accelerated due to their unique anticancer mechanisms such as induction of apoptosis, inhibition of metastasis, and reversal of drug resistance. At the same time, synthetic molecules like kinase inhibitors and proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are being developed for their precision in targeting oncogenic pathways. Breakthroughs in nanotechnology have introduced innovative cell-based delivery systems—such as immune cell-derived vesicles and macrophage-coated nanoparticles—which build upon traditional nanocarriers to enhance tumor specificity and immune evasion. Despite these scientific advances, significant gaps remain in optimizing the synergistic use of these diverse modalities, understanding their integrated mechanisms, and effectively translating laboratory findings into viable clinical solutions.

This Research Topic aims to clarify novel mechanisms by which natural compounds and synthetic molecules counteract cancer progression, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. A central objective is to foster the rational design of synthetic compounds for targeted therapy, while highlighting the transformative potential of nanoformulations—particularly those that harness cell-based systems—for precise drug delivery. The Research Topic also seeks to stimulate research exploring how the integration of these agents and delivery strategies can deliver synergistic effects that surpass the efficacy of individual approaches. Through rigorous experimental studies and theoretical exploration, the Topic aspires to create a knowledge base that accelerates the journey from bench to bedside.

This Research Topic focuses on integrated approaches that unite natural and synthetic anticancer agents with advanced, especially cell-based, nanoformulations. Single-modality, computational-only studies without external validation are outside the scope. To gather further insights into integrating diverse therapeutic approaches, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

- Nanoformulation of natural compounds, including delivery via exosomes, biomimetic systems, and other innovative carriers.
- Overcoming biological barriers: strategies for improving bioavailability, tumor targeting, and drug resistance.
- Design and preclinical validation of synergistic combinations of natural products and synthetic drugs.
- Mechanisms underlying the anticancer efficacy of novel phytochemicals, marine agents, and venoms.
- Translational and clinical perspectives on cell-based nanoformulations, including CRISPR-engineered exosomes and immunonanotherapeutics responsive to the tumor microenvironment.

We encourage submission of original research, reviews, and perspective articles that bridge mechanistic discovery and clinical application, to promote interdisciplinary collaboration in the quest for more integrated and effective cancer therapies.


Please note: Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics, computational analysis, or predictions of public databases that are not accompanied by validation (independent clinical or patient cohort, or biological validation in vitro or in vivo, which are not based on public databases), are not suitable for publication in this journal.

Keywords: Cancer nanomedicine, Bioactive compounds, Targeted therapy, Cell-based delivery, Immunonanotherapeutic

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.