Brain Cancer Receptors and Targeting Strategies

Abstract

Brain cancer is regarded as the most widespread cancer of the central nervous system. The complexity of the glial cell tumor renders the survival and prognosis of glioma difficult, even after conventional chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery treatments. The major concern is the formidable blood–brain barrier (BBB) that guards the entry of all exogenous moieties into the brain. This chapter addresses in brief the various approaches to bypass the BBB. Among different strategies, receptor-oriented drug delivery takes advantage of receptors on the BBB to traverse into the brain and if appropriately designed can enter the cancer cells through receptors overexpressed on their surface. This chapter will also summarize the various receptors, their physiology, ligands for the receptor, and drug-delivery strategies that could improve brain cancer therapy.