NSAIDs-loaded nanocarriers as emerging anticancer therapeutics: Harnessing inflammation-targeted drug delivery to combat tumor progression.

Chronic inflammation plays a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of cancer, influencing key processes such as tumor initiation, metastasis, and resistance to therapies. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have shown promise as standalone therapeutic agents in oncology, primarily due to their capacity to regulate inflammatory signaling pathways. The present review investigates the involvement of inflammation in cancer and offers a systematic overview of the anticancer effects associated with commonly utilized NSAIDs. Moreover, this review assesses preclinical studies focused on the formulation of nano-delivery systems for NSAIDs, highlighting their potential to enhance drug bioavailability, target tumor-specific inflammatory microenvironment, and reduce systemic toxicity. Finally, this review underscores the promise of combining NSAIDs with advanced nano-delivery systems as a viable strategy for improving cancer treatment outcomes, while pointing out the need for further research to optimize these approaches for clinical application.