Cancer is one of the leading causes of death and one of the pathologies with highest social
impact in western world. It is now generally accepted that the process of metastasis is the major
cause of death in cancer patients with solid tumors, mainly because of the ineffectiveness of
current therapies once tumor cells spread and metastases begin to form. Indeed, inhibiting
cancer cell invasion and metastasis has become a top-priority in cancer research. In this context,
recent studies have shown the importance of the lymphatic system in the process of cancer cell
dispersion.
Herein, we propose a multidisciplinary strategy combining nanotechnology and biomedicine for
the development of anticancer treatments targeted specifically to the lymphatic nodes. Taking
advantage of the ability of selected nanoparticles to localize to the lymph nodes, we plan to
deliver drugs and immunostimulating complexes to this compartment, preventing the process of
metastatic spreading through lymphatic vessels. In the present proposal we aim at reaching an
advanced preclinical evaluation stage of these novel nanocarriers systems. This aim requires an
integrated and multidisciplinar working plan, together with a highly coordinated action of
clinical and academic participants as proposed within the frame of the present international
consortium.
