Nanotherapeutic potential in glaucoma associated ocular cancers

TL;DR

This paper explores how nanotechnology could improve treatment for eye cancers linked to glaucoma by enabling targeted drug delivery and better imaging.

Contribution

The paper highlights novel nanotherapeutic strategies that combine tumor suppression and neuroprotection in glaucoma-associated cancers.

Findings

Nanoparticles improve drug delivery and imaging in ocular cancers.

Multifunctional nanoparticles show potential for theranostic applications.

Challenges include poor ocular penetration and biocompatibility concerns.

Abstract

Glaucoma-associated ocular cancers, including uveal melanoma and retinoblastoma, share overlapping pathological mechanisms that complicate diagnosis and treatment. Conventional imaging techniques, such as optical coherence tomography, often fail to distinguish glaucomatous neurodegeneration from tumour-induced damage, while standard chemotherapy and radiotherapy may exacerbate glaucoma progression. These diagnostic and therapeutic challenges highlight the urgent need for integrated management strategies. Recent advances in nanotechnology offer innovative solutions, with nanotherapeutics enabling targeted drug delivery, enhanced imaging contrast, and combined diagnostic–therapeutic (“theranostic”) capabilities. Various nanoparticle platforms have shown promise in improving ocular drug bioavailability, precision targeting, and real-time disease monitoring. This review synthesizes current progress in nanomedicine for glaucoma-associated cancers, emphasizing multifunctional nanoparticles that concurrently support tumour suppression and neuroprotection. Despite encouraging preclinical findings, significant challenges remain, including limited penetration across ocular barriers, uncertain long-term biocompatibility, and complex regulatory requirements. Continued interdisciplinary research integrating nanotechnology with gene editing and vector-based delivery systems may pave the way for personalized, vision-preserving therapies that redefine the treatment paradigm for glaucoma-associated ocular malignancies.

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