Figure 4.

Emerging strategies for detection and treatment of brain metastases. (A) Bioengineering and molecular oncology research are beginning to identify approaches that specifically target vulnerabilities of brain metastases, including microenvironmental adaptations. Through flexibility of design, nanomedicine approaches offer exciting possibilities for overcoming drug delivery and therapeutic index challenges in the metastatic brain cancer patient population. Externally-augmented drug release and/or activation may be a useful therapeutic tool in some circumstances. (B) Typical structure of a polymer-based nanocarrier with various functional groups. bis-scFv, bispecific single-chain variable fragment; IgG, immunoglobulin; kDa, kilodalton; nm, nanometer.