Advancements in Hydrogel-Based Therapies for Ovarian Cancer: A Review

Ovarian cancer, the most deadly gynecologic malignancy, is often resistant to conventional antitumor therapy due to various factors such as severe side effects, unexpected recurrence, and significant tissue damage. The limitations of current treatments and the resistance of invasive tumor cells contribute to these challenges. Hydrogel therapy has recently emerged as a potential treatment option for ovarian cancer, offering advantages such as controllability, biocompatibility, high drug loading capacity, prolonged drug release, and responsiveness to specific stimuli. Hence, the utilization of biodegradable hydrogels as carriers for chemotherapeutic agents has emerged as a significant concern in the field. Injectable hydrogel-based drug delivery systems, in particular, have demonstrated superior efficacy compared to traditional systemic chemotherapy for cancer treatment. The pliability of hydrogel therapy allows for access to anatomical regions that may be challenging for surgical intervention. This review article examines recent advancements in the application of hydrogels for diagnosing and treating ovarian cancer, while also proposing a novel direction for the use of hydrogel technology in this context. The objective of this article is to offer a novel point of reference and serve as a source of inspiration for the advancement of more precise and individualized cancer therapies.Graphical AbstractThis article provides an overview of the fundamental composition of hydrogels, recent advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer, and proposes the emerging application of hydrogel technology in the management of ovarian cancer. The primary objective of this article is to offer a novel perspective and stimulate further research in the realm of precise and individualized cancer therapy.