Advancing Breast Cancer Treatment: The Role of PLA-based Scaffolds in Tumor Microenvironment and Drug Delivery

This review highlights the crucial role of polylactic acid (PLA)-based scaffolds in developing novel breast cancer treatment strategies. Despite advances in early detection and therapy, breast cancer remains a complex challenge with frequent resistance and relapse. Conventional treatments, while effective, have limitations such as restricted drug distribution and radiation toxicity. PLA scaffolds offer a promising alternative due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability, making them suitable for tissue engineering applications in oncology. The article examines the design and fabrication of PLA scaffolds that are not merely passive structures but play an active role in the therapeutic process. By tailoring their mechanical properties, these scaffolds can mimic the characteristics of actual breast tissue, creating a lifelike environment for studying cancer cell behavior. Furthermore, PLA scaffolds can mimic the tumor microenvironment, offering a three-dimensional representation that allows for a more accurate examination of tumor biology and treatment response. These scaffolds also function as advanced drug delivery systems, releasing therapeutic agents at the tumor site in a controlled manner, reducing systemic side effects, and enhancing drug efficacy. This review connects fundamental research with clinical practice, highlighting the revolutionary potential of PLA-based scaffolds in breast cancer management by mimicking the tumor microenvironment, delivering drugs locally, and enabling personalized treatment strategies.

Keywords:

Breast Cancer , Polylactic Acid , Scaffold , Tumor Microenvironment