Metals as radio-enhancers in oncology: The industry perspective

• Oncology is a field of high unmet medical need.
• Despites of its widespread usage, radiation therapy presents a narrow therapeutic window.
• High density material at the nanoscale may enhance radiation dose deposit from cancer cells.
• Metal-based nanosized radio-enhancers could unlock the potential of radiotherapy.

Radio-enhancers, metal-based nanosized agents, could play a key role in oncology. They may unlock the potential of radiotherapy by enhancing the radiation dose deposit within tumors when the ionizing radiation source is ‘on’, while exhibiting chemically inert behavior in cellular and subcellular systems when the radiation beam is ‘off’. Important decision points support the development of these new type of therapeutic agents originated from nanotechnology. Here, we discuss from an industry perspective, the interest of developing radio-enhancer agents to improve tumor control, the relevance of nanotechnology to achieve adequate therapeutic attributes, and present some considerations for their development in oncology.