Innovative Strategies and Challenges in Breast Cancer Therapy: Advances in Raloxifene, Curcumin, and Nanostructured Lipid Carriers

In this narrative review, the authors discuss the emerging therapeutic applications of breast cancer with an emphasis on synergetic potential of raloxifene and curcumin, and use of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) as novel drug delivery systems. Raloxifene with selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) activity and curcumin with polyphenolic compounds with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer effects possess good effectiveness in the case of hormone-sensitive breast cancer. They are however limited in their clinical application by low bioavailability, quick degradation and low absorption. NLCs used in combination of solid and liquid lipids provide an effective alternative since they stabilize the drugs as well as have the advantage of increasing absorption and specific tumor targeting. These carriers facilitate co-delivery of raloxifene and curcumin at low dose exposure and an increased therapeutic effect and reduced systemic toxicity. Using literature, this review also looks at breast cancer subtypes, their molecular characteristics and the inadequacy of the standard management like chemotherapy, radiotherapy and endocrine therapy. It covers the new focused treatment modality, e.g., PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors, selective estrogen receptor degraders (SERDs), anti-HER2 therapies, and PARPI, particularly to aggressive forms of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). These approaches reveal the significance of individualized approaches of treatment with the inclusion of nanomedicine. In summation, this narrative review identifies the therapeutic potential of molecular targeting in combination with lipid-based nanocarriers to overcome the issue of resistance and enhance breast cancer treatments.