ABSTRACT
Arsenic trioxide, a mineral drug of Chinese medicine material medica with significant therapeutic effect, has been approved by USA Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia. In recent years, it has also been found to have a great therapeutic effect on the treatment of solid tumors. The anti-tumor mechanisms mainly include promoting apoptosis, inhibiting Hedgehog signaling pathway, reversing drug resistance and inhibiting angiogenesis. However, the poor targeting ability in vivo, the rapid renal clearance rate, and the toxic and side effects of high dose on normal tissues of arsenic trioxide limit the application and clinical transformation for the treatment of solid tumor. On the basis of traditional nanoparticles, the novel drug delivery system improves the drug aggregation, controlling-release and diagnosis in tumor sites, which is of great significance in accurate treatment, improvement of bioavailability and reduction of toxic and side effects. Research progress on anti-tumor mechanisms of arsenic trioxide and its drug delivery system in recent years was summarized and analyzed in this paper, in order to provide ideas for the in-depth research and clinical application of arsenic trioxide.