Background and aim: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is challenging due to its aggressive nature and limited targeted therapies. Doxorubicin-loaded nanoparticles have been proposed as a novel strategy to increase treatment efficacy and reduce side effects. The aim of this study was to conduct the first meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of these systems in in vitro and in-vivo TNBC models.
Material and methods: This study was conducted as a systematic review and meta-analysis. A systematic search of reputable scientific databases was conducted to identify studies published over the last 10 years, from January 2015 to September 2025. Eligible studies included those reporting quantitative data related to cell viability, IC50, and tumor volume reduction. Meta-analyses were performed using a random-effects model (DerSimonian–Laird), and subgroup analyses were conducted by nanoparticle type and TNBC cell model.
Results: A total of 8 eligible studies, including 15 datasets, were included in the meta-analysis. Doxorubicin-loaded nanoparticles resulted in a significant reduction in cell viability (effect size = 0.44), with more pronounced effects observed in FZD7-targeted nanoparticles and the MDA-MB-231 cell line. IC50 analysis indicated that exosome-based nanoparticles and polymeric nanoparticles exhibited the lowest IC50 values, reflecting enhanced drug cytotoxicity. Additionally, in vivo data demonstrated a significant reduction in tumor volume (effect size = 0.44), particularly for FZD7-targeted nanoparticles and sol–gel doxorubicin nanoparticles.
Conclusions: Doxorubicin-loaded nanoparticles significantly enhance TNBC treatment efficacy in vitro and in animal models, providing strong quantitative evidence for the development and clinical translation of these systems.