The Blood-Brain Barrier: Anatomy, Physiology And Challenges In Cancer Therapy

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a barrier that protects brain tissue from blood flow. Crucial elements such as endothelial cells, astrocytes, pericytes, and basal lamina are part of this barrier's intricate structure. The flow of chemicals and cells between the blood and the brain is tightly regulated by the blood-brain barrier. Numerous neurological and psychiatric conditions can impact its structure, function, or integrity. The BBB can be used to deliver drugs and cells into the brain through endothelial cells because of its large vascular surface area. The prognosis for primary and secondary brain tumors remains dismal despite research advances. The brain is protected and its equilibrium preserved by the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a complex and unique semi-permeable membrane. But it presents a big obstacle to treating tumors and the brain. The blood-tumor barrier (BTB) is a diverse vascular structure that can develop from certain brain tumors that compromise the BBB’s integrity. To enhance the delivery of cancer treatments, researchers have concentrated on figuring out how to get past these challenges. In this review, we examine methods that have been researched to get past or alter the cellular and molecular barriers of the BTB and the BBB. We also describe strategies that are being tested in preclinical or clinical settings, such as physical, biological, and molecular techniques to get past the BBB or BTB. New and more efficient treatment options will be developed with a better understanding of the BBB and BTB as well as the current methods for overcoming these obstacles.