Stimulus-responsive hydrogels are promising candidates for targeted cancer therapy due to their ability to respond to environmental cues such as pH, temperature, light, and enzymes, enabling controlled drug release. This review discusses the latest advancements in stimulus-responsive hydrogels for cancer therapy, focusing on their responsiveness to various stimuli, including biological, chemical, and physical factors. The review also addresses current developments and challenges in hydrogels for cancer treatment, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of their potential in cancer therapy and other medical applications. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is complex and dynamic, with characteristics such as hypoxia, acidity, and increased enzyme levels that can be exploited for targeted drug delivery. Stimulus-responsive hydrogels can be designed to release drugs in response to these TME-specific conditions, minimizing systemic toxicity and enhancing therapeutic efficacy. The review highlights various types of hydrogels, including pH-responsive, redox-responsive, enzyme-responsive, and thermo- or light-responsive hydrogels, and discusses their applications in cancer therapy. Porous and flexible hydrogels can encapsulate a wide range of therapeutic agents, including anticancer drugs, and release them in response to specific stimuli. These hydrogels are biocompatible, biodegradable, and can be tailored for various biomedical applications. The review also discusses the synthesis methods for hydrogels, including physical and chemical cross-linking, and highlights the potential of hydrogels in drug delivery, tissue engineering, and other medical applications. Several hydrogels have been approved for clinical use, including UGN-101 and Vantas, which are used for the treatment of cancers. These hydrogels demonstrate the potential of stimulus-responsive hydrogels in improving the efficacy of cancer treatments while minimizing side effects. The review also discusses the mechanisms of action of various hydrogels, including their response to pH, temperature, light, and enzymatic activity, and highlights the potential of hydrogels in targeted drug delivery and cancer therapy.Stimulus-responsive hydrogels are promising candidates for targeted cancer therapy due to their ability to respond to environmental cues such as pH, temperature, light, and enzymes, enabling controlled drug release. This review discusses the latest advancements in stimulus-responsive hydrogels for cancer therapy, focusing on their responsiveness to various stimuli, including biological, chemical, and physical factors. The review also addresses current developments and challenges in hydrogels for cancer treatment, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of their potential in cancer therapy and other medical applications. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is complex and dynamic, with characteristics such as hypoxia, acidity, and increased enzyme levels that can be exploited for targeted drug delivery. Stimulus-responsive hydrogels can be designed to release drugs in response to these TME-specific conditions, minimizing systemic toxicity and enhancing therapeutic efficacy. The review highlights various types of hydrogels, including pH-responsive, redox-responsive, enzyme-responsive, and thermo- or light-responsive hydrogels, and discusses their applications in cancer therapy. Porous and flexible hydrogels can encapsulate a wide range of therapeutic agents, including anticancer drugs, and release them in response to specific stimuli. These hydrogels are biocompatible, biodegradable, and can be tailored for various biomedical applications. The review also discusses the synthesis methods for hydrogels, including physical and chemical cross-linking, and highlights the potential of hydrogels in drug delivery, tissue engineering, and other medical applications. Several hydrogels have been approved for clinical use, including UGN-101 and Vantas, which are used for the treatment of cancers. These hydrogels demonstrate the potential of stimulus-responsive hydrogels in improving the efficacy of cancer treatments while minimizing side effects. The review also discusses the mechanisms of action of various hydrogels, including their response to pH, temperature, light, and enzymatic activity, and highlights the potential of hydrogels in targeted drug delivery and cancer therapy.