A new cancer treatment that uses nanoparticles could be far more effective than the standard. Adverse side effects of chemotherapy may not be a limitation anymore.
Novel Implant Identifies Suitable Drug for Individualized Cancer Treatment
The implant shows activity of each drug on the tumor and indicates drugs that will work best on the cancer as a whole.
The implant shows activity of each drug on the tumor and indicates drugs that will work best on the cancer as a whole.
‘The nanoparticles enter into the tumor through leaky blood vessels. These particles then release tiny cluster bombs that damage the DNA inside tumor cells.’
What makes these particles distinctive is that they start out relatively large -- 100 nanometers wide - to enable smooth transport into the tumor through leaky blood vessels. Then, in acidic conditions found close to tumors, the particles discharge "bomblets" just 5 nanometers in size. Inside tumor cells, a second chemical step activates the platinum-based cisplatin, which kills by cross-linking and damaging DNA. Doctors have used cisplatin to fight several types of cancer for decades, but toxic side effects - to the kidneys, nerves and inner ear -- can limit its effectiveness.
The study is the result of a collaboration between and a team led by Professor Jun Wang, PhD at the University of Science and Technology of China, and researchers led by Professor Shuming Nie, PhD in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory. Nie is a member of the Discovery and Developmental Therapeutics research program at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University. The lead authors are graduate student Hong-Jun Li and postdoctoral fellows Jinzhi Du, PhD and Xiao-Jiao Du, PhD.
UAE-Based Indian to Setup Super-Speciality Hospital for Cancer Treatment in London
The facility will be open in 2017 with a bed-capacity of 150 along with 2,000 staff members including leading healthcare professionals.
The facility will be open in 2017 with a bed-capacity of 150 along with 2,000 staff members including leading healthcare professionals.
The researchers showed that their nanoparticles could enhance cisplatin drug accumulation in tumor tissues. When mice bearing human pancreatic tumors were given the same doses of free cisplatin or cisplatin clothed in pH-sensitive nanoparticles, the level of platinum in tumor tissues was seven times higher with the nanoparticles. This suggests the possibility that nanoparticle delivery of a limited dose of cisplatin could restrain the toxic side effects during cancer treatment.
Advertisement
New Approach Accelerates Identification of Cancer Treatments
At the University of Michigan, researchers have described a new approach to discovering potential cancer treatments that requires a fraction of the time needed for more traditional methods.
At the University of Michigan, researchers have described a new approach to discovering potential cancer treatments that requires a fraction of the time needed for more traditional methods.
In the metastatic breast cancer model, treating mice with cisplatin clothed in nanoparticles prolonged animal survival by weeks; 50 percent of the mice were surviving at 54 days with nanoparticles compared with 37 days for the same dose of free cisplatin. Enhanced efficacy in three different tumor models demonstrate that this strategy may apply to several types of cancer, Jinzhi Du says.
Advertisement
Patient Navigation may Lead to Better Breast Cancer Treatment in High-Risk Women
The linking of a newly diagnosed cancer patient with a professional trained in assisting patients though the complex journey of cancer diagnosis and treatment, may lead to better breast cancer care in high risk and minority women.
The linking of a newly diagnosed cancer patient with a professional trained in assisting patients though the complex journey of cancer diagnosis and treatment, may lead to better breast cancer care in high risk and minority women.
Source-Eurekalert
