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Remote photo-activation of pre-injected nitrobenzaldehyde: A novel method to kill cancer cells in 2 hours

Posted in Cancer - General, Cancer and Current Therapeutics, CANCER BIOLOGY & Innovations in Cancer Therapy, Cancer Prevention: Research & Programs, Cell Biology, Cell death pathways, Drug Delivery Platform Technology, Drug Toxicity, Uncategorized, tagged acidic, Cancer - General, Cancer research, cancer therapy, nitrobenzaldehyde, photo-activation on July 12, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Reporter and Curator: Dr. Sudipta Saha, Ph.D.

Researchers of University of Texas at San Antonio, USA, have developed a new, non-invasive method which can kill cancer cells in two hours, an advance that may significantly help people with inoperable or hard-to-reach tumours, as well as young children stricken with the deadly disease.

The method involves injecting a chemical compound, nitrobenzaldehyde, into the tumour and allowing it to diffuse into the tissue. A beam of light is then aimed at the tissue, causing the cells to become very acidic inside and, essentially, commit suicide. Within two hours, up to 95 per cent of the targeted cancer cells are estimated to be dead.

The method was tested against triple negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive types of cancer and one of the hardest to treat. The prognosis for triple negative breast cancer is usually very poor. One treatment in the laboratory was able to stop the tumour from growing and doubled the chances of survival in the mice.

According to the researchers all forms of cancer attempt to make cells acidic on the outside and attract the attention of blood vessels as an attempt to get rid of the acid. But, instead, the cancer cells latches onto the blood vessel and uses it to make the tumour grow bigger.

Chemotherapy treatments target all cells in the body, and certain chemotherapeutics try to keep cancer cells acidic as a way to kill the cancer. This is what causes many cancer patients to lose their hair and become weak. This method however, is more precise and can target just the tumour.

This research is presently extended on drug-resistant cancer cells to make this therapy as strong as possible. The researchers also started to develop a nanoparticle that can be injected into the body to target metastasised cancer cells. The nanoparticle is activated with a wavelength of light which can pass harmlessly through skin, flesh and bone and still activate the nanoparticle.

This non-invasive method will help cancer patients with tumours in areas that have proven problematic for surgeons, such as the brain stem, aorta or spine. It could also help people who have received the maximum amount of radiation treatment and can no longer cope with the scarring and pain that goes along with it, or children who are at risk of developing mutations from radiation as they grow older.

References:

http://www.ndtv.com/health/researchers-develop-new-method-to-kill-cancer-cells-in-2-hours-1424509

https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/new-non-invasive-cancer-therapy-shows-promise-062916.html

http://www.mirror.co.uk/science/new-cancer-treatment-can-kill-8341452

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/06/160627214423.htm

http://reliawire.com/photodynamic-acidification-therapy/

http://www.gizmag.com/making-cancer-cells-acidic/44070/

http://www.oncologynurseadvisor.com/general-oncology/initial-photodynamic-therapy-tests-promising/article/508292/

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/06/160627214423.htm

http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/new-method-can-kill-cancer-cells-in-two-hours-shows-study/article8785315.ece

http://www.aol.com/article/2016/07/06/new-cancer-treatment-method-causes-cells-to-commit-suicide/21424984/

http://zeenews.india.com/news/health/diseases-conditions/new-method-that-can-kill-cancer-cells-in-2-hours-developed_1901377.html

http://www.digitaltrends.com/health-fitness/ultraviolet-light-kills-cancer-cells/

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1385404/light-can-kill-cancer-in-just-two-hours/

http://www.techtimes.com/articles/168268/20160704/new-cancer-therapy-method-ultraviolet-light-may-soon-replace-chemotherapy.htm

https://www.engadget.com/2016/07/01/scientists-use-light-to-nuke-cancer-cells-in-mice/

Nuha Buchanan Kadri, Matthew Gdovin, Nizar Alyassin, Justin Avila, Aryana Cruz, Louis Cruz, Steve Holliday, Zachary Jordan, Cameron Ruiz and Jennifer Watts. Photodynamic acidification therapy to reduce triple negative breast cancer growth in vivo. Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol 34, No 15_suppl (May 20 Supplement), 2016: e12574.