« Chinese Sub Outfoxes U.S. Fleet | Main | Why Is It That Journalists Are So Gullible About Greenhouse Gases Causing Dangerous Global Warming? »

November 10, 2007

New Targeted Approach To Light-Activated Cancer Drugs With Tumor-Seeking Antibodies Shows Promise

Topics: Medicine

A research team, led by scientists from Imperial and the Imperial spin-out company PhotoBiotics, has shown that their antibody-carrying light-sensitive drugs have effected complete tumour regression in an animal model.

New research at Imperial College of London's Department of Life Sciences suggests that combining light-activated cancer drugs with tumour-seeking antibodies could provide a more effective way of treating many cancers.

Using light-activated drugs to treat cancer is known as photodynamic therapy (PDT). This treatment involves focusing drugs on diseased tissues, and then illuminating the area with a cold laser which sets off a chain reaction in the cancerous tissue, converting oxygen to a highly toxic type of oxygen-like bleach, which destroys cells in the vicinity. PDT has been shown to be successful in treating head and neck, prostate and skin cancers.

However, current PDT is limited by the inefficiency with which the light-activated drugs are able to specifically target tumours. This can mean that the light-activated drugs can circulate in the patient's body for some time after the treatment, leaving patients light-sensitive and prone to skin damage. The research team behind the new study think their results show they can solve this problem by ensuring the drugs get straight to the cancerous cells, and do not affect the rest of the body.

Continue reading: New Targeted Approach To Light-activated Cancer Drugs

Related: Light Activated Anticancer Drug Targeted To DNA Using Cisplatin Like Sub-units

Cross posted from New Hope Blog

Posted by Richard at November 10, 2007 10:20 PM

Articles Related to Medicine:

• Monitor Your Moles For Signs Of Dangerous Skin Cancer - Apr 28, 2008
• Compound Found In Soybeans May Halt Spread Of Prostate Cancer - Apr 01, 2008
• Fewer Doses Of Radiation Still Effective In Beating Breast Cancer - Mar 19, 2008
• Severe Psychological Stress May Be Linked To Breast Cancer - Mar 10, 2008
• Scientists Say Anti-Cancer Smart Bomb Ready For Human Use - Mar 05, 2008
• New Research Confirms The Power Of Images In The Brain To Heal The Body - Jan 07, 2008
• Genentech's Avastin Shows Promise In Brain Cancer - Nov 18, 2007
• Synthetic Molecule Makes Cancer Cells Commit Suicide - Nov 14, 2007
• Study Suggests New Pill Is Better Than Traditional Chemotherapy - Oct 09, 2007
• Stem Cells Can Prompt Metastasis In Cancer - Oct 03, 2007