Smart Bomb Drug Zaps Cancer Cells in Mice
Reuters: July 27, 2005
Many different treatments have been developed
for cancer. The most popular of these is currently chemotherapy. However, chemotherapy often has many negative effects. The patient's hair falls out, the amount of radiation passing through the body is great, and chemotherapy often only serves to delay the amount of time before death. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) made a recent development in cancer therapy. This therapy does not involve chemotherapy and is very efficient.
This new treatment includes planting a small cell into a tumor. When the cell is firmly implanted, it explodes, sending chemicals and treatment drugs all around the tumor. The tumor is thus killed by the enormous amount of chemicals that rapidly spread inside of it. The cell is first sent into the blood stream, in which it travels until it reaches the tumor. The outer membrane of the cell melts upon burrowing into the tumor. At that time, the cell releases an anti-angiogenesis drug. The drug fights the tumor, while also cutting off bloody supply, eventually killing the tumor.
This procedure was first tested on mice, and there is hope that the treatment will be just as effective for humans. The mice that were tested usually had lung or skin cancer. The tested mice proved to live three times longer than untreated mice. Scientists believe that it is probable for humans to react similarly to this drug. Eighty percent of the mice lived more than 65 days, while mice receiving the best chemotherapy only lived for 30. Mice without treatment died within 20 days.
The new "smart bomb" drug is extremely efficient, while having many benefits that are yet to be seen in other treatments. The procedure does not have any side effects. Since only cancerous cells are killed, rather than healthy ones, the drug eliminates side effects like nausea, vomiting, and hair loss.
New technology, such as this smart bomb, has always been a founder of hope for patients with incurable diseases. This technique is intelligent, effective, and can stop cancer without side effects. One can only hope that this drug is indeed able to solve many of humans' medical problems.