Researchers have developed a method of finding and treating tumours at the same time using microscopic particles. Prostate glands will be blasted with millions of charged magnetic nanoparticles which illuminate tumours and then heat them until they are dead. The University of Leicester's Department of Chemistry has been awarded £325,000 to develop the treatment, which could one day be used to treat other cancers. Research scientist Dr Glen Burley said: "People don't always realise they have prostate cancer until it has spread to other parts of the body. "But the new treatment would be given to all patients to detect the tumour as early as possible and kill anything that shows up at the same time. "It's more effective than any other current treatments because it kills the tumour as soon as it's found which saves valuable time. "We would like to have the method in full use within three years by which time it could improve survival rates very significantly." Current prostate cancer treatments vary from surgery to remove the prostate gland to intensive radiotherapy courses. Survival rates for advanced prostate cancer are one in three but researchers believe that rate could be improved to 99 in 100 men using the new treatment. The treatment works by injecting millions of magnetic particles onto the prostate gland of patients who fear they may be at risk. The particles cluster around any tumours which have formed on the gland and are illuminated under a Magnetic Reasonance Imaging (MRI) scan. Radio waves are then used to heat the particles to 42 degrees which kills the tumour by hyperthermia before it can spread. Incredibly, the researchers say the same treatment could be used to treat more aggressive forms of cancer in the liver, breast and colon. The treatment will be developed within the university and patients could be used in clinical trials as early as next year. Research colleague Dr Wu Su added: "Prostate cancer cure rates have been predicted on early diagnosis and treatment. "The technology that we're developing offers the potential of both identification and early treatment of prostate cancer in a selective manor. "The technology provides hope of a massive breakthrough in the treatment of the disease. "Successful use this technology would provide significant welfare benefits for patients and reduce the need for removal of the prostate gland." The Prostate Cancer Charity spokeswoman Nicola Nagler said: "Until the method has been fully researched and tested we can't say for sure how significant it is. "The nanotechnology method has sounds hopeful and there's no reason to suggest why it can't be a breakthrough."Treatment that kills tumours with heat could provide prostate cancer cure
A prostate cancer treatment that kills tumours by heating them could provide a cure within three years, British scientists have said.
Friday, 17 April 2009
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