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Tiny pieces of gold 'boost brain cancer therapy' in lab | Tiny pieces of gold 'boost brain cancer therapy' in lab |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Minuscule pieces of gold may help improve treatment for aggressive brain cancers, according to research published in the journal Nanoscale. | Minuscule pieces of gold may help improve treatment for aggressive brain cancers, according to research published in the journal Nanoscale. |
Scientists engineered extremely small golden spheres, coating them with a chemotherapy drug. | Scientists engineered extremely small golden spheres, coating them with a chemotherapy drug. |
When the tiny particles were infused into the centre of tumour cells, the cancer stopped replicating and many diseased cells died. | When the tiny particles were infused into the centre of tumour cells, the cancer stopped replicating and many diseased cells died. |
Researchers hope it may provide a way to target difficult-to-treat cancers. | Researchers hope it may provide a way to target difficult-to-treat cancers. |
'Golden core' | 'Golden core' |
Glioblastoma multiforme is a common form of brain cancer that affects more than 4,000 adults in the UK each year. | Glioblastoma multiforme is a common form of brain cancer that affects more than 4,000 adults in the UK each year. |
Though treatments exist, they have limited effectiveness. Most people with these tumours die within five years of diagnosis. | Though treatments exist, they have limited effectiveness. Most people with these tumours die within five years of diagnosis. |
Researchers created nanospheres - particles that were four million times smaller than a cross-section of a single human hair. | Researchers created nanospheres - particles that were four million times smaller than a cross-section of a single human hair. |
At their core were tiny pieces of gold, surrounded by layers of cisplatin - a commonly used chemotherapy drug. | At their core were tiny pieces of gold, surrounded by layers of cisplatin - a commonly used chemotherapy drug. |
In trials on samples from human cancers, the spheres appeared to boost the effectiveness of conventional radiotherapy and chemotherapy, improving the chances that all the tumour cells were killed. | In trials on samples from human cancers, the spheres appeared to boost the effectiveness of conventional radiotherapy and chemotherapy, improving the chances that all the tumour cells were killed. |
Scientists tested the nanospheres on brain-tumour samples extracted during surgery. | Scientists tested the nanospheres on brain-tumour samples extracted during surgery. |
The cancer cells were then given a dose of radiotherapy, mirroring currently available treatment. | The cancer cells were then given a dose of radiotherapy, mirroring currently available treatment. |
The radiotherapy not only attacked the tumour cells, it also excited electrons within the golden core. The excited electrons triggered the breakdown of genetic material (DNA) within the cancer. | The radiotherapy not only attacked the tumour cells, it also excited electrons within the golden core. The excited electrons triggered the breakdown of genetic material (DNA) within the cancer. |
This process also led to the release of the surrounding chemotherapy, allowing the cisplatin to work on the now weakened tumour. | This process also led to the release of the surrounding chemotherapy, allowing the cisplatin to work on the now weakened tumour. |
'Challenging tumours' | 'Challenging tumours' |
Twenty days later, there appeared to be no viable cancer cells left in treated samples. | Twenty days later, there appeared to be no viable cancer cells left in treated samples. |
Prof Sir Mark Welland, of St John's College, Cambridge, who worked on the techniques said: "This is a double-whammy effect. | |
"And by combining this strategy with cancer cell-targeting materials, we should be able to develop therapy for glioblastoma and other challenging cancers in the future." | "And by combining this strategy with cancer cell-targeting materials, we should be able to develop therapy for glioblastoma and other challenging cancers in the future." |
Dr Colin Watts, a neurosurgeon involved in the study said: "We need to be able to hit cancer cells directly with more than one treatment at the same time. | Dr Colin Watts, a neurosurgeon involved in the study said: "We need to be able to hit cancer cells directly with more than one treatment at the same time. |
"This is important because some cancers are more resistant to one type of treatment than another." | "This is important because some cancers are more resistant to one type of treatment than another." |
They said this was promising but early research that required many more tests before it could be considered a part of standard treatment. | They said this was promising but early research that required many more tests before it could be considered a part of standard treatment. |
Researchers hope to start trials in humans in 2016 and are working on early experiments involving other types of tumour. | Researchers hope to start trials in humans in 2016 and are working on early experiments involving other types of tumour. |
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