login
Become a member
Quick Registration
Full Registration Benefits -
Free Homepages for Doctors
Free Homepages for Hospitals
Free Homepages for Medical Conference
Free Homepages for NGO's
Personal Health Record Creation
Access to all Medical Slides
Access to all Jobs & Products Sale
New Therapy That Uses UV Light to Fight Cancer Developed
October 31, 2007 at 1:16 PM
Cancer News
The team, from Newcastle University, has developed light-activated "magic bullets" which could give hope to millions of cancer victims by allowing surgeons to target tumours much more successfully.
The team has synthesized a way to prevent antibodies becoming effective until illuminated with UV light, meaning they can target specific cancers while remaining inactive in other parts of the body. The special molecules are injected into the bloodstream and then "switched on" by shining ultraviolet light on the part of the body where they are needed.
Since these special molecules only work when bathed in light, doctors would be able to use ultraviolet rays to make sure that only the drugs embedded near the tumour are switched on. The team hopes the procedure could be used to make existing drugs such as Herceptin much more effective.
"I would describe this development as the equivalent of ultra-specific magic bullets, the Daily Mail quoted lead researcher Professor Colin Self, as saying. He added that the technique could be used for tumours close to the skin, such as breast cancer, and for any cancers within reach of a light probe.
These include those of the digestive system, such as stomach and bowel cancer, and those of the genito-urinary system, such as ovarian cancer. The team firstly demonstrated how they could coat an antibody in oil so that it does not react with substances within the body except when illuminated.
|
|
|
More News on: Cancer and Homeopathy, Anti-ageing and Benefits of Red Wine, Ultra-Violet Radiation , Reiki and Pranic Healing, Cancer Facts, Cancer
 Comment & Contribute
|
Medwonders Health Network
- Health News Index
 | Quiz on Cancer Looking for information on cancer? Go through medindia's Cancer quiz. 
|
- News Quick Links
 |
Cancer
Complete Medindia Resources
|
| News Categories: |
| » | Report: A Lot of Americans Have No Access to Health Care |
| » | Greece Faces Humanitarian Crisis as Health Care Access Declines in EU, Doctors Group Warns |
| » | HCCI Report Says Rising Prices for Care Responsible for Increased Healthcare Costs for Privately Insured Americans |
| » | Treatment in ED is Based on Children's Insurance Status |
| » | US Spends Most on Healthcare Without Providing Superior Care |
| More Insurance News | |
|
