Scientists say they have developed a way to deliver lethal drug doses to tumours
without causing side-effects, such as nausea and hair loss.
The Australian team has used nanotechnology to create tiny particles which
specifically attack cancer cells, but leave healthy tissue unaffected.
The particles - or mini-cells - are tagged with anti-cancer antibodies so they
zero in on their target.
The research features in the journal Cancer Cell.
It is hoped the technique could treat tumours in the breast, ovaries, colon and
lungs.
So far it has been used in mice and dogs, and the researchers plan to begin
human trials shortly.
Traditional chemotherapy typically involves subjecting the patient's entire body
to powerful drugs, which can cause a range of severe side-effects.
Bacteria cells
The mini-cells - about one-fifth the size of a normal cell - were created from
bacteria cells stripped of their reproductive powers.
They were then loaded with cancer drugs, and tagged with antibodies which are
attracted to cancerous tumours.
Once the cell reaches the cancer, the drug is released
directly into the malignant growth.
Researcher Jennifer MacDiarmid, from Sydney-based biotechnology company EnGeneIC,
said: "There is no other system where you can get so much drug concentrated into
a little parcel."
In tests, the technique reduced tumours in animals without side effects - and by
using only a very small amount of drug.
Dr MacDiarmid said the treatment could potentially be used on any solid tumours.
She said the technique potentially paved the way for customised drug cocktails
for individual patients.
Professor Quentin Pankhurst, of the London Centre for Nanotechnology, said: "The
concept of targeted drug delivery is something which has been around for a while
and there are many different avenues that have been tested.
"This one looks like an interesting and promising one.
"I particularly like the fact that these mini-cells, as they call them, seem to
be swallowed up by the cancer cells and taken inside the cancer cells, because
that is inherently a very powerful way to actually deliver the drug - actually
into the cell."
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