Uses of nanoparticles in the treatment of cancer?
Uses, the science behind how each method works, benifits and side effects, references and books/web sites with additional information please. I am an upper sixth student studing Chemistry, Biology, Maths and English Literature and Language and have done significant research into cancer- please use relevant lexis without going into post grad jargon! Thanks =)
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In the realm of active therapy, nanoparticles are being evaluated in coupling with standard chemotherapy agents (paclitaxel, cisplatin, etc), with targeted therapy agents (Map-kinase targets), with gene therapy (Rexin-G), and with a novel technique coupling nanoparticles with radiowaves (the Kanzius machine). The investigation of all techniques is still extremely early, and most studies currently involve either cellular models (looking at the effects on cancer cells growing in a petri dish) or in mice. There are currently two main agents with nanoparticles that are being evaluated in human trials. Rexin-G is a nanoparticle designed to deliver a fatal gene directly into tumor cells. It was recently granted fast-track approval status by the FDA for research in pancreatic cancer based on the outcomes of a phase I/II trial presented this year at the ASCO GI Cancer symposium. In this trial, designed to test the safety of the drug primarily, the agent was well-tolerated, without treatment-related side effects. There were only 9 patients enrolled in this study, but what the authors found interesting was that all 9 patients had either stable disease or partial response (more responses with the higher dose tested) of their tumors. Rexin-G is now being evaluated in larger phase II studies in pancreatic, colorectal, breast cancers, and sarcomas. The “Trojan Horse†therapy uses a “mini-cell†to deliver a package of RNA into cancer cells. In this case the RNA signal is called a “silencing RNAâ€, or siRNA. This siRNA signals a cancer cell to stop production of proteins that cause chemotherapy resistance. A second mini-cell is then injected which delivers chemotherapy drugs into the cancer cells. So far, this Trojan Horse approach (called EDV technology, for EnGeneIC Delivery Vehicle) has been tested in cellular and mouse models. The first human trial has just begun in Australia. The Kanzuis Machine is a new treatment approach that is in early-stage development and testing. Given that this technique was highlighted in a 60 minutes special, though (generating many questions from patients), I thought it would warrant a comment. John Kanzius was a radio technician who developed lymphoma. In thinking about and going through his own chemotherapy, he developed a concept of using radiowaves .. Mr. Kanzius, however, was interested in coupling his radio wave machine with nanoparticles, using the theory that if cancer cells throughout the body were to take up nanoparticles that then heated up when a radio wave passed through the body, it might have the potential to “cook†the cancer cells selectively in many locations at the same time, thus treating systemic disease. Unfortunately, Mr. Kanzius passed away earlier this year, but his foundation is continuing to develop and research his theory and machine. It has not yet reached the point of human trials, and will have several hurdles yet to pass before being able to do so. So where does this leave us? Nanoparticle technology is very interesting, and carries the potential of reducing toxicity to the patient while improving the efficacy of therapy. However, all research is still relatively early. There is no approach with nanoparticles that would be indicated as standard of care, or outside of a clinical trial setting. Many prior treatments, too many to count really, have shown similar promise in early studies but have not panned out in humans the way we would like. Unfortunately, we cure far more mice with cancer than we do humans, and mouse studies do not mean that a treatment will be effective in humans. Also unknown thus far are the potential risks. Although in 9 patients Rexin-G was well-tolerated, more patient safety data needs to be collected on all treatment approaches with nanotechnology. In the world of industrial nanoparticles, concerns are being raised over the potential health risks with inhalation of these tiny particles during the manufacturing process or elsewhere. This raises the memory of asbestos: once thought to be one of the most important advances in safety, it is now recognized to have deadly consequences years after exposure.
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Title : Uses of nanoparticles in the treatment of cancer
Description : Uses of nanoparticles in the treatment of cancer? Uses, the science behind how each method works, benifits and side effects, references and...