Scientists from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the Georg August University of Göttingen in Germany have developed a new approach to the treatment of pancreatic cancer based on increasing the efficiency of drug delivery into the body using nanoparticles. Research results published At Wiley Online Library.
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most dangerous cancers. This type of cancer is often asymptomatic, leading to late diagnosis and less effective treatment in many cases. In later stages, tumors can no longer be completely removed.
In addition, chemotherapy, which is a drug treatment method for a malignant tumor, also damages healthy cells of the body. Scientists tried to develop a treatment method that targets only cancer cells. To do this, they used nanoparticles, which are microscopic objects used to deliver drugs to tumor tissue. These particles work as mini-carriers, thanks to which the site of action of the drug can be accurately determined. Thus, the active ingredient of the drugs does not extend beyond the tumor borders and does not affect healthy cells.
The new technology has already been tested on mice. The researchers injected them with gemcitabine, a chemotherapy drug that stimulates the dysfunction of all dividing cells, including cancer cells. Gemcitabine is effective at killing cancer cells, but when it affects healthy tissue, common side effects include liver and kidney problems, nausea, fever, rash, shortness of breath, mouth ulcers, diarrhea, and hair loss. It turned out that the use of nanoparticles makes it possible to eliminate the toxic properties of the drug due to the precise “zoning” of its action. However, the treatment did not become ineffective.
Scientists hope a new cancer treatment will become widespread. Researchers are eager to test the technology in clinical trials as soon as possible.
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