2012-10-17Radioactive Gold Nanoparticles Can Kill Prostate Cancer Cells |
New treatment may have fewer side effects than traditional cancer therapy
Oct. 15, 2012
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Gold nanoparticles have been discovered by
Michael Faraday in 1847. Thus he initiated the age of nanotechnology. Today we have excellent news that gold nanoparticles can help fight cancer. At this time, a strong chemotherapy is required when treating certain forms of cancer. Such treatment leads to toxic side effects. The chemicals enter the body and work to destroy or shrink the tumor, but also harm vital organs and drastically affect bodily functions. Now, scientists at the University of Missouri have proven that a new form of prostate cancer treatment that uses radioactive gold nanoparticles, and was developed at MU, is safe to use in dogs. It gives hopes of effective treatment procedures for people with such cancer. Of course, the DFA approval might not come very soon.
The researches explain that dogs develop prostate cancer naturally in a very similar way as humans, so the gold nanoparticle treatment has a great chance to translate well to human patients. For their treatment the MU scientists have found a more efficient way of targeting prostate tumors by using radioactive gold nanoparticles. This new treatment would require doses that are thousands of times smaller than chemotherapy and do not travel through the body inflicting damage to healthy areas.
“We found remarkable results in mice, which showed a significant reduction in tumor volume through single injections of the radioactive gold nanoparticles,” said Professor Katti. “These findings have formed a solid foundation, and we hope to translate the utility of this novel nanomedicine therapy to treating human cancer patients.”
Current treatments for prostate cancer are not effective in patients who have aggressive prostate cancer tumors. Most of the time, prostate cancers are slow-growing; the disease remains localized and it is easily managed. However, aggressive forms of the disease spread to other parts of the body, and is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in U.S. men. The MU scientists believe their treatment will be able to shrink aggressive tumors or eliminate them completely. It is expected that this treatment can be safe and effective in dogs as well as humans because dogs are the only other mammal to naturally contract the aggressive form of prostate cancer. This research was presented at the 2012 World Veterinary Cancer Conference in Paris.
This study is a result of collaboration through the One Health, One Medicine area of Mizzou Advantage. Mizzou Advantage is a program that focuses on four areas of strength: food for the future, media of the future, one health, one medicine, and sustainable energy. The goals of Mizzou Advantage are to strengthen existing faculty networks, create new networks and propel Mizzou’s research, instruction and other activities to the next level.
Radioactive Gold Nanoparticles Can Kill Prostate Cancer Cells
