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NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer: News

How will nanotechnology be applied to cancer? 

"Nano" means small - very small. Literally, it means one billionth. Nanotechnology is the study and design of systems at the nanometer scale - the scale of atoms and molecules.  And the technology is being applied now to finding better ways to treat and detect cancers. 

"Nanotechnology is no stranger to oncology: liposomes are early examples of cancer nanotherapeutics, and nanoscale-targeted magnetic 
resonance imaging contrast agents illustrate the application of nanotechnology to diagnostics." ²

Nanoparticles 

can have multiple actions that can provide detailed information on many disease processes simultaneously. ¹

Nanoscale devices 

can deliver multiple therapeutic agents to a tumor in order to simultaneously attack multiple points in the pathways involved in cancer.

In vivo nano-biosensors 

have the capability of detecting and pinpointing the location of tumors in the body - as well as metastatic lesions (tumors that have moved away from the primary site) - that are far smaller than those detectable using conventional technologies.

Detecting cancer before it spreads completely changes the game when it comes to treating cancer, since non-metastatic cancer is rarely fatal. Nano-enabled in vivo sensors may also provide rapid information on whether a given therapy is actually working as expected, and targeted nano-based therapeutics that hone in on tumors stand to increase the efficacy of drugs while dramatically reducing potential side effects.¹

ARTICLES and WebCASTS

1. Nanotechnology in Cancer Spotlighted at NSTI Nanotech 2005 - nano.cancer.gov 

2. Cancer Nanotechnology:  OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES - nature.com 

3. Researchers Explore Possible Applications of Nanotechnology in Cancer Treatment - mdanderson.org

4. Drug delivery: A tiny timely vehicle - nature.com 
   
   "the nanocells containing both drugs resulted in the lowest systemic toxicity of all of the treatments. 
   This is probably because the cytotoxic agent is localized to the tumour so effectively"

5. Method of laser activated nano-thermolysis for elimination of tumor cells [purging harvested stem cells]. Cancer Lett. 2005 Sep 30; PMID: 16202512 | Related articles

6. Preclinical: Houston cancer center starts testing radio-wave theory - tmcnet.com 
    
   radio-wave in tandem with carbon nanotubes. 

7. Video Journey Into Nanotechnology -  nano.cancer.gov 

8. Preclinical: Heat immunotherapy using magnetic nanoparticles and dendritic cells for T-lymphoma - http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=17030475 
   
   "... we investigated the therapeutic effects of hyperthermia combined with DC immunotherapy on mouse EL4 T-lymphoma."

9. Nanotherapeutics: Multifunctional Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery and Targeting - nano.cancer.gov 
   
   The use of nanoparticles for drug delivery and targeting is one of the most advanced, exciting, and clinically important applications of nanotechnology. Recent advances have led to the FDA approval of albumin-conjugated paclitaxel or Taxol® (Abraxane®), a "binary" nanoparticle for treatment of taxane-refractory breast cancer. Research by this CCNE team has developed a more sophisticated "ternary" nanoparticle structure by linking both a hydrophobic cancer drug (Taxol®) and a tumor-targeting ligand (folic acid or FA) to a hydrophilic and biodegradable polymer (heparin). The antitumor activity of this ternary nanoparticle (Heparin-FA-Taxol™) is nearly 17 times higher than the free drug in the xenograft tumor models. These results have raised new possibilities in developing targeted nanoparticle drugs for cancer therapy.

10. UC Davis Researchers Use Heated Nanoprobes To Destroy Cancer Cells In Mice - nanotechwire.com
    
    The experimental system uses bioprobes created by wedding magnetized iron-oxide nanospheres to radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies. The bioprobes are cloaked in polymers and sugars that render them nearly invisible to the body's immune system. ... Three days later, the team applied an alternating magnetic field to the tumor region, causing the magnetic nanospheres latched onto the tumor cells to change polarity thousands of times per second, instantaneously generating heat. As soon as the AMF stopped, the bioprobes cooled down.

11. Scientists Directly Target Cancer Cells Patients Could Avoid Chemotherapy's Effects - Reuters
    
    SYDNEY (May 10) - An Australian biotechnology firm said on Thursday it had developed a means of delivering anti-cancer drugs directly to cancer cells, which aims to avoid the debilitating toxicity associated with chemotherapy. 
    
    "Via antibodies on their surface, these nano-cells target and latch on to cancer cells. Once attached, the nano-cell is engulfed and the drug is released directly inside the cancer cell." 

12. preclinical/hopeful: Radio Waves Fire Up Nanotubes Embedded In Tumors, Destroying Liver Cancer ScienceDaily (Nov. 1, 2007) 

    — Cancer cells treated with carbon nanotubes can be destroyed by non-invasive radio waves that heat up the nanotubes while sparing untreated tissue, a research team led by scientists at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and Rice University has shown in preclinical experiments.

13. Non-invasive Targeted Radiofrequency  Cancer Treatment  Destroying Cancer Cells with Radio Waves  kanziuscancerresearch.com/  
    
    "The treatment concept: ... a “targeting molecule” (antibody) is designed that will seek out and attach to or penetrate through that unique site, the targeting molecule is chemically attached to a gold nanoparticle or carbon nanotube, and the combination is injected into the bloodstream of the patient. The targeting molecule(s) eventually delivers the nanoparticle(s) to the cancer cell(s). It is particularly exciting that metastatic cancer cells might also be targeted. Exposure of the area to the radiowaves causes the nanoparticles to warm sufficiently to kill the cancer cells. This will require an extensive research effort, especially to be able to ultimately treat the variety of cancers potentially susceptible to this treatment approach."