_____________________________________________Ananova
Scientists Want to Test Cancer-Destroying Nuclear Molecules on Humans
Molecules that explode inside cancer cells and destroy
them with blasts of radiation could be tested on humans next year.
The molecular nanogenerators have been successfully
used on mice and a variety of human cancer cells in the laboratory.
They consist of radioactive atoms contained inside molecular
cages and attached to antibodies which target specific types of cancer.
Inside a cancer cell, the atom decays by giving off
high energy alpha particle radiation which tears through the cell's
DNA and proteins.
Dr David Scheinberg, from the Memorial Sloan-Kettering
Cancer Centre in New York, who led the scientific team, said: "We
have found an effective way of containing and then delivering this highly
potent element directly into cancer cells."
It took 20 years to develop the technology to the point
where it was both effective and safe.
The mouse tests, modelling prostate cancer and widespread
lymphoma, showed that a single low dose treatment could extend life.
The researchers, whose work was published in the journal
Science, also found that very low concentrations could kill human cell
cultures of leukaemia, lymphoma, breast, ovarian, neuroblastoma, and
prostate cancers.
At the heart of each "bomb" is an atom of
the radioactive element actinium-225. When actinium decays, it produces
a series of three daughter atoms, each of which gives off its own alpha
particle.
The team plans to apply to the US Food and Drug Administration
for permission to begin human trials next year. Leukaemia will probably
be the first cancer the technique is tested on.
Story filed: 19:01 Thursday 15th November 2001
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