Daijiworld Media Network- Washington
Washington, Feb 12: A ground-breaking cancer treatment using new light-sensitive chemicals has demonstrated remarkable success in eliminating aggressive breast cancer tumours in mice, paving the way for safer and more effective therapies.
Developed by scientists from the University of California, Riverside, and Michigan State University (MSU), the innovative compounds—cyanine-carborne salts—offer a significant improvement over traditional photodynamic therapy (PDT). Their findings have been published in Angewandte Chemie, a journal of the German chemical society.
PDT has long been used for treating certain cancers by delivering light-sensitive compounds into the body, which accumulate in cancer cells. When exposed to light, these compounds generate reactive oxygen molecules that destroy the cancerous tissue while sparing healthy cells. However, the existing PDT agents have significant limitations, including prolonged light sensitivity, poor penetration into deep-seated tumours, and potential toxicity.
The newly developed cyanine-carborne salts address these challenges. Unlike conventional PDT agents that remain in the body for months—forcing patients to avoid light to prevent burns—these salts flush out quickly, lingering only in cancer cells and reducing unwanted side effects.
Dr Vincent Lavallo, a UCR chemistry professor and co-principal investigator, emphasized the precision of these compounds.
"The most interesting thing is the targeting ability of this substance we made to go right where it's needed and stay there while the rest passes through. That way, you'll only kill the cells right where the cancer is but not harm the patient," Lavallo explained.
His team collaborated with MSU’s Richard Lunt, an expert in chemical engineering, to develop the salts. Unlike conventional PDT agents, cyanine-carborne salts exploit a natural weakness in cancer cells—specifically, proteins called OATPs, which are overexpressed in tumours. This allows for precise targeting without requiring additional expensive targeting agents.
Moreover, while traditional PDT is limited in treating deep-seated tumours due to the shallow penetration of visible light, the new salts can be activated using near-infrared light, which can reach deeper into tissues. This breakthrough expands the potential applications of PDT beyond surface-level cancers.
Encouraged by these promising results, researchers are now exploring ways to adapt the salts for use with alternative energy sources that penetrate even deeper into the body, potentially revolutionizing cancer treatment.
"Our work offers a targeted, safe, and cost-effective treatment for aggressive breast cancers with limited treatment options," said Amir Roshanzadeh, first author of the study and an MSU cell and molecular biology graduate student. "It also opens the door to breakthroughs in other approaches for cancer therapy and targeted drug delivery."
With further research and clinical trials, this next-generation therapy could offer new hope for patients battling aggressive and hard-to-treat cancers.