Intra–tumor radiotherapy - the future of oncology

Researchers at the University of Texas, working under the guidance of Dr. Andrew Brenner, are conducting a clinical study of a unique approach to the treatment of glioblastoma, a highly malignant brain tumor. The new method consists in injecting tiny radioactive liposomes (fat particles), whose size does not exceed 100 nanometers, directly into the tumor. The particles introduced with the help of the thinnest catheter emit powerful radioactive radiation that affects only the tumor and does not affect healthy tissues.

According to the researchers, the main difficulty in developing a new approach was to find a method for accurately delivering highly radioactive liposomes to a brain tumor. To do this, we had to develop the thinnest catheter, the special design of which allows us to deliver a very small amount of radioactive drug directly to the tumor area with high accuracy.

At the first examination after the start of treatment, the first participant of the study, David Williams, noted good health and a complete absence of undesirable side effects that usually accompany traditional radiotherapy sessions.

Inspired by the first observations, the researchers plan to start treating the second participant within a month. They note that at the current stage, the main limitation is the small size of the tumor, but they hope that in the future they will be able to improve delivery methods in such a way as to be able to affect larger neoplasms.

Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of the UT Health Science Center:
New brain cancer clinical trial launched at CTRC.

19.03.2015