Using Light to Target and Kill Cancer Cells, Without Chemotherapy's Side Effects
A new, finely tuned light-based treatment kills cancer cells in mice without harming the tissue around them, and could conceivably used to treat a wide range of human cancers, researchers say. The therapy is much more precise than other light-therapy methods attempted to date, and it has the potential to replace chemotherapy and radiation. Related ArticlesHigh-Powered NASA Grow-Light Reduces Chemotherapy Side EffectsRadioactive Cancer-Binding Buckyballs For Targeted Chemotherapy New Handheld Melanoma Scanner Instantly Identifies Skin Cancers With Laser LightTagsScience, Rebecca Boyle, cancers, health, infrared, light therapy, mice, national cancer institute, tumorsResearchers at the National Cancer Institute coupled cancer-specific antibodies with a heat-sensitive dye that damages cells when exposed to specific wavelengths of light. The antibodies recognize proteins on the exterior of cancer cells, so they would easily and accurately seek out their quarry, leaving healthy cells alone. Once bound to the cancer, the antibodies' piggyback heat-sensitive molecule could be activated to do...