Posted on 03/03/2022 9:56:40 AM PST by Red Badger
Among many challenges in treating tumors is the difficulty in getting anti-cancer drugs to the right locations, and in the right amounts. A new type of implant developed at Rice University tackles both these issues, carrying the cellular machinery needed to produce and deliver continuous doses of anti-cancer compounds, and doing so with such potency that they took out 100 percent of ovarian tumors in mice in the space of a week.
The bioengineers behind this promising new form of immunotherapy treatment for cancer describe it as a "drug factory," in that once it is in place, it can go on generating the compounds needed to take out tumors all on its own. The implants consist of tiny beads the size of a pinhead, which are packed with carefully selected cells and encased within a protective shell.
The cells inside these beads are engineered to produce a natural compound called interleukin-2, a cytokine that causes white blood cells to spring into action to fight cancer. These beads were first put to the test in laboratory experiments that placed them alongside tumors within a peritoneum, a membrane that forms the lining of the abdominal cavity. Here, the drug factories were shown to selectively generate a concentration of interleukin-2 within the tumors, with little to be seen elsewhere.
Experiments on mouse models of advanced ovarian cancer and colorectal cancer followed. The beads again performed exceptionally well, eradicating tumors in the rodents in as little as six days. Importantly, they only delivered high concentrations of the drugs at the tumor site and limited exposure elsewhere, avoiding the risk of toxicity to healthy cells.
“We just administer once, but the drug factories keep making the dose every day, where it’s needed until the cancer is eliminated,” said Omid Veiseh, an assistant professor of bioengineering.
(Excerpt) Read more at newatlas.com ...
As far back as I remember, a cure for cancer was “just around the corner”.
That’s one big corner.
The problem is cancer is more of a condition then a disease. That makes it very hard.
Indeed. Perhaps the next big corner is minimization of federal involvement.
We certainly have done wonders for lab mice over the decades. People, not so much.
Even stage 4 cases would benefit.
They can test it on me if they wish. My fourth round of chemotherapy starts next Wednesday, for 3 days in a row.
Fortunately I’ve had no bad side effects.
Bookmark
LOL, I thought it said “Drug Factory Breasts” and I thought “Huh? What is this?”
Big Medicine has no intention of ever “curing” cancer.
My God. That is so true.
Cancer, being the big business that it is, I’m convinced that even if someone found a cure it would not ever be approved. There’s just too much money in it.
Prayers up, DB!
I have been working with this polymer referenced in the article for years.
The supplier of the polymer was certain that beads containing pancreatic cells for production of insulin was just about to be approved.
That was in about 2003 or 2004.
There are a lot of technical challenges to such a project such as allowing enough porosity to allow nutrients in for the cells to survive without provoking an immune response.
In addition the alginate depolymerizes and softens very quickly at elevated temperature (that is above refrigerated temperature, in the body this happens rapidly).
Thank you Brother
Cancer has been cured in mice a million times. It never seems to make the jump to humans. Very little money in cures. Lotsa money in treatments.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.