Tumours in Mice Destroyed by Ultrasound Treatment

Scientists at a Northern Ireland biotech company have developed a new non-invasive technique that has been used to destroy cancer cells in mice.

According to a science magazine, researchers at Gendel have used electric fields and ultrasounds to kill cancerous cells in the laboratory and in tumours in 50 mice. The company believes this technique could soon be used to treat head and neck tumours and hopes to begin human trials in two years. “The technique relies on the application of an electric field to a tumour to make it susceptible to a follow-up blast of ultrasound,” according to New Scientist. “The combination appears to cause tumour cells to self-destruct.” The new procedure is based on a drug delivery technique. It involves transporting drugs to hard-to-reach areas of the body using the patient’s own red blood cells. Later this year Gendel hopes to test the new procedure in human trials. Ultrasound is directed to the tumour site and the cells by the drug. Glendel scientists are still perfecting the cancer treatment and admitted they do not know why the cells rupture when hit by ultrasound. However other cancer treatments that have worked in animals have not been successful in humans. According to cancer experts more information about the new technique is needed.(Source: Reuters)