Scientists shed new light on fight against cancer
LIGHT is the latest weapon in the war on cancer, with Australian scientists successfully using it to kill ovarian and skin cancer cells.
The breakthrough treatment involves injecting into the body a photosensitising chlorophyllbased chemical, called chlorin e4 sodium, that is derived from plants.
In skin cancer it can be used as a gel applied to the skin.
The chemical is selectively taken up by cancerous tumours and when light from a laser is directed at the site it activates the chemical. producing a form of oxygen that destroys cancer cells without damaging nearby tissue.
Unlike surgery or chemotherapy,
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Trials of an earlier, weaker version of the chemical showed the treatment not only killed the cancer but activated the body’s immune system and it is hoped this Conditions apply^ will help fight any new cancer that emerges.
The new therapy, called IVX-PO2 and licensed to Australian company Invion, is about to be tested on mice and is expected to enter human clinical trials next year on basal
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skin cancer and ovarian cancer.
Hudson Institute scientist Dr Andrew Stephens said the therapy held great promise for treating ovarian cancer but was expected to work in other cancers including lung, prostate and skin cancers.
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