Researchers from the United States pioneered a new method called photodynamic cancer therapy, which uses specific light waves to illuminate tumors and actives the photoactive drug in the tumor, and then the tumor is destroyed by a luminescent chemical reaction.
A chemical compound (nitrobenzaldehyde) was injected into the tumor and the chemical spreads into the tissue, then aimed a beam of light at the tissue. The light caused the inside of the cell to become very acidic, causing the cell to commit suicide. Within two hours, the researcher estimated that up to 95% of targeted cancer cells have died.
The researcher said: "Although there are many different types of cancer, they all have one thing in common: they are very sensitive to this induced cell suicide." The method was tested in triple-negative breast cancer, which is the most invasive and intractable cancer that is most difficult to treat. After one time of treatment in the laboratory, the tumor stopped growth and the survival rate of the mouse was double.
In the past two years, the researchers have developed photodynamic cancer therapies which have reached a non-invasive level. Now we only need to inject nitrobenzaldehyde liquid, and then irradiate ultraviolet light to cause anti-cancer reaction. The researcher also began to develop a nanoparticle that can be injected into the body to target cancer cells. By activating the nanoparticle with a wavelength of light, it can penetrate the skin, muscles and bones harmlessly and still activate the anti-cancer nanoparticle.
The researcher hopes that his non-invasive approach will help doctors to identify uncertain tumors in certain areas, such as the brain stem, aorta or spine. It can also help patients who have already received the maximum amount of radiation – these people are no longer able to cope with the scars and pains caused by chemotherapy, or children with cancer.