Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: New Insights into Hyperthermia Cancer Therapy

Home > Press > New Insights into Hyperthermia Cancer Therapy

Abstract:
Magnetic hyperthermia is viewed as an attractive approach for the treatment of certain cancers as it has no known side effects compared to more conventional therapies such as chemotherapy. It is particularly suitable for the treatment of prostate cancer and brain tumors. However, until now there has been no clear theoretical understanding of how it actually works. In a paper published in the Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, a team of investigators led by Kevin O'Grady from the University of York have shown that the amount of heat generated by magnetic nanoparticles can be understood when both the physical and hydrodynamic size distributions for the samples are known to high accuracy.

New Insights into Hyperthermia Cancer Therapy

Bethesda , MD | Posted on September 6th, 2013

Treatment by magnetic hyperthermia involves injecting magnetic nanoparticles directly into a tumor then placing the patient in a machine which produces an alternating magnetic field. The nanoparticles oscillate and heat is produced inside the tumor tissue. When the temperature rises above 42 degrees Celsius cells begin to die, and research has shown that this heating process reduces tumor size.

Prior to this work, researchers had no way of predicting how much heat would be generated by a given nanoparticle formulation. The key to identifying and quantifying the mechanisms involved in heat generation was the use of magnetic particles of highly uniform and well-defined size that do not stick to one another. The researchers note that their modeling and experimental work provide the means to calculate accurately the dose of magnetic nanoparticles and the length of treatment required to produce a desired level of heating.

####

About National Cancer Institute (NCI)
To help meet the goal of reducing the burden of cancer, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, is engaged in efforts to harness the power of nanotechnology to radically change the way we diagnose, treat and prevent cancer.

The NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer is a comprehensive, systematized initiative encompassing the public and private sectors, designed to accelerate the application of the best capabilities of nanotechnology to cancer.

Currently, scientists are limited in their ability to turn promising molecular discoveries into benefits for cancer patients. Nanotechnology can provide the technical power and tools that will enable those developing new diagnostics, therapeutics, and preventives to keep pace with today’s explosion in knowledge.

For more information, please click here

Contacts:
National Cancer Institute
Office of Technology & Industrial Relations
ATTN: NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer
Building 31, Room 10A49
31 Center Drive , MSC 2580
Bethesda , MD 20892-2580

If you have a comment, please Contact us.

Issuers of news releases, not 7th Wave, Inc. or Nanotechnology Now, are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.

Bookmark: