Non-Invasive Cancer Treatment Developed

A recently developed cancer treatment method was found to kill 95% of targeted cancer cells within 2 hours.

The method requires an injection of nitrobenzaldehyde into the tumor and a beam of light, which causes the cells to become acidic and die, according to a study published by the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

"Even though there are many different types of cancers, the one thing they have in common is their susceptibility to this induced cell suicide," said researcher Matthew Gdovin, PhD.

In the study, researchers found this treatment method stopped the tumor from growing, and survival doubled in mice with triple negative breast cancer.

"All forms of cancer attempt to make cells acidic on the outside as a way to attract the attention of a blood vessel, which attempts to get rid of the acid," Dr Gdovin said. "Instead, the cancer latches onto the blood vessel and uses it to make the tumor larger and larger."

This method is much more precise than traditional chemotherapy, which targets all cells. Researchers developed this therapy to the point where it is considered to be non-invasive. Researchers hope this method will help patients who have inoperable tumors, patients who cannot receive radiation treatment, and children who may suffer mutations from radiation therapy, according to the study.

"There are so many types of cancer for which the prognosis is very poor," Dr Gdovin concluded. "We're thinking outside the box and finding a way to do what for many people is simply impossible."