Cancer therapy is cheaper and safer

Indonesian microbiologist Leenawaty Limantara is developing a new form of cancer treatment at a cost of only one-fifth of chemotherapy and is safer .

Cancer cells have "cloned" the way the brain cells work to survive (Photo: VNN) With the study on the production and use of bacteriochlorophyll through biochemistry, recently, Ms. Leenawaty Limantara, Graduated from the University of Munich was awarded the 12th annual award of the Indonesian National Science Foundation.

Speaking after receiving the award, Leenawaty Limantara said photodynamic therapy (PDT) only targets tumors and cancer cells. This therapy differs from chemotherapy by chemotherapy (chemotherapy), which can affect healthy tissue.

With PDT therapy, patients will initially be provided with plant bacteria - bacteriochlorophyll - through the mouth (such as water or pill form) or injected into a vein.

The bacteriochlorophyll will act as a sensitizer that makes cancer cells super sensitive to bright objects, especially infrared light. And infrared light will kill cancer cells. After that, the patient brought bacteriochlorophyll to be treated with infrared rays.

Leenawaty is currently a Satya Wacana Christian university lecturer in Salatiga (Central Java, Indonesia) said the therapy only takes one fifth of the chemotherapy. Currently, the price of each chemical treatment in Indonesia is about Rp 10 million.

Leenawaty said the most expensive part of implementing this new type of PDT is the purchase of the necessary equipment to make PDT.

The total cost of this therapy depends on where and how bacteriochlorophyll is produced. However, bacteria will be easy to reproduce here. The bacteriochlorophyll is more difficult to reproduce and safer than chlorophyll obtained by chemical methods from plants because it can be soiled with pesticides and pesticides.

PDT therapy has successfully eliminated all kinds of cancers of the mouth, intestine, lungs, brain, skin, eyes and rectum. However, Ms. Leenawaty also said this therapy could not treat all types of cancer. The cure for cancer patients depends on the type of cancer, how the disease progresses and the patient's disease resistance.

According to Ms. Leenawaty, only a few countries now own PDT technology, while Indonesia does not yet have this technology.

Ms. Leenawaty Limantara has just been awarded the Science and Technology Prize by Toray National Science Foundation with a cash amount of Rp 60 million.

Established in 1993, the National Science Foundation has been conducting annual scientific awards since 1994. The Foundation encourages and supports scientists and science teachers under 40 in Indonesia in the field of biology and chemistry. Study and physics with research grants for teachers and bonuses for high school teachers and science teachers.

Minh Thuong (According to Jakarta Post)