The patch kills cancer cells and reduces recurrence

The medicine soaked in the patch will penetrate directly into the surgical wound, killing remaining cancer cells and minimizing toxic side effects of chemotherapy.

A group of scientists at the University of South Australia (UniSA) has designed post-operative patches that can kill more than 80% of cancer cells in the liver and significantly reduce the recurrence rate.

Patch that kills cancer cells. (Illustration photo: UVAHealth).

Created from gel, these patches are impregnated with doses of the anti-cancer drugs 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and cisplatin (Cis) and placed precisely at the surgical site where the cancer was removed.

The medicine soaked in the patch will penetrate directly into the surgical wound, treating remaining cancer cells and minimizing toxic side effects of chemotherapy. Another "plus" is that it is biodegradable.

In addition to liver cancer, research shows that this post-operative patch is also capable of treating other cancers for which 5FU and Cis drugs have previously been proven effective, including ovarian cancer, ovarian cancer, and breast cancer. head and neck area.

Ms Souha Youssef, co-author of the study at UniSA's Center for Pharmaceutical Innovation, said the patches could revolutionize liver cancer treatment , helping to improve the need for continued treatment in these patients. The patient stopped chemotherapy after surgery due to severe side effects.

According to statistics published by the International Agency for Research on Cancer in 2022, it is estimated that in 2020, about 905,700 people around the world will be diagnosed with liver cancer and 830,200 people will die from this dangerous disease.