Use ultraviolet rays for cancer treatment

In mouse testing, scientists were able to make anti-cancer drugs work more effectively by using ultraviolet light to "manage" antibodies in the drug.

Historically, monoclonal antibodies have been shown to be effective against cancer, but what hinders treatment is that they can also attack healthy cells.

But now, British scientists say they have been able to overcome this by using ultraviolet light to control the activity of antibody-derived drugs.

The research team, under the guidance of Professor Colin Self of the University of Newcastle, covered the antibodies with a layer of light-sensitive organic oil; This coating acts to inhibit the activity of antibodies until they are illuminated by ultraviolet rays.

In this new technique, experts say antibodies

Ultraviolet - ultraviolet
(Photos of outilssolaires.com)

The cover is only active again when they are illuminated by ultraviolet rays. In other words, when shining ultraviolet rays into the tumor, the antibodies there will be ' awakened ' to attack the cancer cell.

Professor Self said: ' It is difficult to make antibodies accurately attack cancer cells. They can work in places we don't want to . ' Therefore, this therapy will help prevent damage to healthy cells, because these covered antibodies only work when activated by ultraviolet rays.

On October 30, in an article in ChemMedChem magazine, experts said they tested the new technique in six mice with ovarian cancer. As a result, ultraviolet-directed "antibody" drugs killed cancer cells in five mice, without affecting healthy cells.

The team thinks that with this therapy, patients can receive outpatient treatment - that is, go to the hospital to receive the antibodies that have been treated, then wait no more than 1 hour to get the ultra-high violet in minutes. |

According to Professor Self, human clinical trials will be done early next year. However, he said there are still many difficulties to overcome, including funding issues, before this therapy can be used in practice.

Antibody therapy with the support of ultraviolet rays is evaluated
is promising to improve the effectiveness of cancer treatment (Photo: BBC)

This new therapy has received acclaim from some medical practitioners. Josephine Querido, scientific information specialist at the British Cancer Research Institute, said: 'Developing ways to attack cancer cells without harming healthy tissue is an important factor in treating cancer. letter'.

She said: ' Although it is only at an early stage, this therapy is very promising. We are interested in waiting for the next results '. In general, ultraviolet antibody therapy is evaluated by experts as being able to improve the effectiveness of cancer treatment.