A team of researchers from the University of Aston has discovered a potential new treatment for bone cancer based on bioactive glasses containing gallium. Laboratory tests have shown a 99% success rate in eliminating cancer cells while preserving healthy ones.
The research, led by Professor Richard Martin in collaboration with the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital Birmingham, opens new perspectives in the fight against osteosarcomathe most common form of primary bone cancer. Despite advances in chemotherapy and surgery, survival rates for this disease have not improved significantly since the 1970s.
This research found that “greedy” cancer cells absorb gallium and self-destruct.
The treatment exploits the properties of bioactive glassmaterials capable of binding to tissues and improving the resistance of bones and teeth. The addition of gallium, a highly toxic element, allows to selectively target tumor cells.
The researchers observed that cancer cells avidly absorb gallium, leading to their self-destruction, while healthy cells remain unaffected. Furthermore, after 7 days incubation in a simulated body fluidbioactive glasses showed the first signs of bone formation.
Professor Martin said: “There is an urgent need for improved treatment options and our experiments show significant potential for applications in bone cancer as part of a multimodal treatment“. He added that this discovery could lead to “a more effective and localized treatment, reducing side effects and even able to regenerate diseased bones“.
Bioactive glasses have been created in the laboratories of the University of Aston by rapidly cooling liquids to extremely high temperatures (1450 degrees Celsius) to form glass. The material was then ground into tiny particles that could be used for processing.
The research team is now working on two fronts:
- Testing the antitumor properties of the material on bone metastatic cells
- Developing a minimally invasive injectable paste for application in bone cancer
Scientists hope to secure additional funding to conduct clinical trials with gallium. This discovery represents an important step forward in the search for targeted and effective treatments against cancer. to bones, with the potential to significantly improve the quality of life and survival prospects of patients with osteosarcoma.
Source: www.tomshw.it
