Osteosarcoma is the most common form of bone cancer, and standard treatment usually involves surgical removal of the tumor, followed by chemotherapy or radiotherapy to eliminate any remaining cancer cells. Unfortunately, the cancer often recurs in the same placeand when this happens, the prognosis is usually very poor.
A breakthrough could come from a new method developed by scientists at Aston University, using a material called bioactive glass, which consists of glass nanoparticles mixed with metals. This material has already shown promising properties in strong, antibacterial dental fillings and bone implants.
In this particular case, gallium was used, a metal that is toxic to cells and whose addition may seem risky. However, the researchers explain that Gallium ions are able to enter cells through a specific receptor that is highly expressed in cancer cells – this means that “greedy” cancer cells absorb it faster than healthy bone cells.
Source: geekweek.interia.pl
