Non-invasive Targeted Radiofrequency Cancer
Treatment
Destroying Cancer Cells with Radio Waves
Treating cancer more effectively and without the
debilitating side effects associated with current therapies
were the goals of John Kanzius when he began; the result is
a novel radio wave generator that warms nanoparticles
attached to or absorbed within cancer cells. The warming
kills the cancer cells with little or no damage to nearby
cells, thus dramatically reducing or eliminating side
effects. And, the treatment is non-invasive without
requiring surgery or multiple insertions of probes.
The treatment concept is relatively simple but
difficult to achieve: unique physical characteristics (a
protein, a receptor, etc.) of specific cancer cell lines are
identified, a “targeting molecule” is designed that will
seek out and attach to or penetrate through that unique
site, the targeting molecule is chemically attached to a
gold nanoparticle or carbon nanotube, and the combination is
injected into the bloodstream of the patient. The targeting
molecule(s) eventually delivers the nanoparticle(s) to the
cancer cell(s). It is particularly exciting that metastatic
cancer cells might also be targeted. Exposure of the area to
the radiowaves causes the nanoparticles to warm sufficiently
to kill the cancer cells. This will require an extensive
research effort, especially to be able to ultimately treat
the variety of cancers potentially susceptible to this
treatment approach.
Intensive
research into this new treatment is underway at
prominent medical centers.
Dr. Steven Curley leads the
research effort at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson
Cancer Center in Houston where carbon nanotubes and gold
nanoparticles have been tested for their response to the
Kanzius RF generator and for their ability to be absorbed
within or attached to various human cancer cell lines. The
results have been consistently positive thereby causing the
research to be accelerated. In December, 2007 the
peer-reviewed medical journal CANCER published a
report by
Dr. Curley’s team of their success in targeting and killing
human cancer cells that were grown in the livers of rabbits.
One hundred percent of cancer cells were killed with no
known side effects to the subject animals.
At the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center,
Dr.
David Geller is leading a team that is also studying the
Kanzius RF cancer treatment. Their research in cancer cell
lines that are different from the cancers being studied in
Houston has been similarly positive. Results of in vitro and
in vivo studies have been presented at the American Society
of Surgeons (Feb. 2007) and recently at the Society for
University Surgeons. A manuscript by Dr. Geller and his team
reporting on use of gold nanoparticles in non-invasive
radiowave ablation of tumors in animal models will be
published in a major peer-reviewed medical journal in August
2008. The research at UMPC corroborates the findings at M.D.
Anderson Cancer Center.
Current research goals include continued development of
targeting molecules and refinement of nanoparticle design.
Further, additional cancer cell lines will need to
be studied in order to identify unique characteristics of the
cell line that will allow for specific targeting.
Confirmation of the ability to selectively target cancer
cells only in vivo will be critical as will determination of
the most appropriate strength and length of RF exposure. All
of this takes time and effort but can be done more quickly
if more research staff is available. That is the purpose of
donations, to expedite the research so that this promising
treatment can get to human trials sooner than possible
without such funding support.
If you would like to help further this exciting
research, please contribute today.
Cycling
for a Cure
Eighteen-year-old Zach
Dunbar is using his summer vacation to make a difference
in the lives of others. Aware of fund raising
activities underway for the Kanzius Cancer Research
Foundation, Zach wanted to help. And not in a small way!
Zach and his girlfriend's
father, Randy Hoobler, are cycling from San Francisco to
Erie, Pennsylvannia to raise awareness, and money, for
the Kanzius radio wave research program.
Eighteen-year-old Zach
Dunbar is using his summer vacation to make a difference
in the lives of others. Aware of fund raising
activities underway for the Kanzius Cancer Research
Foundation, Zach wanted to help. And not in a small way!
