Cure for cancer using nanotechnology

[TheERK]

Apologies if this has already been posted, I didn't see it:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4734507.stm

The technique works by inserting microscopic synthetic rods called carbon nanotubules into cancer cells.

When the rods are exposed to near-infra red light from a laser they heat up, killing the cell, while cells without rods are left unscathed.

The next step was to find a way to introduce the nantubules into cancer cells, but not healthy cells.

The researchers did this by taking advantage of the fact that, unlike normal cells, the surface of cancer cells is covered with receptors for a vitamin known as folate.

They coated the nanotubules with folate molecules, making it easy for them to pass into cancer cells, but unable to bind with their healthy cousins.

Exposure to the laser duly killed off the diseased cells, but left the healthy ones untouched.

Sounds pretty amazing.

Here's another article which projects that this will take 5 years for an all-types-of-cancer cure.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/4423847.stm

 

[Ducky]

Apologies if this has already been posted, I didn't see it:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4734507.stm





Sounds pretty amazing.

Here's another article which projects that this will take 5 years for an all-types-of-cancer cure.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/4423847.stm

As a cancer survivor I have mixed emotions. While I am excited to see the results of the study completed and the data replicated, I've been told of so many whack panaceas I'm a bit skeptical.

I was given a 50% chance my solitary plasmacytoma of bone will develop into multiple myeloma in the next decade, so I'm deafinately eager to see some new effective treatments.

If it's on the level, I am very excited...