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MIT Injects Nanotubes To Help Fight Cancer

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the now-i-want-a-shrink-ray dept.

CWmike writes to tell us that researchers at MIT have found a way to wrap nanotube sensors in DNA to detect the results of chemotherapy. The sensors are able to detect whether the drugs are attacking their targets or healthy cells. "Cancer researchers have long been trying to figure out a way to better deliver drugs to cancer cells without blasting surrounding cells as well. The Stanford researchers devised a way to use single-walled carbon nanotubes as targeted medicinal delivery vehicles. By better targeting the chemotherapy, less of the drug needs to be injected into the patient for cancer treatment. And that would reduce the side effects of chemotherapy treatment, such as nausea, hair loss, weight loss and fatigue."

8 of 58 comments (clear)

  1. I'm not holding my breath... by tjstork · · Score: 3, Insightful

    After 30 years of reading science news, I'm not holding my breath for cancer. The facts are pretty much the same. If you get small cell lung cancer, you have a 90% chance of dying. John Wayne died of it, and if you get it, you will too.

    Bone cancer, pancreatic cancer, all of those are pretty much fatal as well.

    Others are not so fatal, but early treatment matters. Breast cancer is one. If you get a cancer that you can and do survive, you'll probably have lifelong health problems as a result, as much from the treatment as the cancer itself, and you won't ever really be completely cured.

    --
    This is my sig.
    1. Re:I'm not holding my breath... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      What's your point? We're all going to die someday. Should we just give up?

    2. Re:I'm not holding my breath... by sdpuppy · · Score: 3, Insightful
      Come on now! In the past, breast cancer was pretty much a death sentence. Now it is one of the more "curable" cancers.

      Same is true for many other forms. Cure and/or survival rates have been going up, even for the previous "incurable" forms.

    3. Re:I'm not holding my breath... by bwcarty · · Score: 4, Insightful

      If you get a cancer that you can and do survive, you'll probably have lifelong health problems as a result, as much from the treatment as the cancer itself, and you won't ever really be completely cured.

      As a cancer survivor going on five years now, I wouldn't necessarily say others should expect health problems as the result of their treatment. The chemo I went through was cardiotoxic, but if you're smart and dedicated, you can mitigate the risk for long term problems.

      I've become a fairly avid runner in the past few years as a way of keeping my heart strong. The last time I went in for a checkup, my bp was a very good 112/67, and I have better cardio conditioning than ever. I'll need it since I'm going to be running a marathon in a little over 3 months.

      That said, here's my plug for charitiable donations to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Every bit helps! Chemo and radiation suck; help fund the research towards curing blood cancers! :)

    4. Re:I'm not holding my breath... by Hordeking · · Score: 2, Insightful

      As age increases, the probability of death approaches 1.

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      Disclaimer: The opinions and actions of the US Gov't are in no way representative of those held by this author or its ci
  2. Re:Umm. by sdpuppy · · Score: 4, Insightful
    All depends on how things are applied. If you inhale water, you can die.

    If you eat Potassium Chloride, you get nutrition. If you inject it, you die.

    If you eat Lead Acetate, you hurt your nervous system. If you apply it to your hair, you "comb away the gray"

    If you eat Tallium Acetate, you get poisoned, if you wipe on your skin, you get rid of the stubble.

    Oh yeah, and it depends on form: You eat Sodium your mouth catches fire, you eat sodium chloride and you get hypertension.

  3. Stanford != MIT by tkohler · · Score: 2, Insightful
    "CWmike writes to tell us that researchers at MIT"

    "The Stanford researchers devised a way to use single-walled carbon nanotubes as targeted medicinal delivery vehicles."

    TFA says both schools (as well as UCSD) are working on it...as the father of someone undergoing chemo, I say: Good for them.

  4. Re:Alternative... by bmwm3nut · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The point of this is to be able to use less chemo with the nano tubes, not using the nano tubes as a treatment for the side effects. If you can get away with less chemo, then the side effects will be less, and that's always a good thing. I took more drugs to deal with the side effects of the chemo than the chemo itself (and no, the pot didn't help me). Anything that can make treatment more bearable is great.