Posted on 12/03/2007 1:54:31 PM PST by Red Badger
Cancer cells treated with carbon nanotubes can be destroyed by noninvasive radio waves that heat up the nanotubes while sparing untreated tissue, a research team led by scientists at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and Rice University has shown in preclinical experiments.
In a paper published in the journal Cancer, the researchers demonstrated that the technique completely destroyed liver cancer tumors in rabbits. There were no side effects noted. However, some healthy liver tissue within 2 to 5 millimeters of the tumors sustained heat damage due to nanotube leakage from the tumor.
"These are promising, even exciting, preclinical results in this liver cancer model," said lead investigator Steven Curley, M.D., of M.D. Anderson. "Our next step is to look at ways to more precisely target the nanotubes so they attach to, and are taken up by, cancer cells while avoiding normal tissue."
Curley conducted the research in collaboration with nanotechnology experts at Rice University and with Erie, Pennsylvania, entrepreneur John Kanzius of ThermMed LLC, who invented the experimental radiofrequency generator used in the experiments. Kanzius is a cancer survivor and former radio station owner whose insights into the potential of targeted radio waves inspired this line of research. At Rice, the work was begun by Nobel laureate Richard Smalley several months before his death from cancer in October 2005.
In the liver cancer experiment, a solution of single-walled carbon nanotubes was injected directly into the tumors. Four treated rabbits were then exposed to 2 minutes of radiofrequency treatment, resulting in thermal destruction of their tumors. Control group tumors that were treated only by radiofrequency exposure or only by nanotubes were undamaged. In lab experiments, two lines of liver cancer cells and one pancreatic cancer cell line were destroyed after being incubated with nanotubes and exposed to the radiofrequency field.
Curley stated that radiofrequency energy fields penetrate deeply into tissue, so it would be possible to deliver heat anywhere in the body if targeted nanotubes or other nanoparticles can be delivered to cancerous cells. Without such a target, radio waves will pass harmlessly through the body.
An invasive technique known as radiofrequency ablation is used to treat some malignant tumors, the authors note. It requires insertion of needle electrodes directly into the tumors. Incomplete tumor destruction occurs in 5 to 40 percent of cases; normal tissue is damaged, and complications arise in 10 percent of patients who suffer such damage. Radiofrequency ablation is limited to liver, kidney, breast, lung, and bone cancers.
This work is detailed in the paper “Carbon nanotube-enhanced thermal destruction of cancer cells in a noninvasive radiofrequency field.” Investigators from Rice University, ThermMed LLC, and the National Center for Scientific Research in Bordeaux, France, also participated in this study. This paper was published online in advance of print publication. An abstract of this paper is available through PubMed.
Source: National Cancer Institute
We have constructed a fully functional, fully integrated radio receiver from a single carbon nanotube. The nanotube serves simultaneously as all essential components of a radio: antenna, tunable band-pass filter, amplifier, and demodulator. A direct current voltage source, as supplied by a battery, powers the radio. Using carrier waves in the commercially relevant 40-400 MHz range and both frequency and amplitude modulation techniques, we demonstrate successful music and voice reception.
It’s like dropping a smart bomb vs just atom bombing the whole area. I likes it.
Thanks for the article. My son is currently being treated with chemotherapy for lymphoma cancer, and any news concerning a potential cure for cancer is very interesting to me.
But how long do they stay in your system? And would further exposure to radio waves if they happened to be the right frequency - could they damge you?
We stand on the threshold of an exciting time in science and medicine. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.
ping
“But how long do they stay in your system? And would further exposure to radio waves if they happened to be the right frequency - could they damge you?”
Excellent question. Let me suggest, it depends on the nanoparticles, some of which are taken into cells, both normal and abnormal cells, and they don’t ever leave. The smaller nanoparticles (< 5 nm) generally are excreted in urine while the larger ones (20-100 nm) stay put once they are taken into cells—most end up in cell lysosomes where they remain, at least for months, if not years.
Things have a “resonant frequency” depending on their size. The nanotubes have a resonant frequency that is different than surrounding tissue. When RF energy of the “right” frequency hits the nanotubes, they will vibrate and thus produce heat in themselves and transmit this heat energy to the surrounding tissue (cancer cells). This way, only the immediate contacted cells are affected. The others (good cells) are essentially transparent to the energy. As one poster put it, it’s like a laser guided bomb rather than a carpet bomb technique.........
Very cool. Sounds so simple, which is usually the best approach.
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Why the smart money is on Duncan Hunter
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1926032/posts
Posted on 11/15/2007 3:43:17 AM PST by Kevmo
Excuse me professor! I have a question. This new procedure is a wonderful breakthrough. I am certain that thousands...millions will benefit. However, what causes the cancer in the first place?
My sister-in-law began her treatments for lymphoma about a year ago. She is now cancer free and even has hair on her head. She was also very fortunate to have tolerated the treatment very well.
Good luck to you and your son.
BUMP to consider if my lab work comes back bad!
Sin...............
I’ll drink to that!
I've read reports of this research before and my question still remains;
Tumors are one thing but what is it that causes the nanotubes to seek out cancer cells?
The most common thing is genetic mutation caused by ambient or natural, background radiation.
I pray that your cancer is cured and no more chemo or radiation will be needed.
My son has had 7 chemo treatments at 3 week intervals and has one more to go. That's if a PET scan after the last treatment shows no cancer cells in the lymph gland that was affected. He has tolerated the chemo better than we expected so far. It always leaves him feeling bad for a few days after the treatments, and of course all of his hair and eyelashes are gone, but no serious side affects so far.
The oncologist hasn't decided yet whether to follow up the chemo with radiation, so we aren't out of the woods yet. Thank God the tumor was caught early before it spread beyond the one gland.
In those areas where possible direct injection would most likely be used. For some other situation, a "helper" or "guide" may be necessary to get the tubes to the proper place, like sneaking into a bar with a fake ID. A chemical or nutrient that is transported to the particular area of the body that has the cancer could be used as a vehicle to carry the tubes to the proper places............
John Kanzius is the same guy who made the news a while back about producing Hydrogen from salt water using radio frequencies.
Thank's for your good wishes WT. It's encouraging to hear that your SIL is now cured, I pray that she will remain cancer free.
“However, what causes the cancer in the first place?”
Age, toxins, bad luck, simply human biology.
“Tumors are one thing but what is it that causes the nanotubes to seek out cancer cells?”
There are a number of methods already used to select cells for everything from targetting to drug delivery. The method varies from purpose to purpose, and it’s likely that cells from each individual’s cancer will be analysed to determine how to target those cells. Most of the technology to do this already exists in its basic form and has been used for other forms of treatment, it’s a matter of refinement and demonstrating effectiveness in human trials. There is every reason to believe this method has more across-the-board promise than most anything else out there.
Prayers for your son..
“Find some tumor-specific receptors and attach the ligands to the nanotubes.”
As is the case with other attempts at molecular targetting, they’re apparently seeing residual uptake where they’d prefer not to. For this method to be effective they’ll need to develop a targetting and delivery system flexible enough to account for the wide disparities between one cancer and another.
The researchers are getting closer to those questions. Some drugs already target specific cancer proteins for very specific cancers. Some of these antibodies (protein receptor) are being combined with Radioactive elements to pinpoint radiation. More of these drugs are in the pipelines in Phase 2 and 3 trials.
We have been able to cure cancer in mice for 30 years.
And just imagine how Hillary's National Health Service would have developed this treatment years ago...and used it to save millions of cancer-sufferers.
< /sarc> as if it were needed.
so liberalism causes cancer and listening to EIB destroys it.
Thanks very much for your prayers. I have to believe that prayer has been a major factor in my son’s good response to treatment.
Yes, and probably not.
They would have to be the right frequency, as RB points out, but they would also have to have enough radiated power to cause the RF ablation they're aiming for here.
In other words, your microwave oven works at 2.4GHz, because that's where it can resonate water in food. Your WiFi router ALSO radiates energy at 2.4GHZ, but on the order of 1/10th of a Watt, divided by a sphere...all directions, so most of that is aimed away from you, even standing next to it.
Whereas a Microwave oven dumps out 800 Watts or more, aimed 100% at that chicken!
So, apparently they are using lower frequencies than 2.4GHz to not resonate water-mass tissue directly, and thus, the radiated power from UHF and cell phones at similar frequencies is orders of magnitude lower, and not much threat.
Besides, sounds like the intent of the procedure is to ablate the tissue, and then I assume the body will naturally expunge this dead tissue and remaining carbon junk like a burned omelette on hangover morning!
Will say prayers for your son.
thanks, bfl
Exactly, but we don’t seem to be “there” yet. Everything I’ve seen suffers to some degree from either being a little too conservative or a little too liberal, and rapid customization is still unrealized. I’d think we might eventually see adaptable commercial kits that would cover the large majority of patients, though.
I’ll keep you and your family in my prayers. May God bless your son with a cure.
mark
I'm afraid I'm too dense to grasp your point.
If this “treatment” leaves but one cancer cell the cancer will eventually return won’t it?
Thank you, your prayers are much appreciated.
Thanks much Tony, we appreciate your concern and prayers.
Most likely many factors. Anything that causes alteration of cells, or lowers your immunity. The most often overlooked factor is diet.
My son likes the bald look too, and I'm sure he doesn't miss shaving that heavy blue-black beard he had before. His kids (5 & 11) think he looks really cool bald.
In any case, hair or no hair is a very minor concern when you're fighting cancer to stay alive.
Whats the frequency Kenneth ?
CO2 induced global warming. Al Gore and the IPCC said so, so it must be true.
Then why is castro, hel thomas, cliton, hrc, etc... still kicking?
“However, what causes the cancer in the first place?”
From every thing that I’ve read you just need to select your parents well.
There are are controllable factors. In the case of liver cancer, over consumption of alcohol is one of these.
But your best bet is just to pick you parents carefully. Same is true of heart disease.
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