Here is some basic info. 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.