School researcher co-author on paper detailing potential new cancer treatment Research co-authored by Professor Mark Bradley has been published in Nature Chemistry. Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy are both common treatments for cancer and have together dramatically improved outcomes. Indeed, the combined use of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in conjunction with surgery provides a standard for patient care for many solid tumours (e.g. breast, bowel, brain). Devices such as the so-called "Cyber Knife" are used for highly accurate and exacting three-dimensional treatment of cancers, minimising damage to other tissues. However, chemotherapy agents are basically toxins and are given on a whole-body basis (i.e. they are not usually targeted to the cancer itself). Not surprisingly they therefore display a range of serious side effects. The key idea behind this paper was the development of a novel approach whereby the "Cyber Knife" not only carries out "normal" radiotherapy, but also switches on, or activates, a chemotherapy agent. This allows simultaneous and localised dual chemo and radiotherapy therapy and allows the delivery of concentrated doses of chemotherapy directly in the tumour. This has the potential for maximising the therapeutic effect on the primary cancer and minimising side effects so less drug will need to be given to a patient, through precise delivery of the chemotherapy agent. More Information The paper on the Nature Chemistry website This article was published on 2024-03-19
