New Cancer Treatment Kills 70% of Cells in 72 Hours – Study

Madrid – An international team of researchers has developed a novel cancer treatment that significantly boosts the effectiveness of chemotherapy while reducing dosage, according to findings announced Wednesday. The treatment, currently in testing, combines chemotherapy with two distinct forms of heat application, aiming to selectively destroy tumor cells while minimizing systemic toxicity.

The research, led by the Institute of Science of Materials of Madrid (ICMM), initially focused on breast cancer cells in laboratory settings, but scientists believe the approach could be applicable to a wide range of cancers. Ana Espinosa, a tenured scientist at the ICMM and head of the Materials for Medicine and Biotechnology Group, described the treatment as capable of “destroying potentently the tumor cells, minimizing systemic toxicity.”

The “trimodal” treatment, as it’s been termed, utilizes doxorubicin, a common chemotherapy drug, alongside magnetic hyperthermia – using a magnetic field to generate heat – and near-infrared radiation, another heat-generating technique. Researchers found that combining these three elements amplifies the drug’s impact on cancerous cells. According to the study, published in the journal Advanced NanoBiomed Research, the simultaneous application of both hyperthermia methods allows for a reduction in the amount of doxorubicin needed.

“The treatment works like a heat trap to eliminate cancer cells,” Espinosa explained. The research team discovered that cancer cells are particularly vulnerable to heat, but achieving the necessary temperatures safely proved challenging until the trimodal approach was developed. Using each technique individually did not allow for the safe attainment of temperatures required for cell elimination, according to researchers collaborating with the ICMM, including the IMDEA Nanociencia institute in Spain, the Institut Curie in France, and the Institute of Ceramics and Glass in Spain.

Preliminary results indicate a significant increase in cancer cell death. Espinosa reported achieving a cell mortality rate of up to 70% within 72 hours, a substantial improvement compared to individual treatment methods. The study’s primary objective was to demonstrate the potential of this trimodal approach, according to Europa Press.

The ICMM is a research institute within the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). Ana Espinosa can be reached at the ICMM, extension 437220, or by telephone at 913349059.