To Cancer : Complementary and Integrative Therapies of Cancer.

The new technique could also be used to transport therapeutic genes to treat other diseases such as ischemia or arthritis of the joints.

British scientists have developed a revolutionary treatment using microscopic magnets to guide directly to tumors drugs used in chemotherapy.

By attacking the tumor with total precision prevents healthy cells suffer the toxic effects of these drugs, while increasing their effectiveness against malignant tumors.

In experiments conducted with mice, the researchers inserted the microscopic magnets – micro-magnets -in monocytes, cells that are used to transport drugs and then injected those cells into the bloodstream.

The researchers then placed a small magnet over the tumor, thus creating a magnetic field and were attracting monocytes to the tumor in greater numbers.

The method, which reported in its latest issue the magazine “Gene Therapy”, has been developed by teachers Claire Lewis, University of Sheffield, Jon Dobson, of Keel and Helen Byrne and Giles Richardson of the of Nottingham.

Human cells have been used for some time in cancer therapy, but the problem is that often did not reach the tumor in sufficient numbers to effectively attack, something that these experts have been resolved now.

According to Claire Lewis, “the use of nano particles to enhance tumor uptake of therapeutically armed cells may signal the beginning of a new era in gene therapy.

“The new technique could also be used to transport therapeutic genes to treat other diseases such as ischemia or arthritis of the joints,” said the expert.

The next step, described in the above journal, will consist of techniques used MRI to create a magnetic field around deep tumors of the liver, kidneys and brain.

“That way succeed in transporting the therapeutic cells to areas that are very resistant and are usually fatal for the patient,” says Lewis.

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