In a promising step that could change the future of cancer treatment, a research team from the University of Texas at Austin has developed a new technology that combines light and nanodevices to precisely target cancer cells while preserving healthy cells. In laboratory experiments, researchers relied on infrared light from LED lamps, which was directed at test tubes containing human skin cancer and colon cancer cells, as well as healthy skin cells. Nanoflakes of tin oxide (SnOx nanoflakes), which are absorbed by cancer cells but not healthy ones, were added. These flakes, when exposed to light, transform into microscopic heaters that generate heat inside the cells, leading to the destruction of 92% of skin cancer cells and 50% of colon cancer cells, while healthy cells remained largely unharmed, according to the 'Daily Mail' website. Dr. Jean Ann Incorvia, the lead researcher of the study, confirmed that the goal was to develop a treatment that is 'effective, safe, and easily accessible,' noting that the combination of LED lamps and SnOx nanoflakes provides a method that targets cancer cells with precision without harming healthy ones. In a statement from Dr. Arthur Pinto from the University of Porto in Portugal, who participated in the research, he said that the ultimate goal is to empower patients to use the treatment at home, especially in resource-limited areas, through a portable device that is placed on the skin after surgery to destroy any remaining cells and reduce the risk of the disease returning. This technology represents a new development in the field of photothermal therapy (Photothermal Therapy), but it differs from traditional methods by relying on low-cost LED lamps instead of expensive lasers, making its widespread application more realistic in the future. The study, published in the ACS Nano journal, showed that the temperature of the nanoparticles increased by 19 degrees Celsius within 30 minutes, which is enough to cause internal damage to cancer cells and disrupt proteins and the cell membrane, leading to cell death. The researchers also hope that the process will help stimulate the immune system to attack any remaining cancer cells. Over 5 million Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer annually, with about 9,000 deaths recorded. Approximately 152,000 cases of colon cancer are registered in the United States each year, with about 50,000 deaths. The incidence rate among young people is rising, with colon cancer cases in the 20 to 39 age group increasing by 2% annually since the mid-1990s. Despite the promising results, the technology is still in its experimental stages and has not yet been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a standalone cancer treatment, although it is already approved for treating some skin diseases.
