Subject: The Tumors Actually Shrank
Author: ironjusticeDate: 3 Jul
Latest Weapon in Fighting Cancer
A novel technique for reducing tumors in rats-using nano-sized, oil-
based emulsions may be the latest weapon in fighting cancer.
The technique, part of the burgeoning field of nutraceuticals,
involves creating nanoemulsions, or nano-sized capsules made from oil
and water. The emulsions, which are so small they are measured in
nanometers—or 1/100 of a meter—are then filled with various
antioxidants or anti-cancer fighting compounds, and tests show they
can reduce tumors in rats.
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Lowell injected rats
with neuroblastoma, so they would develop tumors, and then treated
them with nanoemulsions containing antioxidants. They found that while
the rats fed in the control group continued to develop tumors, the
growth rate for those fed antioxidants was actually negative 65
percent, meaning the tumors actually shrank.
“They had about 70 percent total tumor regression,” said Professor
Robert Nicolosi, director of UMass Lowell’s Center for Health and
Disease Research.
When researchers exposed melanoma cancer cells to a nanoemulsion
containing curcumin, an anti-cancer compound found in turmeric, cancer
cell proliferation was greatly reduced, Nicolosi said. And when they
used a nanoemulsion containing tamoxifen, a drug used to fight breast
cancer, they just about eliminated the ability of the cells to
proliferate—at least in a cell culture, Nicolosi said. Nanoemulsion
delivery systems have been shown to increase the bioavailablity and
efficacy of certain drugs. The advantage, particularly for some of the
toxic compounds used in fighting cancer, is that less of that compound
is needed to achieve the same effect. That means the patient would
suffer fewer damaging side effects.
“There’s no question we’re reducing the toxicity when we use 10 to 20
times less,” Nicolosi said.
Umass has been using Microfluidizer materials processing equipment to
develop the nutraceutical products. The equipment has helped
standardize the size of the nanoemulsions, making them more
commercially viable. Prior to the Microfluidizer, nanoemulsions came
out in varying sizes, making them less effective and less likely to
gain approval by the US Food and Drug Administration, according to
Scott McMeil, director of the Nanotechnology Characterization
Laboratory at SAIC-Frederick, Inc.
“Nanoemulsions have been around for several years, but they weren’t
very stable. But with a Microfluidizer, it looks like it’s overcoming
the stability issue,” McNeil said.
McNeil, whose company is subcontracted by the National Cancer
Institute, said the FDA requires that a compound is stable before it
will grant its seal of approval. Before researchers began using the
Microfluidizer, the size of the various nanoemulsions might vary from
five nanometers to five microns, in one solution, making the solution
less stable.
“A company would not move forward with something that was that high
risk,” McNeil said. “The Microfluidizer has opened up new
opportunities, such as nanoemulsions.”
In order to create the nanoemulsion, scientists mix water, an
emulsifier like lecithin, and an antioxidant or anti-cancer fighting
compound, and then pour it into a Microfluidizer processor. The
processor then compresses the solution and drives it through tiny
microchannels, and then in a reaction chamber, it splits the solution
into two streams, which collide with each other at extremely high
speeds. The collision creates a nanoemulsion that has a long shelf
life.
Researchers, such as UMass are also using the Microfluidizer
processors to create foods, beverages, and nutritional supplements
that can reduce inflammation or inhibit the intestines ability to
absorb cholesterol, thus reducing blood cholesterol levels as well as
the risk of heart disease.
Posted July 1st, 2008
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Tom
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