Khaberni - In a scientific advancement that could broaden the options for cancer treatment, researchers have developed a new method of dynamic phototherapy that functions even in the oxygen-deficient environments within tumors. According to a report published on “Medical Xpress”, this technique relies on an alternative mechanism that uses hydrogen peroxide instead of oxygen to destroy cancer cells.
The conventional phototherapy involves activating a pharmaceutical substance within the tumor using light, which leads to the production of reactive molecules that kill cells. However, this method faces a major challenge, as many fast-growing tumors suffer from a lack of oxygen, reducing the treatment's effectiveness.
The new study offers a solution to this limitation, as researchers have developed a compound based on the element ruthenium that can be activated by light. In the absence of oxygen, this compound reacts with iron inside the cells, transforming hydrogen peroxide, a natural compound present in the body, into highly reactive free radicals capable of damaging the cancer cells.
A dual mechanism increases effectiveness
In the presence of oxygen, the treatment works in the traditional way by producing reactive oxygen. However, in its absence, the new mechanism based on hydrogen peroxide is activated, giving the treatment greater flexibility and the ability to work under different conditions within the tumor.
Initial experiments have shown that this method is successful in eliminating breast cancer cells in the laboratory, with the theoretical possibility of being applied to various types of tumors.
Despite the significance of these results, the researchers emphasize that the experiments are still in their early stages and have not yet been tested on humans, meaning that their clinical efficacy requires further study before they can be adopted as a treatment option.
Thus, this innovation opens the door to a new generation of phototherapies capable of overcoming one of the biggest challenges in cancer treatment, but it is still in the research phase before reaching practical application.
