Future cancer treatment could be aided by a new discovery which will
allow drugs to pass into cells much more effectively.
A
team of scientists working at Duke University have identified a key molecule
which could help reduce the side effects associated with
chemotherapy.
Doctors explained that this will mean that
new drugs may be designed that can enter cancer cells much more efficiently,
meaning that people can be treated with lower
doses.
"Healthy cells don't divide as
often as tumour cells, so lowering the amount of drug given overall would be an
effective approach to killing tumours while protecting patients," said
senior author Seok-yong Lee.
According to Cancer Research
UK, not all patients who develop cancer will be given chemotherapy and a
patient's suitability depends on a number of factors including the type
and grade of cancer, as well as the person's general
health.
Side effects tend to be short-term and will vary
depending on the type of drug used.
© Adfero Ltd
Cancer treatment news : 13 March 2012
