A new trimodal cancer treatment combining chemotherapy with targeted heat application is showing promising results in early testing, potentially minimizing systemic toxicity while effectively destroying tumor cells. The research, led by the Institute of Science of Materials in Madrid (ICMM), demonstrated up to 70% cell death in 72 hours, a significant increase compared to individual treatments.
The innovative approach utilizes doxorubicin, a common chemotherapy drug, alongside two distinct heat-based therapies: magnetic hyperthermia, which uses a magnetic field to generate heat, and near-infrared radiation. According to lead researcher Ana Espinosa, the combination creates what she describes as “a heat trap to eliminate cancer cells.”
“The treatment allows us to powerfully destroy tumor cells, minimizing systemic toxicity,” Espinosa stated. The initial study, published in the scientific journal Advanced NanoBiomed Research, focused on breast cancer cells in a laboratory setting, but researchers believe the technique could be expanded to treat various types of cancer.
The researchers found that combining the two hyperthermia methods with chemotherapy allows for a reduction in the dosage of doxorubicin. Using each technique independently, they noted, doesn’t safely achieve the temperatures needed to eliminate cancer cells. This collaborative research involved the IMDEA Nanociencia institute in Spain, the Institut Curie in France, and the Institute of Ceramics and Glass in Spain.
This development represents a potentially significant step forward in cancer treatment, offering a pathway to more effective therapies with fewer side effects. The study, according to reports from Europa Press, primarily aimed to demonstrate the potential of the trimodal treatment. Ana Espinosa is a Tenured Scientist at the Materials for Medicine and Biotechnology Group at ICMM-CSIC.
