CANCER IN THE NEWS: nanotechnology for colon cancer

Bowel cancer survival rates could be improved if chemotherapy drugs were delivered via tiny nanoparticles directly to tumours instead of being taken orally. This is the finding, published in the journal Carbohydrate Polymers, of an Indian and Australian study that used nanoparticles to target bowel cancer, the third-most common cancer. In animal experiments researchers found nanoparticles containing the chemotherapy drug Capecitabine attach themselves directly to the diseased cells, bypassing healthy cells and reducing toxic side effects as well as the size and number of tumours. The Australian researcher involved, Professor Sanjay Garg, said Capecitabine was the first-line chemotherapy drug for bowel cancer.

The West Australian; 04/05/2021; Page 3