Stopping the Spread of Cancer by Using Nanoparticle-Mediated Drug Delivery

Filed in archive Biotech on July 22, 2008

When cancer spreads, this is called metastases and it can be devastating. Metastatic cancer means that the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, including organs like the liver, brain, bones, lungs, etc. Researchers are looking for ways to stop the spread of cancer. Using an integrin-targeted nanoparticle, researchers delivered the chemotherapy doxorubicin to target the blood vessels of the tumor. By using this type of novel targeted approach, scientists have been able to stop the spread of cancer cells. Since tumors rely on blood vessels to survive, the effective use of nanoparticles to deliver drugs may revolutionize cancer treatment. Source: PNAS.org