A team of researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev published the results of a study on an innovative treatment for colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis to the liver, the third most diagnosed cancer globally, in addition to being one of the deadlier.
Scientists discovered that using a nanometer-sized polymer to deliver chemotherapy can treat CRC, and they also found that it is an effective treatment for minimizing melanoma metastasis to the lungs.
Ayelet David, research supervisor at the laboratory, explained that “conventional chemotherapy involves the use of small molecule drugs that are toxic to rapidly dividing cells. The problem is that chemotherapy lacks cell specificity. “The medication travels through the bloodstream and reaches not only the tumor but also healthy tissues, damaging fast-growing healthy cells and causing side effects.”
By using a small molecule for drug administration, the toxicity associated with chemotherapy is considerably reduced.