"Radical" Solutions: A New Development in Cancer Treatment

    One of the most important areas of scientific research is cancer treatment and therapies. Despite significant advancements, cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, primarily due to its complex nature and the unique challenges it presents in medicine. The article "Breast cancer treatment advances with light-activated ‘smart bomb’" from ScienceDaily highlights a promising development in cancer treatment. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a method that uses light-sensitive chemicals to target cancer cells. These chemicals, when exposed to light, generate reactive oxygen molecules (including oxygen radicals) that destroy the cancer cells. Light-sensitive chemicals are substances that undergo chemical changes, such as alterations in their molecular structure, when exposed to light. However, traditional PDT has limitations, including extended light sensitivity, limited ability to penetrate tissues, and unintended toxicity, which can hinder full tumor removal and raise the likelihood of recurrence. 

Image showing the stages of PDT

     To address these challenges, researchers from the University of California, Riverside (UCR) and Michigan State University (MSU) developed a new approach using cyanine-carborane salts. These salts, when introduced into the body, are absorbed preferentially by cancer cells. The treatment involves shining light on the patient, which activates the chemicals and triggers the production of reactive oxygen species to destroy the cancer cells, leaving healthy tissue unaffected. Unlike traditional PDT agents, the cyanine-carborane salts specifically target cancer cells by targeting the overexpression of OATPs (Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptides), proteins that are found at higher levels in the membranes of cancer cells compared to healthy cells. Traditional PDT is also limited by the fact that current FDA-approved chemicals tend to stay in the body for extended periods. As a result, patients must stay in the dark for several months, as even minimal light exposure can cause blistering and burns. The cyanine-carborane salts help address this issue by being cleared from the body more rapidly, resulting in a quicker recovery time. Recent tests in mice have shown that this approach led to the complete eradication of metastatic breast cancer tumors. The researchers are excited to continue expanding their studies, with hopes to apply this method to treat other types of cancer. 

 Citations 

 University of California - Riverside. "Breast cancer treatment advances with light-activated 'smart bomb'." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 11 February 2025. 

 A. Roshanzadeh, H. C. D. Medeiros, C. K. Herrera, C. Malhado, A. W. Tomich, S. P. Fisher, S. O. Lovera, M. Bates, V. Lavallo, R. R. Lunt, S. Y. Lunt, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, e202419759.

https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202419759 https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/photodynamic-therapy