Throughout human history, people have used or tamed various naturally occurring and sometimes dangerous forces as a means of controlling results for the benefit of us. For example, we have been able to tame turbulent rivers with water dams and mills, tame the sun with solar panels, tame the wind with turbines and windmills, and split uranium atoms to produce nuclear energy to power our homes and major cities.
In terms of cancer treatment, we have developed various therapies and treatment methods, including chemotherapy, monoclonal antibodies and immunotherapy, to effectively manage certain types of cancer as chronic rather than fatal diseases. However, through decades of continuous research and testing, such important therapies have been continuously improved and improved to continuously challenge our standards of care and patient outcomes. We have found a way to transform our scientific curiosity and expertise into major medical advancements that help extend and improve the quality of life.
Innovative progress in the utilization of neurotoxins
A typical example is botulinum toxin A, commonly known as botulinum toxin-a neurotoxin derived from Clostridium botulinum. If ingested contaminated food, it will interfere with key muscles of the body, causing severe paralysis or even death. However, due to strict scientific innovation, this powerful and toxic substance has now become a safe and common treatment for medical conditions and cosmetic problems.
Blockbuster start
Botulinum toxin A is Originally researched in the 1970s As a treatment to correct the medical condition that causes strabismus, it was approved by the FDA in 1989 for the treatment of strabismus and abnormal blepharospasm with micro-dose injection. By the 1990s, Allergan purchased the drug based on its wrinkle and fine line reduction properties (previously considered a side effect of treatment). In 2002, BOTOX was approved by the FDA to reduce frown lines and other wrinkles. Today, BOTOX is injected approximately 1.5 million times a year to reduce wrinkles and treat diseases such as excessive sweating, premature ejaculation, migraine, cold hands, atrial fibrillation and even depression.
The discovery and evolution of radiation over the decades
Radiation is another example of a powerful force that, if not properly controlled, can cause immense damage Early scientist Because it has the potential to make a positive contribution to our well-being and lifestyle.
In 1896, Victor Despeignes used newly discovered X-rays to treat a person he believed to be a parasitic disease. In fact, the patient had stomach cancer, and the pain subsided after eight days of treatment. In 1906, Claudius Regaud discovered that a single dose of radiation can be administered in a small dose within a few days, which usually causes severe skin damage and tissue destruction in rabbits. Inspired by this research, Henri Coutard presented evidence in 1922 that external radiation can be used to treat laryngeal cancer, and small doses will not produce catastrophic side effects. In 1935, the hospital adopted this low-dose radiation therapy method.Although there are many External beam radiation therapy It is still available today, but there are some limitations, including the total dose that can be delivered, potential damage and toxicity to healthy tissues, and the need for treatment once a week within a few working days.
Shift to more targeted radiation therapy
In a watershed development, targeted whole-body radiotherapy was first demonstrated for treatment in 1941 Thyroid cancer And it has been used in clinical practice ever since.Take advantage of this momentum in 1950s and 1980s, The cobalt radiation therapy machine that emits gamma rays provides more in-depth and targeted treatment for difficult-to-treat cancers. From the 1970s into the 21st century, radiotherapy machines with higher energy calibration and equipment capable of radiating inside and outside of the body began to be produced. These, combined with the integration of computer imaging for precise treatment, bring the radiation that kills cancer directly to the source-cancer tissue.
Targeted radiotherapy today
This century ushered in the approval and use of this innovative treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, gastrointestinal pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma. By using this targeted approach, molecular technology, Conjugation arrive Radionuclide, Attracted by the very specific markers outside the cancer cells, and pass the radiation directly to the tumor, which in turn has less impact on the surrounding normal tissues.
The future of radiotherapy
Today, research on the use of new radiation treatment methods and designs to treat cancer continues. Rather than relying on molecular targeting technology to find cancer cells, the new radiation therapy can bypass the delivery of bloodstream and directly deposit it into the tumor of interest by infusion or injection.
An example is our ongoing clinical Learn Assess how to use targeted single-dose intense radiation to treat glioblastoma, a well-known brain cancer, which is difficult to treat because the cancerous tissue is located inside the brain and the fluid that surrounds it. Recurrent glioblastoma affects approximately 12,000 patients each year in the United States. It is the most common and deadly form of brain cancer. The average life expectancy is less than 24 months, the one-year survival rate is 40.8%, and the five-year survival rate is only 6.8%. . By injecting the radionuclide Rhenium-186 (Re-186) with a nanoliposome carrier directly into the brain, it can be seen that the cancer-killing benefits of radiotherapy can effectively fight these hard-to-reach tumors without harming this complex And an important organ.
Another example is ongoing develop A new type of radioactive radium 224 (Ra-224) microsphere suspension for the treatment of metastatic cancer in the body cavity. Clinical research Treatment is ongoing for peritoneal cancer, which is one of the most serious complications of gastrointestinal and gynecological malignancies, in patients with colorectal cancer and ovarian cancer. In these studies, the study drug was administered by injection into the abdominal cavity while avoiding harmful radiation doses to the deeper areas of the organs and tissues.
Similar to the significant progress we have seen with botulinum toxin under various conditions, and the use of rivers, sunlight, wind and uranium in the production of electricity, targeted radiotherapy has the potential to be more effective, convenient and safer to treat a variety of cancer. Starting from their respective research environments, over time, each of these powerful and naturally occurring substances or chemical reactions has been studied and utilized to help us advance our society and our well-being. Although radiation is still a terrible idea and a challenging treatment for many patients and healthcare providers, it also holds great promise to promote our understanding and treatment of cancer in patients in need.
Photo: phive2015, Getty Images
