Sound therapy of metastases
Researchers from Tohoku University in Japan have tested a new therapeutic strategy on mouse models of metastatic breast cancer. Innovative treatment includes the introduction of vesicles with an antitumor drug into the pelvic lymph node. Through the lymphatic system, they reach the lymph node of the armpit, affected by breast cancer metastases. Then, a high-power ultrasound directed at the axillary region causes the vesicles to rupture and leads to a controlled release of the drug.
Source hereafter: Tohoku University.
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women and accounts for a significant proportion of cancer mortality. At a late stage, cancer cells separate from the primary tumor and penetrate the lymphatic system, forming metastases in the lymph nodes and spreading to other organs.
The prognosis of the disease can be improved if there was a way to safely and effectively treat metastases in the lymph nodes. Currently available treatments are highly invasive and can have serious side effects.
Researchers have previously tested the treatment on mice with a breast tumor that causes metastases in lymph nodes with minimally invasive growth and well-defined boundaries. In this study, they worked on the treatment of more invasive breast cancer metastases.
The group first used ultrasound imaging techniques to trace the movement through the lymphatic system of mice of so–called "acoustic liposomes" - vesicles containing gas bubbles. They were able to prove that liposomes injected into the lymph node of the pelvis got into the lymph node of the armpit and settled there. The researchers then injected breast cancer cells into the lymph nodes of the pelvis into another group of mice. Cancer cells quickly reached and settled into the axillary lymph node.
When exposed to sound waves, the vesicles rupture and release an anti-cancer drug into the affected lymph node.
Liposomes carrying the anti-cancer drug doxorubicin were injected into the pelvic lymph node of mice. High intensity sound waves were applied to the armpit area on the day of injection and again three days later so that the liposomes ruptured and the drug was released
Researchers using the bioluminescence technique, which controls the growth of cancer, and by microscopy of excised lymph nodes demonstrated that the treatment effectively destroyed the cancerous tissue.
Further studies will be necessary to determine the optimal injection rate and the amount of treatment to prevent complications of experimental therapy from the lymphatic system.
Article by S. Kato et al. Use of a Lymphatic Drug Delivery System and Sonoporation to Target Malignant Metastatic Breast Cancer Cells Proliferating in the Marginal Sinuses is published in the journal Scientific Reports.
Aminat Adzhieva, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on materials from Tohoku University: Attacking Metastatic Breast Cancer with Sound.