California high school student solves cancer?

[schteve_d]

Angela's idea was to mix cancer medicine in a polymer that would attach to nanoparticles -- nanoparticles that would then attach to cancer cells and show up on an MRI. so doctors could see exactly where the tumors are. Then she thought shat if you aimed an infrared light at the tumors to melt the polymer and release the medicine, thus killing the cancer cells while leaving healthy cells completely unharmed.

It'll take years to know if it works in humans -- but in mice -- the tumors almost completely disappeared.

Article and video The "article" is just a text copy of the video so watch or read.

[HalifaxDrunk]

shat

[TorqueDog]

This is relevant to my interests.

[Thor]

Hope the tests go beyond prelim tests.

If I was a betting man, this is going to fail miserably.

[Dion]

We can only hope she's on to something. Cancer does not disciminate who it attacks and has to be eradicated. No one should ever have to suffer the cruelty cancer inflicts on people.

[emti]

if this works, shes a trillionaire

[Dion]

Originally Posted by emti

if this works, shes a trillionaire

She'll have a special place in history.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by emti

if this works, shes a trillionaire

The cynic in my wonders how many trillionaire's have been made by cancer research not working.

I would hate to think people would ever consider the profits of keeping cancer around, but with all of the money and research put towards it; it's surprising we're not closer to cancer being gone.

[eddly]

Solve cancer? As if it is just one disease, it is 1000s of problems collectively called cancer. There is not just one kind/cause of cancer.

I want to be optimistic, but what she is done sounds very similar to other clinical studies I have read. Good luck though, sounds like a great career ahead of her.

[saskflames69]

My generation has done something! Meanwhile, I'm gonna go play some xbox.

[Kybosh]

I've seen this type of work before. The first question I have, that the article does not address, is what type of tumor cell lines were they investigating? It states that it's worked on mice but I'd like to know what the cell line was (mouse, human or otherwise) and what type of tumors were investigated.

It is a huge step to move beyond mice, which is nearly the first step.

[Sluggo]

Nanoparticles, polimer, MRI, infrared light, medicine... sounds expensive.

[Kavvy]

Originally Posted by Sluggo

Nanoparticles, polimer, MRI, infrared light, medicine... sounds expensive.

.... really?

[grizz29]

Not if big pharma has their way.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by grizz29

Not if big pharma has their way.

Lol. Yes. The million people conspiracy.

[squiggs96]

I thought this was going to be a thread about Matt Barnaby.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

I've seen this type of work before. The first question I have, that the article does not address, is what type of tumor cell lines were they investigating? It states that it's worked on mice but I'd like to know what the cell line was (mouse, human or otherwise) and what type of tumors were investigated.

It is a huge step to move beyond mice, which is nearly the first step.

As you are probably well aware, novel drug delivery methods with micelles, immunologic targeting, etc methods are not a novel technique. In fact, polymer delivery technology was being investigated say the U of A pharmacy faculty when I was there (until 2007). The delivery method seldom improves the efficacy, it is designed to limit toxicities.

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

As you are probably well aware, novel drug delivery methods with micelles, immunologic targeting, etc methods are not a novel technique. In fact, polymer delivery technology was being investigated say the U of A pharmacy faculty when I was there (until 2007). The delivery method seldom improves the efficacy, it is designed to limit toxicities.

Yeah, I've seen many types of drug delivery protocols and there is always some sort of drawback. I'm not trying to discount this young woman (she clearly has a bright future), but media over-sensationalizing research drives me bonkers. I no longer work in a research lab, so I am unable of easily digging up articles anymore, but I'd like to see specifically what work this group was doing.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by grizz29

Not if big pharma has their way.

If you happen to experience any WLAN issues at home, may I recommend not living inside a tinfoil tent?

[Jade]

Interesting how this amazing student 'discovered' an area of research that has been going on for over a decade.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/halas-nanoshell.html.