Introduction
For a lot of types of cancer, light treatment can only treat surface-level cancers. The “deep cancers”, which are also shockingly frequent, require intensive treatment.
However, researchers at the University of Notre Dame have devised a wireless method to use light therapy on deep-seated cancers. Before this significant advancement, light therapy had been minimally effective on tumors located deep inside of the body, which are guarded by thick layers of tissues, bones, and blood. When light was attempted to be used to help provide therapy for the tumors, the cancerous cells were not able to be reached. Thankfully, this may have changed.
A Wireless LED Therapy
The device is a rice grain-sized mechanism that contains a light-sensitive dye. When the light is shined on this dye, the cancer cell’s oxygen becomes toxic, instantly demolishing the cell. However, what happens next is even more fascinating. The treatment then alerts the immune system about a specific kind of cell’s (cancer cell) death, telling it that there is a threat that has been posted upon the body. Depending on how serious the cancer is, customization of color can also be made, making the response more robust or more light.
“Certain colors of light penetrate tissue deeper than other ones… It turns out that the kind of light, in this case green, that doesn’t penetrate as deeply, has the capability of producing a more robust response against the cancer cells.” – Thomas O’Sullivan, associate professor of electrical engineering and co-author of the paper.
How Does It Work?
The device works through many steps. The first step in the process is that a light-sensitive dye is delivered to the cancer cells. This is injected directly into a cancer tumor, and can be controlled by an external control system. Then, the light is shown on them. The dye absorbs the light, and converts it into energy. This burst of energy is what leads to the chain reaction that kills the cell. After the cancer cell releases the energy, its own oxygen becomes toxic. This immediately causes it to self-destruct in a process known as pyroptosis.
The next step in the process is the use of this technology on mice. The supposed purpose of this was to test whether the immune system could detect and eliminate another tumor after learning how to kill it. This worked, and is the major changer in this process. The investigation showed that this can happen inside of humans, and help eliminate a tumor the second time another similar one comes up.
Finally, after the treatment, the mechanism still remains active. The machine will act as a real-time monitor of the body, and target light therapy when needed. Meaning, this is not a one-time use treatment. Using the data collected by this device, doctors can also fine-tune the device.
Continued research in this field will help this device cure the many people who had been affected during the production of the device. Through continuous research, the device holds a future of delivering targeted treatment to millions of affected people in the world.
RELATED STORIES:
https://interestingengineering.com/health/new-led-device-uses-light-to-destroy-deep-cancers
https://www.medica-tradefair.com/en/lab-diagnostics/led-implant-cancer-treatment
TAKE ACTION:
Donate to the American Cancer Society:
https://www.cancer.org/donate.html
Work at the National Cancer Institute to research cancer:
https://www.cancer.gov/research/nci-role/cancer-research-workforce
