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Thursday, 29th October 2009 (482 views)

The development of a radio wave device that destroys cancer tumours by heating gold nanoparticles embedded inside them has received a financial boost from the US government after securing a share of new grant funding.

Originally invented by the late entrepreneur and radio station owner John Kanzius, the device works on the principal that while radio waves pass harmlessly through the body, they "cook" any metals in their path, the Medical News reports.

The device is now being developed by the Center for Transport Oncophysics, a consortium that includes Rice University, the University of Texas, Harvard University/Massachusetts General Hospital and the MD Anderson Cancer Center, where Mr Kanzius was a patient.

Dr Steve Curley, principal researcher for the Kanzius Device at MD Anderson, said the key advantage of the system compared to treatments such as chemotherapy is that it can "precisely target" gold nanoparticles placed inside the cancerous cells, so the tumour is destroyed while healthy tissue is left unharmed.

The development of the device for potential use of humans has now been boosted by the National Cancer Institute, which has allocated up to $2.1 million (£1.2 million) over five years to support the research.

The grant is part of a national programme to develop innovative cancer treatments.

 

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