Intervention radiology plays a role in the development of new treatments for liver cancer in the future, including the delivery of genetic material, called gene therapy, and the use of magnetic particles to draw cancer-killing agents into tumors to fight or prevent liver cancer. This method is still being studied, but offers new hope in the fight against the cancer.
Gene therapy
Gene therapy is one of the most exciting new researches in cancer treatment, including treatment for liver cancer. Unlike other treatments, most DNA is used as a means of treatment. The new technique is based on the transfer of genetic material (DNA) in the body to repair disease.
DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is a very long molecule that encodes our genetic information. Genes are pieces of DNA that carries the information needed to make proteins, the building blocks of our bodies.
The delivered genes encode proteins that directly attack the liver cancer cells. In other cases, the genes may increase the patient’s immune system to help fight cancer. In other cases, the virus can destroy tumors without damaging the healthy liver tissue.
Gene therapy is an experimental field, which continues to studied, offer attractive possibilities for the treatment of liver cancer. This field still has its limitations, but the main problem that must be addressed.
Magnetic chemotherapy
Recently, as a new treatments for liver cancer, researchers have combined chemotherapy drugs with targeted magnetic media, which are microscopic particles containing iron. Iron is attracted by magnets and are collected in the field of the magnet is located. MTC-DOX doxorubicin, chemotherapy agent is mixed with a magnetic targeted, and is currently being tested in patients with primary liver cancer.
MTC-DOX attached to the artery that feeds the liver with blood, and the magnet is outside the body of the cancer patient’s liver. This increases the cancer chemotherapy sparing normal healthy tissue from its harmful side effects. MTC-DOX appears to remain in force even after the magnet is removed.
