Blowing bubbles in the blood could kill cancer with both barrels

MEDICAL

Michael Irving

June 6th, 2018

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Researchers have found that gas embolotherapy (blowing bubbles in the blood) could fight cancer in two ways(Credit: delfoto/Depositphotos)

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Cancer can be a tricky foe, so the best way to fight it might not be with a direct attack, but to cut off its supply lines. One such method, known as gas embolotherapy, involves creating tiny bubbles in the tumor blood vessels, which block the blood supply and starve the cancer out. Now, researchers from China and France have found that the technique could also deal a second blow as a drug delivery system.

The first step of gas embolotherapy involves researchers injecting droplets of a liquid into the blood vessels that feed a tumor. When an ultrasonic pulse is applied to the area, those droplets form tiny gas bubbles that clog up the vessels, blocking blood flow and suffocating the tumor. This part of the process is called acoustic droplet vaporization (ADV).

In past research, this process turned out to be more effective than was expected. Not only did the bubbles successfully cut off the blood supply, but other bubbles made their way into smaller vessels like capillaries, causing them to burst and leak, which dealt even more damage to the tumor.

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In the new study, the team wanted to look closer at what was happening in the capillaries. For their tests, the researchers used samples of rat tissue in the lab, and injected droplets of dodecafluoropentane mixed with a bovine serum. Bubbles were then formed using ADV.

The team observed the bubbles lodging in the capillaries, where they built up and in some cases merged. A localized cavity was also spotted in the vessel wall, which the team says was likely caused by the bubbles rupturing the capillary.

The researchers say that this could open up a second avenue of attack against cancer. Gas embolotherapy could kill tumors by not only blocking their blood supply, but delivering drugs through the capillaries. That means the drugs could be administered directly to the tumor site, and since blood isn't circulating back out, it keeps them localized, preventing the drug from circulating through the body and harming healthy cells.

"In cancer therapy research, scientists are always interested in answering two questions: how to kill the cancer effectively and how to reduce the side effects of chemotherapeutic drugs," says Mingxi Wan, corresponding author of the paper. "We have found that gas embolotherapy has the potential to successfully address both of these areas."

The next steps for the researchers is to test the method in live rats.

The research was published in the journal Applied Physics Letters.

Source: American Institute of Physics via Science Daily

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Common cold virus targets, and kills, bladder cancer in exciting early human trial

MEDICAL

Rich Haridy

13 hours ago

A particular strain of the common cold, when delivered into the bladder by a catheter, was seen to selectively attack and kill bladder cancer cells(Credit: katerynakon/Depositphotos)

An early-stage study has found a strain of the common cold virus can effectively target and destroy bladder cancer cells. This phase 1 human trial suggests the virus directly induces tumor cell death, and if verified by larger trials could be used in conjunction with other novel immunotherapy treatments.

An oncolytic virus is a class of virus known to target and kill cancer cells in one of two ways, either by directly hunting and eliminating tumor cells, or by helping the immune system better home in on a cancer by lighting up a cancer cell. Ongoing oncolytic research has revealed the zika virus attacking brain cancers, and the herpes virus attacking skin cancers.

Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is the most common type of bladder cancer and it is challenging to treat. Current treatments can involve a variety of either surgery, chemotherapy or immunotherapy, and still result in high rates of recurrence.

"Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer is a highly prevalent illness that requires an intrusive and often lengthy treatment plan," explains Hardev Pandha, principle investigator on the new study. "Current treatment is ineffective and toxic in a proportion of patients and there is an urgent need for new therapies."

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This new research describes the results of a phase 1 trial using a strain of the common cold virus called coxsackievirus (CVA21), as an oncolytic agent targeting bladder cancer. The trial recruited 15 patients with NMIBC and administered CVA21 directly into the bladder via a catheter. One week after the treatment the patients underwent surgery to remove their bladder tumors, allowing the researchers to evaluate how well the virus had infiltrated the cancer cells.

The results were promising, with all patients displaying evidence the virus has effectively infiltrated the bladder cancer cells. Tumor cell death was seen to be triggered by the virus, and increases in inflammatory cytokines were noted, suggesting the virus also seemed to stimulate the body's immune system to better target and attack the cancer cells.

"Reduction of tumor burden and increased cancer cell death was observed in all patients and removed all trace of the disease in one patient following just one week of treatment, showing its potential effectiveness," says Pandha. "Notably, no significant side effects were observed in any patient."

Being a phase 1 human trial the primary goal was to evaluate safety and dosage, and the results were positive on this front, with no toxicities or adverse effects reported. The next step will be to expand these trials and explore whether this new treatment can be used in combination with new immunotherapy treatments.

This isn't the first research into using the common cold virus as an oncolytic agent. CVA21 in particular is looking promising as a treatment for melanoma and prostrate cancer, with several human trials currently underway evaluating its efficacy when used in conjunction with other immunotherapy treatments.

The new research was published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research.

Source: University of Surrey