Researchers Develop Game-Changing Gel That Solidifies in Tumors
A groundbreaking liquid gel that solidifies upon injection into solid tumors has been created by researchers, providing a potential treatment for metastatic cancers.
This innovative gel that is visible on CT scans allows for slow-release cancer-fighting treatments. When combined with immunotherapy, it showed promising results in preclinical models, causing tumor regression and enhancing survival.
The Mass General Brigham research team collaborated with the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research to develop the gel delivery system. The system aims to overcome challenges faced by intratumoral therapy, providing a means to deliver drugs precisely and ensure a controlled release.
Intratumoral therapy, which involves the direct injection of cancer drugs into tumors, holds promise for treating solid cancers. However, its success in clinical trials has been limited due to challenges in precise drug delivery and the rapid dissipation of most immunotherapies from the injection site.
The newly developed gel solidifies upon delivery and contains an imaging agent, which ensures visibility on CT scans, and maintains a high concentration of drugs for controlled release.
The interdisciplinary research team optimized the gel’s delivery system in the laboratory, focusing on its chemical structure and transition from a liquid form at room temperature to a solid state at body temperature within the tumor, forming a drug-releasing depot.
The effectiveness of the gel was tested by treating mouse models of colon and breast cancer, known for their resistance to immunotherapy. The results showed improved survival rates in both cancer models, with a complete regression observed in responders at both the treated and distant tumor sites.
The researchers are optimistic about moving the technology to clinical applications but acknowledge the need for further safety testing before broader drug efficacy evaluations.
The findings of the study were published in the journal Advanced Healthcare Materials, and researchers are hopeful that the gel holds the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment, particularly for challenging-to-treat cancers.
With remarkable potential and promising results, the game-changing gel is poised to be a significant advancement in cancer treatment. Further research and clinical trials will be necessary to fully assess its impact.
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