The press service of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Technical University reported that newly developed nanoparticles can be effectively used in tablet form to treat melanoma (skin cancer), both against the primary tumor and metastases.
Dr. Sergei Shpilovsky, senior researcher at the University's Laboratory of Biologically Active Substances, said: "Experiments on mice with a melanoma model showed that oral administration of the compound using the new nanomedicine inhibited tumor growth by 88-95% compared to the control group. In a metastatic melanoma model involving the lungs, the nanomedicine showed an 82% inhibition of metastasis formation."
The press service added: "Thanks to the use of advanced tracking technologies, researchers have confirmed that the nanoparticles do not break down in the stomach, but rather reach the intestines and settle there, ensuring that the drug is delivered to the target with high accuracy. Examination of internal organs or blood tests of animals also did not show any serious side effects, confirming the safety of the new drug."
Dr. Shpilovsky explained that this strategy opens up new horizons for the development of effective and safe oral medicines for the targeted treatment of cancer.
The researchers pointed out that skin cancer is one of the most aggressive types of cancer, due to its formation of widespread metastases, which are the main cause of death among those afflicted with this disease.
Traditional chemotherapy protocols typically use toxic drugs that destroy cancer cells, but they also affect healthy cells, leading to serious side effects. The new nanotechnology method, however, is a targeted treatment that destroys only cancer cells, making it safer and more effective.
To date, more than 150 targeted compounds have been approved for targeted therapy for various types of cancer. The use of these drugs is considered more effective and safer compared to traditional chemotherapy, because it reduces toxicity to healthy tissues and alleviates side effects.
