Tiny capsules loaded with chemotherapy drugs fired directly into a patient’s cancer tissue could help transform the way breast cancer is treated, according to research at the American University of Sharjah.
Under the new treatment, medication taken intravenously via a catheter is packed with anti-cancer agents including nine chemotherapy drugs, which are then activated by ultrasound waves to make sure the medication is applied directly to the affected tissues.
The use of these tiny capsules, known as Herceptin-targeted nanocarriers, will therefore treat cancerous areas while avoiding damage to surrounding cells.
It is hoped the therapy can minimise side effects, while delivering maximum impact in killing off cancerous cells.
And with wide access to ultrasound, it is hoped the treatment can be introduced in most hospitals once it is approved.
A US patent has been secured for the work, put together by researchers from the university’s biological engineering and environmental sciences division.
"This approach ensures the delivery of highly concentrated therapeutic doses to cancerous cells while sparing healthy cells, significantly reducing the adverse side effects that often accompany chemotherapy,” said Dr Ghaleb Husseini, AUS professor in chemical and biological engineering, who led the research.
This patent represents a remarkable advancement in the realm of cancer treatment
Dr Ghaleb Husseini,
AUS professor in chemical and biological engineering
“This is why this patent represents a remarkable advancement in the realm of cancer treatment, opening doors to more effective and less burdensome therapies for cancer patients.
“The patent's significance lies in its suitability for diseases like breast tumours, given the widespread availability of ultrasound equipment in clinics, making this technology more accessible to patients.”
Powered by ultrasound
A patent for the therapy was previously secured in 2020, with the latest stamp acknowledging tweaks to the treatment that uses high frequency and high-powered ultrasound.
Researchers are now looking at in vivo testing aimed at fine-tuning the ultrasound parameters, a crucial step towards the technology’s practical application.
“This patent is a testament to our relentless pursuit of better, less invasive therapies that can transform the lives of cancer patients,” said Dr Mohammad Al Sayah, a professor in biology, chemistry and environmental sciences at the AUS College of Arts and Sciences.
Breast cancer is the single most common form of the disease in the UAE.
According to the Global Cancer Observatory, it accounts for about 21 per cent of all diagnosed cancers, followed by colorectal (10.6 per cent ) thyroid (8.4 per cent) leukaemia ( 5.7 per cent) and prostate cancer (5.6 per cent).
Cancer treatment is on the threshold of a new era of therapies that promise to improve patient care and survival rates.
Several new cancer drugs approved in 2023 promise to unleash new weapons in the fight against it in the near future.
They include targeted therapies and novel treatments ranging from therapies for B-cell malignancies, colorectal cancer, and paediatric brain cancer to treatments for prostate cancer, multiple myeloma, and various haematological cancers.
UAE research
Scientists in the UAE are also playing their part, helping to move medicine a step closer to finding a cure for cancer altogether.
Anixa Biosciences, a biotech company, recently shared encouraging updates from its Phase 1 clinical trial of a breast cancer vaccine. This trial, in collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic and funded by the US Department of Defence, aims to develop a vaccine for breast cancer treatment and prevention.
The vaccine specifically targets triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a challenging form to treat.
The trial involved patients previously treated for TNBC, who then received a series of three vaccinations, each two weeks apart.
After vaccines were administered, the response of the patient’s T-cells – which play a vital role in immunity – were checked, as well as the production of antibodies.
The majority of patients showed significant T-cell responses and a notable boost in immunity, with no significant side effects.
“This study represents a significant step in breast cancer research, offering hope for new preventive and treatment strategies,” said Dr Humaid Al Shamsi, head of Emirates Oncology Society.
“This study highlight the potential of vaccine-based therapies in combating cancer.”
According to the latest American Cancer Society report, released on Wednesday, cancer mortality has declined in the US since 1991 but more adults under the age of 50 are now being diagnosed with it.
The report states that four million deaths have been avoided, mainly due to reductions in smoking, earlier detection for some cancers and improved treatment options.
Female breast cancer incidence rates have been slowly increasing by about 0.6 per cent every year since the mid-2000s but, while mortality peaked in 1989, it has since decreased by 42 per cent in 2021.
Of the three adult categories, those under 50, those aged 50-64 and adults older than 65, only the younger category saw an increase in overall cancer incidence from 1995-2020.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Tree of Hell
Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla
Director: Raed Zeno
Rating: 4/5
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin
The years Ramadan fell in May
MATCH INFO
Everton 2 (Tosun 9', Doucoure 93')
Rotherham United 1 (Olosunde 56')
Man of the Match Olosunde (Rotherham)
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 194hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 275Nm from 2,000-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: from Dh155,000
On sale: now
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
SPECS
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F1 2020 calendar
March 15 - Australia, Melbourne; March 22 - Bahrain, Sakhir; April 5 - Vietnam, Hanoi; April 19 - China, Shanghai; May 3 - Netherlands, Zandvoort; May 20 - Spain, Barcelona; May 24 - Monaco, Monaco; June 7 - Azerbaijan, Baku; June 14 - Canada, Montreal; June 28 - France, Le Castellet; July 5 - Austria, Spielberg; July 19 - Great Britain, Silverstone; August 2 - Hungary, Budapest; August 30 - Belgium, Spa; September 6 - Italy, Monza; September 20 - Singapore, Singapore; September 27 - Russia, Sochi; October 11 - Japan, Suzuka; October 25 - United States, Austin; November 1 - Mexico City, Mexico City; November 15 - Brazil, Sao Paulo; November 29 - Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Difference between fractional ownership and timeshare
Although similar in its appearance, the concept of a fractional title deed is unlike that of a timeshare, which usually involves multiple investors buying “time” in a property whereby the owner has the right to occupation for a specified period of time in any year, as opposed to the actual real estate, said John Peacock, Head of Indirect Tax and Conveyancing, BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates, a law firm.
The%20specs
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A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
'Nightmare Alley'
Director:Guillermo del Toro
Stars:Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara
Rating: 3/5
if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Seoul from Dh3,775 return, including taxes
The package
Ski Safari offers a seven-night ski package to Korea, including five nights at the Dragon Valley Hotel in Yongpyong and two nights at Seoul CenterMark hotel, from £720 (Dh3,488) per person, including transfers, based on two travelling in January
The info
Visit www.gokorea.co.uk
