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Posted on Sep 22, 2002, 12 p.m.
By Bill Freeman
An "atomic nanogenerator" made from monoclonal antibodies and the radioactive substance actinium-255 (Ac-255) has been shown to prolong the survival of mouse models of prostate cancer and a type of human lymphoma by tracking down and destroying cancer cells. As well as nearly quadrupling the survival of mice, 40% of those given the highest dose of the "nanogenerator" were found to be tumor-free 300-days into the experiment.
An "atomic nanogenerator" made from monoclonal antibodies and the radioactive substance actinium-255 (Ac-255) has been shown to prolong the survival of mouse models of prostate cancer and a type of human lymphoma by tracking down and destroying cancer cells. As well as nearly quadrupling the survival of mice, 40% of those given the highest dose of the "nanogenerator" were found to be tumor-free 300-days into the experiment. In vitro studies showed that the "nanogenerator" also killed leukemia, lymphoma, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and ovarian cancer cells. Thus, suggesting that the Ac-255 generators could be used to treat solid cancers as well as disseminated forms of the disease.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Science 2001; 294:1537-1540
