Special sponges could remove oil slicks from the ocean. If only treating cancer was as simple.
A bioengineering research team from Houston has developed a process that offers hope. First step: ovarian and colorectal cancer.
Globule-sized powerpacks of highly-dosed cells are implanted next to tumours and within the peritoneum. A minor procedure that minimises the side-effects of treatment.
The cells are engineered to give off peptide hormones continuously for 30 days and stimulate the white blood cells to fight cancer.
In trials with mice, 100% of ovarian and 87,5% of colorectal cancer tumours were removed.
A new startup has already licensed the process. Studies with humans are planned this autumn.
As for pancreatic cancer, sport can be helpful.
