New cancer treatment uses light

A Norwegian company have been developing a cancer treatment that better targets drugs to cancer cells without affecting other areas of the body. The technique utilises photochemical internalisation (PCI) technology and involves shining a laser beam onto the affected cells.

Eliminating side effects has been a major concern in developing cancer treatment. The Norwegian company PCI Biotech Holding ASA (PCI Biotech) are utilising PCI technology first discovered in 1994. The patient is given a photosensitising compound which makes cells more sensitive to light – in this case created and patented as the molecule Amphinex®. After a few days when the molecule is well circulated, a red laser is shone on the appropriate area of the body. The drug radically enhances delivery to specific locations in the diseased cells.

The unresolved issue of drug transport to a targeted area has had repercussions for the pharmaceutical companies, slowing down the production of molecules with untapped medical potential. Patients have also had to receive higher doses than would be necessary if the treatment were targeted.

“All patients involved in the study experienced a considerable effect from the light treatment and, in most cases, the treated tumours disappeared altogether. No serious side effects were observed,” says Dr Høgset.

Further clinical studies by PCI Biotech will follow up this research. For the future, the company intends to investigate the treatment of metastatic cancer, where the infected cells have spread to other areas of the body. The project will focus on whether a person’s immune system can be enabled to attack cancer cells in more than one part of the body.

Published: Friday, 6th January 2012 by Ellen Haggan