Nanoparticle sensitizers could enhance cancer radiotherapy effectiveness

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"... described the first-in-man study of gadolinium-based AGuIX nanoparticles as radiosensitizing agents. AGuIX nanoparticles, which are around 4 nm in size, are also MRI contrast agents, enabling visualization of their localization. ...

MR images showed that AGuIX localized in all of the metastases, regardless of primary tumor type, with no nanoparticles seen in healthy brain tissues two hours after injection. The results also revealed that the nanoparticles were safe at all dose levels. ...

noted that at seven days post-injection, AGuIX was still present in all the brain metastases, albeit at a lower level. “That’s good news if you want to perform dose enhancements with daily radiotherapy,” ...

Of the 14 evaluable patients, 12 experienced a clinical benefit from the treatment, with a decrease in tumor volume. The overall survival was approximately 5.5 months and roughly one third of patients were alive at 12 months. ..."

Nanoparticle sensitizers could enhance radiotherapy effectiveness – Physics World Radiosensitizers, which preferentially sensitize tumor cells to irradiation, can increase the therapeutic window and enable higher target doses without increasing normal tissue damage.

One approach under investigation to improve the effectiveness of radiotherapy is the use of nanoparticles as radiosensitizers.