For two years, 20 dogs and cats will undergo experimental treatment for aggressive types of cancer in a nuclear reactor at the Educational and Scientific Center of the Engineering School of Nuclear Technologies at Tomsk Polytechnic University. Three animals have been irradiated since January, said Vladimir Kanygin, head of the Novosibirsk State University Laboratory of Nuclear and Innovative Medicine.
For treatment, specialists use neutron capture therapy, which only destroys cancer cells without surgical intervention. At this time, a certain drug accumulates in malignant tumors, which is then irradiated with a stream of neutrons. It effectively catches them, which leads to the irreversible destruction of cancer cells.
In the only center in Russia where this method is used, gadolinium, which is suitable for diagnosis and therapy at the same time, is used in treatment. The contrast effect inherent in the substance allows you to see how the drug accumulates in the formation, separately calculate its dose and direct it directly to the tumor. The researchers plan to test the drug in the form of nanoparticles.
In most animals, there is an improvement in quality of life, inhibition and even a reduction in tumor growth, Kanygin said. According to him, the center accepts animals with oncology for treatment, whose owners want to participate in the study.
Source: Ferra
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