STUDYFINDS - In the ongoing battle against aggressive breast cancer, light might become an unexpected ally. Scientists at Michigan State University (MSU) and the University of California, Riverside have engineered a remarkable new treatment that combines two unlikely partners, a specialized salt and near-infrared light, to target and destroy cancer cells while leaving healthy tissue unharmed. This could potentially transform how we treat one of medicine’s most challenging diseases.
Despite advances in cancer treatment over recent decades, metastatic breast cancer remains particularly challenging to treat. Once cancer spreads beyond the breast to other organs, current treatments like chemotherapy often struggle to effectively target all cancer cells without causing significant side effects. Many patients face difficult trade-offs between treatment effectiveness and quality of life. The study, published in the Angewandte Chemie International Edition, reveals this innovative approach, called photodynamic therapy (PDT). This new treatment method could offer hope to patients with metastatic breast cancer who currently face limited treatment options.