Gold nanoparticles may treat pancreatic cancer

New York, October 20

Gold nanoparticles may limit tumour growth and spread of pancreatic cancer, scientists including those of Indian origin have found, paving way for new therapies to treat the lethal disease.

A diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is often a death sentence because chemotherapy and radiation have little impact on the disease.

Researchers from University of Missouri in the US has previously found that gold nano-particles themselves could limit tumour growth and metastasis in a model of ovarian cancer in mice.

Now the team, including Sounik Saha, Prabir K Chakraborty and Priyabrata Mukherjee from University of Oklahoma in the US, has determined that the same holds true for mouse models of pancreatic cancer.

The new study showed details about cellular communication in the area surrounding pancreatic tumours.

By interrupting this communication - which is partly responsible for this cancer's lethal nature - the particles reduced the cell proliferation and migration that ordinarily occurs near these tumours.

Gold nano-particles of the size used in the new study are not toxic to normal cells, the researchers said.

The study appears in the journal American Chemical Society. — PTI