Research Insights: Magnetic Seeds Developed by Scientists Can Heat Up & Kill Cancer Cells

Every day, new treatments and methods for treating severe diseases emerge. Cancer is unquestionably one of the worst diseases. Now, UCL researchers have created a unique cancer treatment that involves using an MRI scanner to guide a magnetic seed across the brain, heating and destroying tumors. Their findings were published in  'Advanced Science.' 

To date, there are many ways in which cancer can be managed but can not be cured in later stages when it gets worse.

"Minimally invasive image-guided ablation" or MINIMA  

The therapy, known as "minimally invasive image-guided ablation" or MINIMA, was tested in mice and consisted of a ferromagnetic thermoseed that was steered to a tumor utilizing magnetic propulsion gradients created by an MRI scanner, then remotely heated to destroy surrounding cancer cells. The findings, according to the researchers, provided "proof-of-concept" for accurate and successful therapy of hard-to-reach glioblastoma, as well as other diseases like prostate cancer that might benefit from less surgical therapies. 

Minimal Harm to Healthy Tissue 

Professor Mark Lythgoe (UCL Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging), a senior author, said: "MINIMA is a revolutionary MRI-guided treatment with the potential to eliminate typical side effects by exactly treating the tumor while causing no damage to healthy regions.

The magnetic fields in the MRI scanner may be utilized to remotely drive the heated seed through the tissue to the tumor since the seed is magnetic. When the seed reaches the tumor, it may be heated to kill cancer cells while inflicting minimal harm to healthy tissues around." 

Major components of MINIMA 

The UCL researchers used a mouse model to show the three major components of MINIMA: precise seed imaging, navigation through brain tissue using a customized MRI system that was monitored to within 0.3 mm precision, and eliminating the tumor by heating it. Ferromagnetic thermoseeds are round, 2 mm in diameter, and constructed of a metal alloy. They are implanted superficially in tissue before being guided to the tumor. 

MRI scanners are widely used in hospitals across the world and are essential in the diagnosis of illnesses like cancer. MINIMA does have the potential to transform an MRI scanner from a diagnostic tool to a therapeutic platform, according to research conducted at UCL. 

To increase awareness about this disease, World Cancer Day is celebrated on 4th February worldwide.