On November 6, 2007, I wrote about an inventor named John Kanzius, who has invented a machine he thinks will be able to cure many kinds of cancers. His machine uses radio waves to heat up metal nanoparticles that have been injected into a patient’s body, and chemically targeted to attach themselves to cancer cells.This past Sunday, CBS News’ 60 Minutes show highlighted Kanzius’ work. The segment told how well-respected researchers at two major cancer centers are currently running experiments to see if there’s anything to it. So far, they’re feeling encouraged.
It seems incredible that a retired guy tinkering in his garage could come up with a cure for cancer, but stranger things have happened in the world of inventions.
In some ways, Kanzius’ idea is similar to the radioimmunotherapy drugs Bexxar and Zevalin – only, instead of using radioactive particles bonded to a targeting agent like the monoclonal antibody rituximab, it would use non-radioactive particles of ordinary metal, then let radio waves heat those particles, cooking the malignant cells to death from within.
It all depends on the delivery system: getting those microscopic particles of metal to burrow into the cancer cells. Rituximab can probably do it – which could be good news for blood cancer patients.
It’s an intriguing idea, although still not ready for prime time. CLICK HERE for the 60 Minutes segment.
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