Researchers Chiang and Hui granted NIH Trailblazer Award to pioneer cancer treatment through microbubble-targeted therapy
In a groundbreaking development, a team of researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) led by Dr. Jason Chiang and Dr. James Hui are set to revolutionise the field of microbubble-based theranostics. Their aim is to open the door to a new generation of targeted treatments for cancer, starting with liver cancer.
Currently, conventional drug and antibody conjugation methods have limitations. The process of attaching antibodies is uncontrolled, leading to inconsistencies in treatment efficacy. However, the UCLA team has devised a solution to this problem. They have developed a method to attach drugs and antibodies to microbubbles using light, offering a more gentle and site-specific way to label these microbubbles.
Microbubbles, tiny gas-filled spheres visible on ultrasound imaging, are often used as contrast agents in diagnostic imaging. When combined with tumor-targeting antibodies and cancer-fighting drugs, these microbubbles can help clinicians both visualise and precisely treat tumours. The researchers plan to use catheter-based techniques for delivering these microbubbles directly into the vessels feeding the tumour. Once in place, the team will employ focused ultrasound to burst the microbubbles and release their drug payload exactly where it is needed.
The funding for this innovative research comes from a $630,000 Trailblazer Award from the National Institutes of Health. The funding will support the development and testing of these targeted, drug-loaded microbubbles in preclinical models of liver cancer. The goal is to maximise tumour intake and minimise side effects with this approach.
The team will evaluate how well the microbubbles bind to tumours, how much drug they deliver, and whether the treatment improves outcomes compared to standard approaches. If successful, this work could potentially transform how cancer is seen and treated, making every diagnostic imaging session an opportunity for targeted therapy.
Dr. Jason Chiang and Dr. James Hui are assistant professors of Radiological Sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. As investigators at the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, they are part of interdisciplinary teams of biomedical engineers, oncologists, and interventional radiologists, typically found in leading research universities or medical centres specialising in oncology and medical imaging.
This exciting research is a significant step forward in the fight against liver cancer. With continued support and development, the potential for microbubble-based theranostics to change the landscape of cancer treatment is immense.
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