Chemotherapy must be replaced with gold-based nanoparticles: scientist

CAIRO – 14 March 2018: Chemotherapy has a disastrous side effect for cancer patients, as it does not only kill cancer cells, but also damages healthy cells and can lead to death, according to Mostafa al-Sayed, professor at Georgia Institute of Technology in the United States.

During the Summit of Nanotechnology at the British University in Cairo on Wednesday, Sayed added that tiny flecks of gold could be used in the fight against cancer, as they interact easily with body tissues and completely kill cancer.

Sayed further remarked that treatment with gold-based nanoparticles is effective because as the gold nanoparticles react highly to light exposure, the temperature of the particles increases, completely killing the cancer cells that cannot be transferred to another place in the body.

He further explained that the research team had used rats for their first stage of the tests, before treating pets, including cats and dogs, in the second stage.

The animal testing for the cancer treatment using gold has concluded that there were no side effects or poisonous effects in the first stage, based on blood sample tests of some animals.

However, Sayed added that the effects of the gold treatment on human beings have not been shown yet.

Many efforts have been achieved to raise awareness among Egyptians about cancer symptoms, particularly breast cancer, and how to treat many of the types of cancer.

The Board of Directors of Assuit University approved the establishment of a new hospital of oncology in Assuit, the 2020 Hospital, due to the increase in the number of cancer patients.

Cancer is the cause of one in six deaths around the world; however, it is no longer a death sentence with prevention, timely diagnosis and quick treatment.

Governments around the globe are helping in the fight against cancer by placing higher taxes on tobacco and alcohol, while campaigning for the public to take on healthy diets and lifestyles; an estimated 30-50 percent of cancers can be prevented if these are followed, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).