By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Cancer Therapy Gets Small for Humans — and Animals
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Specialties > Radiology > Cancer Therapy Gets Small for Humans — and Animals
DiagnosticsRadiology

Cancer Therapy Gets Small for Humans — and Animals

Michael Lewis
Michael Lewis
Share
4 Min Read
Image
SHARE

For many decades, treatment of cancer has relied on three major modalities: surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. As a radiation oncology researcher, I am fortunate to be at the University of Missouri, where considerable emphasis has been placed on advancements among these three areas in targeted nanomedicine. Our university is the only one in the nation with a school of medicine, a college of veterinary medicine, and nuclear reactor powerful enough for specialized applications in cancer radiotherapy.

For many decades, treatment of cancer has relied on three major modalities: surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. As a radiation oncology researcher, I am fortunate to be at the University of Missouri, where considerable emphasis has been placed on advancements among these three areas in targeted nanomedicine. Our university is the only one in the nation with a school of medicine, a college of veterinary medicine, and nuclear reactor powerful enough for specialized applications in cancer radiotherapy. We are working on an initiative called One Health, One Medicine — the convergence of human and animal health care.Image

My experience in nanomedicine in research is comparatively new. I came to UM in 2000 as a member of the MU Mission Enhancement program — a forerunner to One Health, One Medicine — working in the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, to facilitate interdisciplinary research involving laboratory scientists and veterinarians. The idea was to bring new faculty members on board to build on the strengths of each campus, with a major emphasis on the life sciences.

Over the past two months, I have been working with Dave Robertson, the Associate Director for Research at MU’s Research Reactor. We have developed new nanoparticles containing a radioisotope of the element lutetium and attached to tumor-targeting peptides, supported by awards from the National Cancer Institute and the Department of Veterans Affairs and using facilities at the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital in Columbia, Missouri. We hypothesized that our nanoparticles contain large quantities of radioactive lutetium, packing a potent punch for tumor cell killing, as well as having several copies of the targeting peptide for enhanced delivery.

More Read

A Drive for Prostate Cancer Research: Dedicated Research at Sand Lake Imaging Aims to Help Cure Prostate Cancer
Choosing a Different Peer Review Vendor
Lung Cancer Part 2 – Early Diagnosis
Relationship Between Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) & Radiology Must Evolve
The Healthcare Costs Associated with Alcohol Addiction

In a short time, we demonstrated that these nanoparticles selectively accumulate in lymphoma tumor cells. Our findings forward the mission and goals of One Health, One Medicine in comparative oncology, a field involving the study of cancer in animals (primarily companion animals), with direct translation of the results of those studies to human cancer diagnosis and treatment. With this promising development, we plan to study lymphoma-bearing mice, then pet dogs with lymphoma, and hopefully one day, clinical trials in human patients.

In the field of radiopharmaceutical sciences, there is an intimate relationship between diagnosis and treatment using radiopharmaceuticals. Take, for example, small lymphocytic lymphoma/chronic lymphocytic leukemia — an incurable form of cancer in a large majority of cases calling for innovative treatments. Nanoparticle radiopharmaceuticals represent such potential treatments. We hope our findings raise awareness of interdisciplinary science by bringing laboratory scientists and clinicians together to make new discoveries in collaboration.

image: medtech/shutterstock

Original Post

 
TAGGED:cancerOne Health
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

a woman walking on the hallway
6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
Health
September 9, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
Global Healthcare
September 9, 2025
travel nurse in north carolina
Balancing Speed and Scope: Choosing the Nursing Degree That Fits Your Goals
Nursing
September 1, 2025
intimacy
How to Keep Intimacy Comfortable as You Age
Relationship and Lifestyle Senior Care
September 1, 2025

You Might also Like

Image
DiagnosticsMedical DevicesMobile HealthTechnology

mHealth: Prevention is Better Than Cure

February 9, 2013

Theranos for President?

November 17, 2015

1 in 7 Alzheimer’s Cases Could Be Prevented with Exercise

April 18, 2013
telehealth history
BusinessDiagnosticseHealthFinanceHealth ReformHome HealthMedical InnovationsPolicy & LawPublic HealthRemote DiagnosticsTechnology

The Evolution of Medicare Telehealth Reimbursement

June 12, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?