Cold for the death of lung tumors

2013/04/18 Roa Zubia, Guillermo - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Medikuntza

Applying a hundred low-zero grade needle is an effective way to remove cells from tumors raised in the lungs. This system, cryoablation, is used with tumors of other parts of the body, mainly prostate and kidney. A team at UCLA University has studied the efficacy of the same system for cancers open to the lungs. The results were presented at the last SIR congress. Doctors put the needle into the spot where the x-ray image-guided tumor is located, where the needle is quickly cooled with a gas. This produces ice crystals in the tumor cells, clots the blood in that specific area and initiates apoptosis, that is, the death of cells. Death of cells disrupts the extent of the tumor. The effect of cold is exclusive to the area where the tumor is located, which is very important in the case of the lung, since the surrounding tissue is very sensitive. In tests conducted by the University of UCLA, after 27 sessions per patient, all tumors have died. This does not mean that the cancer is cured, but with the elimination of tumors the patient's life is expected to lengthen.