The results showed that this approach eliminated tumors in most of the treated mice and significantly prolonged their survival.
The tests on mice were conducted on aggressive triple-negative breast cancer cells | Photo: Elementary Science
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed an experimental technology that combines chemotherapy and phototherapy to treat advanced-stage cancers. The method, tested on mice, uses implantable particles that deliver treatment directly to the tumor site. The results showed that this approach eliminated tumors in most treated mice and significantly prolonged their survival. The research was published in the scientific journal ACS Nano.
For patients in advanced stages of the disease, treatment usually includes multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, as well as surgery. However, these methods can cause severe side effects and do not always result in complete cancer eradication. Aiming to expand treatment options, the MIT group created particles that combine two types of treatment in the same device: chemotherapy and heat generated by laser light.
✅ Click to follow Elementary Science on Instagram
The device developed by the researchers contains molybdenum disulfide nanosheets, a material that converts laser light into heat. When heated, these particles can destroy nearby cancer cells, a technique known as phototherapy. Additionally, each particle is embedded with chemotherapy drugs that are released locally during treatment, reducing the common side effects of intravenous chemotherapy. In the study, the particles were designed as small cubes, 200 micrometers wide, and injected directly into the tumor site.
Ana Jaklenec, a principal investigator at MIT's Koch Institute and co-author of the study, highlighted the technology's potential for patients with aggressive tumors. According to her, the goal of the new approach is to offer a treatment option for those with limited treatment alternatives. “We want to offer control over tumor growth so that patients can have a better quality of life during this period,” says Jaklenec.
The team hopes that the synergistic effect between phototherapy and chemotherapy will prolong patients' lives more effectively than isolated treatments. To optimize the method, the researchers used machine learning algorithms to adjust the laser application time, the concentration of the phototherapy material, and the power needed to achieve the best results. This treatment cycle lasts about three minutes, during which the particles' temperature reaches around 50 degrees Celsius—enough to destroy tumor cells and release the drugs within the polymeric matrix.
The tests on mice were conducted on aggressive triple-negative breast cancer cells. In three treatment cycles, with three-day intervals, the MIT team observed complete tumor elimination and a significant increase in survival among the mice. Those receiving the combined laser treatment showed superior results compared to those undergoing only chemotherapy, phototherapy, or no treatment.
Besides being effective, the device was developed from polycaprolactone, a biocompatible material approved by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) for medical devices, suggesting potential for clinical use in humans. According to researcher Angela Belcher, another author of the study, the controlled-release system of particles at programmed intervals with near-infrared light reduces discomfort and may improve patients' adherence to treatment.
The scientists plan to continue studies in larger animal models before moving on to human clinical trials. They believe that this new technology could eventually be applied to different types of solid tumors, including metastatic cancers, offering more options and greater comfort to patients undergoing treatment.