Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in cancer treatment: a novel light therapy capable of killing cancer cells in just 30 minutes. Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin developed this innovative method, which utilizes invisible infrared light from LED bulbs in conjunction with nanoscopic flakes of tin oxide (SnOx nanoflakes) to precisely target and eliminate cancerous cells while sparing healthy tissue.

The treatment involves exposing test tubes containing human skin cancer or colon cancer cells, along with healthy human skin cells, to infrared light. Critically, these tubes also contained SnOx nanoflakes, which are selectively absorbed by the cancer cells. When the infrared light is fired, the nanoflakes absorb the light and rapidly heat up, transforming into 'microscopic heaters.' This localized heat damages the cancer cells, leading to their demise, while leaving the surrounding healthy cells largely unharmed. After a mere 30 minutes of treatment, the researchers observed that up to 92 percent of skin cancer cells and 50 percent of colon cancer cells were killed, with minimal impact on healthy cells.

This new light therapy, a form of photothermal therapy (PTT), offers significant advantages over conventional cancer treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Traditional methods often harm healthy cells, either through direct removal or by damaging their DNA and interfering with cell division, leading to debilitating side effects such as hair loss, fatigue, nausea, a weakened immune system, and pain. In contrast, this LED-based therapy precisely targets cancerous cells, promising fewer side effects and a safer alternative.

Dr. Jean Anne Incorvia, a nanodevice researcher who led the study at the University of Texas at Austin, emphasized the goal: "Our goal was to create a treatment that is not only effective but also safe and accessible. With the combination of LED light and SnOx nanoflakes, we've developed a method to precisely target cancer cells while leaving healthy cells untouched." This approach is also more cost-effective than existing photothermal therapies, which typically rely on expensive specialized lasers and are limited to specialist facilities. The use of LED lights could make this treatment more widely available.

The research, published in the journal ACS Nano, detailed that the temperature of the nanoparticles rose by 66 degrees Fahrenheit (19 degrees Celsius) within 30 minutes of light exposure. This localized heating disrupts and damages the cancer cell's internal structure, denatures proteins, and disrupts its membrane, leading to cell death. There is also potential that this cell death could trigger an immune response, further prompting the body's immune system to attack remaining cancer cells.

While currently in its earliest stages and likely years away from clinical availability, the team expresses hope for its future potential. Though initially tested on skin and colon cancer cells, it is anticipated that the method could be adapted for a wider range of cancers. Dr. Artur Pinto from Porto University, also involved in the research, envisions a future where treatment, particularly for skin cancer, could move from hospitals to patients' homes, with portable devices used after surgery to destroy any residual cancer cells and reduce recurrence risk. The FDA has not yet approved photothermal therapy as a standalone cancer treatment in the US, though it is investigating several such treatments and has approved PTT for certain skin conditions.

The significance of this research is underscored by the rising incidence of certain cancers. In the US, over 5 million people are diagnosed with skin cancer annually, with approximately 9,000 deaths. Melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer, saw its rate rise from 15.1 cases per 100,000 people in 1999 to 23 per 100,000 in 2021. For colon cancer, around 152,000 people are diagnosed each year, resulting in 50,000 deaths. This disease often goes undetected until later stages when it is harder to treat, with a sharp rise observed among young adults since the mid-1990s.