Current cancer therapies require the need for preferential killing of malignant cells over normal cells. Hyperthermia offers hope in this area. However, since the body's response to therapy varies from person to person, and also varies during treatment as the heat affects the vascular system, it is exceedingly difficult to control the temperature during this treatment. Thermistors placed within the tumor conduct heat and electromagnetic waves away from the test area, and therefore must be removed prior to heating and then reinserted periodically during treatment. This program offers new hope by developing injectable, biodegradable temperature sensors, which are expandable microbubbles. These encapsulated microbubble temperature sensors are smaller than red blood cells, remain integral during use, and are phagocytized after testing. Sensors can also be guided into the tumor area magnetically following a venous injection. The output of the system can be integrated into the heating system to control temperatures during hyperthermia procedures.Awardee's statement of the potential commercial applications of the research:The American Cancer Society estimates that 1 million people are being treated for cancer, and many are treated using hyperthermia. The technology is aimed at precise measurement of temperature by introducing biodegradable agents into the tumor and using a methodology which does not interfere with hyperthermia. If the technology is demonstrated to be efficacious and safe, a substantial business opportunity would exist.National Cancer Institute (NCI)
