Scientists in Cyprus have created a new way to treat difficult solid tumours. This new method helps overcome problems that have made cancer treatments less effective before. The research combines existing treatments to help drugs reach tumours better. Early tests show it can even get rid of advanced cancers.
Professor Dr. Fotios Bekris and his team at the Institute led this important work. Dr. Konstantina Neophytou and Dr. Stella Angeli also helped. Many aggressive tumours, like pancreatic cancer, are very dense. This density stops blood flow and oxygen. Therefore, chemotherapy drugs and other treatments cannot work as well. This also stops the body's immune system from fighting the cancer.
To solve these problems, the scientists used three known methods together. First, they use a medicine called ketotifen. This medicine helps to soften the hard tumour tissue. It also improves blood flow inside the tumour. Next, they use ultrasound. This makes the blood vessels in the tumour more open for a short time. This helps treatments enter the tumour more easily. Finally, they give standard chemotherapy.
The combination of these methods makes the tumour weaker. This allows treatments to reach all parts of the tumour. The team saw that the tumours became less stiff. Blood flow improved, and the tumours became smaller.
When this new method was used with other advanced treatments, the results were amazing. In tests with breast cancer, all tumours and even cancer that had spread were removed. This suggests the immune system started working better against the cancer cells. The main parts of this treatment – ketotifen, ultrasound, and chemotherapy – are already approved. This could help bring this treatment to patients faster. This new strategy from Cyprus is a big step forward in fighting cancer. The European Research Council gave €1.5 million for this project.