Space Research Shines Life-Saving Light
ew hope for children with cancer and the operating technique
of the future may be the results of experiments of a NASA plant growth light probe
developed for photo-dynamic cancer therapy under a NASA Small Business Innovative
Research program grant managed by the Technology Transfer Office at Marshall
Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama.
A treatment technique called Photodynamic Therapy is using tiny pinhead-size Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)—developed for NASA Space Shuttle plant growth experiments—to activate light-sensitive, tumor-treating drugs. Experiments indicate that when special tumor-fighting drugs are illuminated with LEDs, the tumors are more effectively destroyed than with conventional surgery.
With Food and Drug Administration approval, a drug called Photofrin II is injected into the patient's bloodstream. The drug attaches to, and permeates, the unwanted tissue without affecting surrounding tissue. The solid-state LED probe is placed near this permeated tissue, illuminating the tumor and activating the drug to destroy the tumor cells and leaving tender brain stem tissues virtually untouched.
"The LED technology developed by NASA offers new hope to children with cancer," said Dr. Harry Whelan, pediatric neurologist of the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, and professor of neurology at the Medical College of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. "Every one of our cases will be a critical case with no hopeful alternatives. We think this new probe will help give children with tumors a chance to live healthy, happy lives."
"NASA has played a number of important roles," Dr. Whelan said. "NASA has funded the development of these LEDs for space research over the years," he added. "If it wasn't for the pre-existence of all that technology, it wouldn't have been possible for us to walk right in and use it to treat cancer."
Unlike lasers and other light sources treating cancer, the LED unit can be purchased for a fraction of the cost of a laser. The advantages of the LED probe are its compact size, use for hours at a time, remains cool to the touch and is more mechanically reliable.
After Whelan concludes the FDA clinical trials, he anticipates full approval of what soon could be the operating technique of the future. Further research combining LEDs and promising new drugs are showing the possibilities of deeper tumor penetration with the probe, faster reaction times and shortened patient sensitivities to sunlight.
For more information, contact Bob Lessels at Marshall Space
Flight Center.
Call (205) 544-6539,
Fax (205) 544-4810, E-mail bob.lessels@msfc.nasa.gov
Please mention you read about it in Innovation.
A simulation of surgical implantation of
the Light Emitting Diodes (LED) probe at the
Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. The probe
was developed for photodynamic cancer
therapy
under a NASA SBIR program grant.
The Light Emitting Diodes (LED) probe
is being prepared for surgery. The LED probe
consists of 144 tiny pinhead-size diodes,
is nine-inches long and about one-half-inch
in diameter. The small balloon aids in even
distribution of the light source.
NASA sponsored light emitting diode (LED)
development helps in cancer treatment: Dr. Harry Whelan,
Professor of Neurology and
Pediatrics-Medicine
College of Wisconsin.
