Magnetic Hyperthermia-Mediated Cancer Therapy (MHCT)

Magnetic Hyperthermia-Mediated Cancer Therapy (MHCT)

Part of: GS-Prelims and GS-III – Science and Technology

In News:

• Efforts are being made to make magnetic hyperthermia-mediated cancer therapy as desired therapy for inoperable tumours.

Important value additions 

Magnetic hyperthermia-mediated cancer therapy (MHCT) 

• It is a non-invasive cancer treatment.
• The technique: Delivery and localisation of magnetic materials within the targeted tumour site followed by subsequent application of an alternating magnetic field (AMF), thereby generating heat at the tumour site.
• It can efficiently act against deep-seated inaccessible solid tumours like glioblastoma (aggressive type of cancer that can occur in the brain or spinal cord)
• It is highly thermo-sensitive towards normal cells with minimal toxicity against healthy counterparts.
• Scientists are on the lookout for new materials which can make this treatment more efficient.