Eye Cancer therapy in the form of the first indigenous Ruthenium-106

Eye Cancer therapy in the form of the first indigenous Ruthenium-106

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Sci & Tech

In news 

• Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai has developed Eye Cancer therapy in the form of the first indigenous Ruthenium 106 Plaque for treatment of Ocular Tumours.

Key takeaways 

• The handling of plaque is very convenient for the Surgeon and it has been acknowledged to be at par with the international standards.
• So far the BARC plaques made in India through the Department of Atomic Energy have been used for seven cases for Ocular Cancer.
• Ocular tumours are tumours inside the eye. They are collections of cells that grow and multiply abnormally and form masses.

Important value additions 

Ruthenium-106

• Ruthenium-106 is a radioactive form of the rare heavy metal ruthenium, which is a “platinum group” metal similar to platinum.
• Ruthenium-106 is produced from the fission or splitting of uranium-235, the type of uranium used in nuclear fission reactors, so it’s found in spent nuclear fuel.
• It’s used in medicine for cancer radiation therapy, especially for eye and skin tumours.
• It’s also used in radioisotope thermoelectric generators that power satellites.