On Target: UNC Researcher Arms Platelets to Deliver Cancer Immunotherapy
Wednesday, January 25, 2017 - 16:01
in Health & Medicine
After surgery to remove a cancerous tumor - even if the surgery is considered "successful" - it's nearly impossible to ensure that all microtumors have been removed from the surgical site. Cancer recurrence is always a major concern. Meanwhile, tiny blood cells called platelets rush in to start the post-surgical healing process. What if those platelets could carry anti-cancer drugs to wipe out those microtumors? UNC and NC State scientists have developed a way to do just that, and they have shown success in animal studies, published today in Nature Biomedical Engineering.