Kanzius RF Therapy
Encyclopedia
Kanzius RF Therapy is a patented technology of ThermMed LLC, enterprise created by the late John Kanzius
. The therapy aims to insert metallic nanoparticles in or around cancerous cells and then exciting these particles using radio waves; the energy from the radio waves creates heat which burns the cancerous cell cluster.
This technique is still in developmental and experimental stages and few studies have been published on the subject. Clinical trials are expected to begin in 2012.
of cancerous cells using heat transmitted to a site marked by nanoparticles using radio waves produced by the Kanzius Machine.
and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT). While nanotubes are also nanoparticles, they are engineered as a hollow cylinder.
While the presence of nanoparticles impaired the growth of one type of cancer cell, it was shown that they were not toxic.
The cells were exposed to a 800W 13.56 MHz field for one or two minutes. The rate of cell-death was shown to be dependent on the concentration of SWNTs. At high-concentration (500 mg/L.) and long exposure (two minutes), the rate of cell destruction was essentially 100% in all cell cultures; however control groups also suffered significant damage and cell death was measured between 11% and 35%.
Other cells were exposed for a shorter period (one minute). The control groups
were not effected and the cells incubated with 100 mg/L. and 500 mg/L. of SWNT yielded a success rate ranging from 42% to 68%.
The other study used the same field at a much lower power output (10W - 100W).
In a control experiment water and a solution of water and gold nanoparticles were exposed to a 50W, 13.56 MHz field for 5 minutes. The water's temperature did not increase in a significant manner (from 23°C to approximately 28°C) while the solution containing gold nanoparticles' temperature increased significantly (from 23°C to approximately 78°C, reaching 60°C near the one-minute mark). For five minutes of exposure at power outputs of 10W, 50W and 100W, temperature changes were 18°C, 47°C and 58°C respectively. Within the same study, HepG2 cells incubated in a solution containing gold nanoparticles and a control group were exposed to a 35W, 15.58 MHz field for seven minutes. The control cells suffered a small temperature increase (5°C) while the gold-incubated cells' temperature increased by 20°C, reaching approximately 52.5°C at the seven-minute mark. Reported cell death ranged approximately from 35% to 80% for three and seven minutes of exposure respectively.
A subsequent study challenged these results by reporting that the heating was primarily due to residual ions in solution rather than the gold nanoparticles themselves. When the nanoparticles were centrifuged and redispersed in water, negligible heating was observed.
assessment revealed complete tumor necrosis and no damage to surrounding tissue; a slight temperature increase (4ºC) was observed in control subjects bearing non-inoculated tumors.
and necrosis
of cancerous tissue. At the current time the overall medical procedure is similar to conventional RF probe therapy and while the use of nanoparticles could allow a more even spread of heat within the overall tumorous tissue, it is doubtful that this advantage would justify the purchase of new equipment or the installation of infrastructures.
Furthermore the aim of the Kanzius RF Therapy is to be non-invasive, thus the systemic administration of nanoparticles is required. At this time, it is not possible to bind nanoparticles to specific sites from systemic administration. As further research is performed in the fields of nanotechnology, real-time diagnostic imaging and surgical robotics, the use of the Kanzius Machine in the pioneered process may prove useful.
, namely the intra-tumoral injection of nano-particles would still be dependent on targeting accuracy. The project wishes a systemic administration of nano-particles targeting specific cells and tissues, either by modulating the nanoparticles' physical and chemical properties and suggestion has been made to research antibody-coated nanoparticles which could allow to target specific sites.
John Kanzius
John S. Kanzius was an American inventor, radio and TV engineer, one-time station owner and ham radio operator from Erie, Pennsylvania. He invented a method that has the potential to treat virtually all forms of cancer, with no side effects, and without the need for surgery or medication...
. The therapy aims to insert metallic nanoparticles in or around cancerous cells and then exciting these particles using radio waves; the energy from the radio waves creates heat which burns the cancerous cell cluster.
This technique is still in developmental and experimental stages and few studies have been published on the subject. Clinical trials are expected to begin in 2012.
Process
The process aims to induce apoptosisApoptosis
Apoptosis is the process of programmed cell death that may occur in multicellular organisms. Biochemical events lead to characteristic cell changes and death. These changes include blebbing, cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, chromatin condensation, and chromosomal DNA fragmentation...
of cancerous cells using heat transmitted to a site marked by nanoparticles using radio waves produced by the Kanzius Machine.
Kanzius Machine
The Kanzius machine built by ThermMed LLC is composed of a variable power (0 - 2 KW) RF signal generator coupled to the High Q system consisting of a transmitting and receiving head. The High Q system is mounted on a bracket that allows the field to be oriented horizontally or vertically and the distance between the heads is adjustable. The system generates a field that is 30 centimetres (11.8 in) in diameter with a peak intensity located within the center radius that is 7 centimetres (2.8 in).Nanoparticles
Nanoparticles are very small particles of a given substance; smoke is usually a cloud of nanoparticles. The laboratory tests used colloidal goldColloidal gold
Colloidal gold is a suspension of sub-micrometre-sized particles of gold in a fluid — usually water. The liquid is usually either an intense red colour , or a dirty yellowish colour ....
and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT). While nanotubes are also nanoparticles, they are engineered as a hollow cylinder.
Current research
Two studies have been published regarding the topic, the first one published in 2007 by the University of Texas, the second in 2009 by the University of Pittsburgh.Toxicity of carbon nanotubes
In order to assess the effectiveness of the experimental treatment, the toxicity of SWNTs was assessed, this to ensure that the results obtained were not from the nanoparticles themselves but rather from the application of the radio frequencies.While the presence of nanoparticles impaired the growth of one type of cancer cell, it was shown that they were not toxic.
In vitro testing
In the first study cells were incubated in solutions containing Kentera, Kentera and carbon single-walled nanotubes (SWNT), and a neutral medium. Bright-field and near-IR fluorescence microscopy confirmed the presence of SWNTs on the surface and in the cytoplasm of cultured cells.The cells were exposed to a 800W 13.56 MHz field for one or two minutes. The rate of cell-death was shown to be dependent on the concentration of SWNTs. At high-concentration (500 mg/L.) and long exposure (two minutes), the rate of cell destruction was essentially 100% in all cell cultures; however control groups also suffered significant damage and cell death was measured between 11% and 35%.
Other cells were exposed for a shorter period (one minute). The control groups
Scientific control
Scientific control allows for comparisons of concepts. It is a part of the scientific method. Scientific control is often used in discussion of natural experiments. For instance, during drug testing, scientists will try to control two groups to keep them as identical and normal as possible, then...
were not effected and the cells incubated with 100 mg/L. and 500 mg/L. of SWNT yielded a success rate ranging from 42% to 68%.
The other study used the same field at a much lower power output (10W - 100W).
In a control experiment water and a solution of water and gold nanoparticles were exposed to a 50W, 13.56 MHz field for 5 minutes. The water's temperature did not increase in a significant manner (from 23°C to approximately 28°C) while the solution containing gold nanoparticles' temperature increased significantly (from 23°C to approximately 78°C, reaching 60°C near the one-minute mark). For five minutes of exposure at power outputs of 10W, 50W and 100W, temperature changes were 18°C, 47°C and 58°C respectively. Within the same study, HepG2 cells incubated in a solution containing gold nanoparticles and a control group were exposed to a 35W, 15.58 MHz field for seven minutes. The control cells suffered a small temperature increase (5°C) while the gold-incubated cells' temperature increased by 20°C, reaching approximately 52.5°C at the seven-minute mark. Reported cell death ranged approximately from 35% to 80% for three and seven minutes of exposure respectively.
A subsequent study challenged these results by reporting that the heating was primarily due to residual ions in solution rather than the gold nanoparticles themselves. When the nanoparticles were centrifuged and redispersed in water, negligible heating was observed.
In vivo testing
In two separate studies animal subjects were administered an intratumoral injection of nanoparticles before being exposed to the field. In one case subjects were exposed to a 800W 13.58 MHz field for two minutes. Complete tumor necrosis was observed along with a zone of thermal injury that is anywhere from 2 millimetre (0.078740157480315 in) to 5 millimetre (0.196850393700787 in). zone of thermal injury surrounding the tumor clusters that were 1 centimetre (0.393700787401575 in) to 1.3 centimetre (0.511811023622047 in). In the second study subjects were exposed to a 35W 13.6 MHz field for 7 minutes. The histologicalHistology
Histology is the study of the microscopic anatomy of cells and tissues of plants and animals. It is performed by examining cells and tissues commonly by sectioning and staining; followed by examination under a light microscope or electron microscope...
assessment revealed complete tumor necrosis and no damage to surrounding tissue; a slight temperature increase (4ºC) was observed in control subjects bearing non-inoculated tumors.
Human clinical trials
At the time of publication (2009), the Pittsburgh study stated that clinical trials should begin within three to four years.Effectiveness
It has been demonstrated that the physical process is sound and produces results capable of inducing thermal apoptosisApoptosis
Apoptosis is the process of programmed cell death that may occur in multicellular organisms. Biochemical events lead to characteristic cell changes and death. These changes include blebbing, cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, chromatin condensation, and chromosomal DNA fragmentation...
and necrosis
Necrosis
Necrosis is the premature death of cells in living tissue. Necrosis is caused by factors external to the cell or tissue, such as infection, toxins, or trauma. This is in contrast to apoptosis, which is a naturally occurring cause of cellular death...
of cancerous tissue. At the current time the overall medical procedure is similar to conventional RF probe therapy and while the use of nanoparticles could allow a more even spread of heat within the overall tumorous tissue, it is doubtful that this advantage would justify the purchase of new equipment or the installation of infrastructures.
Furthermore the aim of the Kanzius RF Therapy is to be non-invasive, thus the systemic administration of nanoparticles is required. At this time, it is not possible to bind nanoparticles to specific sites from systemic administration. As further research is performed in the fields of nanotechnology, real-time diagnostic imaging and surgical robotics, the use of the Kanzius Machine in the pioneered process may prove useful.
Future research
The Kanzius RF Therapy aims to be non-invasive and is currently subject to the same limitations as conventional radiofrequency ablationRadiofrequency ablation
Radio frequency ablation is a medical procedure where part of the electrical conduction system of the heart, tumor or other dysfunctional tissue is ablated using the heat generated from the high frequency alternating current to treat a medical disorder...
, namely the intra-tumoral injection of nano-particles would still be dependent on targeting accuracy. The project wishes a systemic administration of nano-particles targeting specific cells and tissues, either by modulating the nanoparticles' physical and chemical properties and suggestion has been made to research antibody-coated nanoparticles which could allow to target specific sites.