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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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Robot Worms Offer Cancer Hope

Tiny machines could identify, kill tumors early

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(Newser) – Little mechanical “worms” offer the latest hope for early detection—and eradication—of cancer. Researchers have created tiny machines that travel through the body, find tumors that are too small to see in normal scans, and then deliver drugs to kill them. The method has worked to spot tumors in mice, but it’s still years from human use, ABC reports.

The machines, called “nanoworms,” would then break down and leave the body. The snag has been creating devices that get past the body’s defenses long enough to reach tumors. Scientists from the University of California-San Diego, UC-Santa Barbara and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology discovered a design and coating that let the worms do just that—at least in mice.

In this photo provided by North Carolina State University, Breast Cancer survivors form a ribbon during halftime of the third annual Hoops for Hope basketball game in Raleigh, N.C., Feb. 10, 2008.
In this photo provided by North Carolina State University, Breast Cancer survivors form a ribbon during halftime of the third annual Hoops for Hope basketball game in Raleigh, N.C., Feb. 10, 2008.   (AP Photo/North Carolina State,Bryan D. DeBlaker)
Limited edition pink ribbon welcome mat specially designed for Carpet One Floor & Home. Twenty-five percent of U.S. sales go to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF).
Limited edition pink ribbon welcome mat specially designed for Carpet One Floor & Home. Twenty-five percent of U.S. sales go to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF).   (AP Photo)
U.S. first lady Laura Bush in Mexico for the inauguration of the US-Mexico Partnership for Breast Cancer Awareness and Research.
U.S. first lady Laura Bush in Mexico for the inauguration of the US-Mexico Partnership for Breast Cancer Awareness and Research.   (AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini)
U.S. first lady, Laura Bush, centre, poses before the Pink Majlis conversations with Emarati breast cancer survivors at the Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Monday, Oct. 22, 2007.
U.S. first lady, Laura Bush, centre, poses before the Pink Majlis conversations with Emarati breast cancer survivors at the Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Monday, Oct. 22, 2007.   (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
U.S. first lady, Laura Bush, during a breast cancer campaign at the Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Monday, Oct. 22, 2007.
U.S. first lady, Laura Bush, during a breast cancer campaign at the Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Monday, Oct. 22, 2007.   (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
Actress-model and Estee Lauder spokesperson Elizabeth Hurley speaks about Breast Cancer Awareness at a Saks Fifth Avenue store in Beverly Hills, Calif., Friday, Oct. 5, 2007.
Actress-model and Estee Lauder spokesperson Elizabeth Hurley speaks about Breast Cancer Awareness at a Saks Fifth Avenue store in Beverly Hills, Calif., Friday, Oct. 5, 2007.   (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Segmented
Segmented "nanoworms" composed of magnetic iron oxide and coated with a polymer are able to find and attach to tumors.   (UC San Diego)
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