Radioactive Lead May Treat Cancer including Mesothelioma

Radioactive lead may treat cancer. This is if researchers at Areva Med in France succeeds in their experiment as they try to explore this procedure as a more effective treatment to cancers, including ovarian, gastric, pancreatic, cancers, especially the most dreaded of them all, mesothelioma cancers.

Areva’s research, as noted by AFP, features the use of the Pb212 isotope in fighting against antagonistic cancers. However, this isotope can be found only in very rare metals, like thorium. Only very few countries have stocks of this radioactive metal.

The study began in 2003, when researchers decided extracting the isotope when they had hints that this rare element is indeed effective in cancer treatment. When they saw signs of promise, Areva opened a medical affiliate in U.S. in 2009, continually working with the Pb212 in the U.S.

In 2011, together with physicians at the University of Alabama, Areva Med started the first phase of the clinical trial using radioimmunotherapy. The first of the 18 test patients started with therapy in April 2012. Areva Med chief Patrick Bourdet noted that the trial has been going well. If the progress goes on, Areva believes that their findings could be of long-term use.

Areva has teamed with Swiss drug-maker Roche to produce the said isotopes. A Pb212 production laboratory will be constructed in France’s Limousin region and is set to open before 2013 ends.

 “It’s truly an extremely targeted anti-cancer therapy that could fight many forms of cancer, even metastasized,” Bourdet explained. Since the isotopes only target the cancer cells, therefore, the healthy cells won’t have to suffer the side effects.

Bourdet also stated that the drug may be ready in 2016, since “Everything’s going well so far.” But while the team is “confident and optimistic” they are still cautiously waiting “[for] the results of the science.”