New method kill cancer cells in two hours, shows study

The non-invasive technique involves injecting nitrobenzaldehyde into the tumour

Researchers have developed a new, non-invasive method that can kill cancer cells in two hours, an advance that may significantly help people with inoperable or hard-to-reach tumours as well as young children stricken with the deadly disease.

The method involves injecting a chemical compound, nitrobenzaldehyde, into the tumour and allowing it to diffuse into the tissue.

A beam of light is then aimed at the tissue, causing the cells to become very acidic inside and, essentially, “commit suicide”, researchers said.

Within two hours, up to 95 per cent of the targeted cancer cells are dead or are estimated to be dead, they said.