When a cancer becomes resistant to chemotherapyTreatment of cancer patients with anticancer drugs. Commonly called 'chemo'. These drugs work by attacking cell growth or division. Often these agents are used in combination to take advantage of their different modes of attack on cell division., the patient's prognosis worsens. Overcoming drug resistance is key to improving patient survival. Recent studies have shown that improving drug delivery may prove a key step in fighting certain resistant cancers, such as recurrent breast and liver cancer. Researchers have discovered that complexing nanodiamonds (ND) with the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin (Dox) decreases tumor growth and increases cancer cell apoptosisAlso called programmed cell death. Apoptosis is a natural process that occurs throughout the lives of almost all animals and plants. The death of the cells is a carefully controlled process that does not generate any inflammation. (natural cell suicide) in mouse models of liver and mammary carcinomas. Today, Dox is delivered without being conjugated with ND. Although often effective, Dox can cause serious toxic side effects, including heart damage. In addition to improving anti-cancer therapy, complexing ND with Dox appears to reduce the toxic side effects.
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