UK Health Radio Medical News Update – On the Hour - Botox and Cancer Treatment

UK Health Radio Medical News Update – On the Hour

Botox and Cancer Treatment

Interesting news today from the BBC that suggests that Botox injections - used by those seeking a wrinkle-free face, has been found, in animal tests, to be of help in fighting cancer.

The study, published in Science Translational Medicine, showed that nerves were involved in the process of stomach cancers growth.

Research on mice found that using the toxin to kill nerves could lead to a halt of the growth of stomach tumours and could make them more vulnerable to chemotherapy.

Cancer Research UK said it was still early days and it was unclear whether the injections could ultimately help to save lives.

Botox is usually used in the fight against the signs of ageing, not cancer an in it cosmetic application, the toxin works by disrupting nerve functions that in turn relax muscles and even out wrinkle.  But a growing body of work suggests that nerve involvement may also help fuel cancer growth.

When asked if this would be a cure for cancer, one of the scientists, Dr Timothy Wang, told the BBC: "If you just cut nerves is it going to cure cancer? Probably not. At least in an early phase, if you disrupt the nerve the tumour becomes much more responsive to chemotherapy, so we don't see this as a single cure, but a move that will make current and future treatments more effective."

Amanda Thomas

UK Health Radio Medical News Update

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