Source: image.dhgate.com
Researchers at the National Polytechnic Institute (Instituto Politécnico Nacional, IPN) in Mexico have reduced up to 85 percent of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection in patients through a therapy called photodynamic (PDT), which noninvasively targets only localized malignant cells.
Dr. Eva Ramon Gallegos, researcher at the IPN’s National School of Biological Sciences (ENCB), explains that photodynamic therapy is a noninvasive technique. Unlike other treatments, this treatment only removes damaged cells with no effect on healthy structures, according with a study performed in 420 patients in Oaxaca, Veracruz and Mexico City. Based on these results, Ramon Gallegos believes that “it has great potential to reduce the rate of cervical cancer mortality in the country“.
“Initially we conducted pap smears and colposcopy studies, detecting genomic sequences of HPV through tests called hybrid capture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), as well as biopsies, in order to diagnose premalignant lesions or infection in 900 women between 25 and 40 years old. Of these, 420 had problems and were treated. After therapy, we repeated the studies, corroborating the success of the procedure,” Ramon Gallegos explained, who is the head of the environmental cytopathology laboratory at the department morphology.
Elizabeth Maldonado Alvarado, who obtained her Doctor of Science (ScD) degree with this research, said that the therapy involves the application of a drug in the cervix, which the cells transform into protoporphyrin IX (photosensitive molecule). However, only HPV-infected cells specifically accumulate this molecule compared to the surrounding healthy cells. So, only the structures impregnated with fluorescent chemical are removed with a special laser system.
As it is a very safe method and not causes side effects, it was applied to patients three times. The irradiation time depended on the size of the cervix. Monitoring was conducted in patients after three, six and one year of treatment. Finally, all the diagnostic studies were repeated, proving the success of the procedure.
Head of the research Ramon Gallegos has developed it over 20 years. First, she proved her hypothesis in cell lines and then in mice. Now, in clinical trials involving 420 patients, she has proven that photodynamic therapy can reduce 85 percent of HPV infection. Furthermore, she said that they also found that vaginosis (bacterial infection) declined 90 percent in the patients, and the cervix did not suffer any deformation, as happens with other treatments.
Eva Ramón y Elizabeth Maldonado recommended incorporating PCR tests in the country’s health system to massively scanning the population, since it is more sensitive and helps reducing the number of false negatives of HPV.
Also, they ensure that knowledge was transferred to the communities involved and a publication in an international medical journal has been already approved.
Source: Agencia ID
