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		</div><p>A British woman has become the first in the world to be treated with a revolutionary new therapy which injects a high dose of chemotherapy into cancer cells.</p>
<p>Karen Childs, from north-west London, is taking part in a clinical trial for acoustic cluster therapy to treat cancer that has spread to her liver.</p>
<p>During the therapy, clusters of microdroplets and microbubbles are injected into the patient at the same time as chemotherapy, where they work to enhance its delivery.</p>
<p>Ultrasound scans are used to ensure the clusters “pump” the drug into the tumour, meaning substantially more chemotherapy reaches cancer cells.</p>
<p>Experts hope the technique will mean patients have fewer doses of chemotherapy in the future, reducing the risk of side-effects.</p>
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<p>The new treatment is being trialled by the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in London and the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust.</p>
<p>Ms Childs, who was diagnosed with cancer in November 2013, said: <em>“I’m not sure it’s sunk in yet that I’m the very first patient in the world to be receiving this new treatment.</em></p>
<p><em>“This trial is an exciting step for the hospital and a huge step for patients like me.</em></p>
<p><em>“It really would make a big difference to patients’ lives if side-effects could be reduced in the future using more targeted treatments like this.</em></p>
<p><em>“It’s an incredible opportunity to be on this trial and the staff at the Royal Marsden have been amazing and very supportive.”</em></p>
<p>The aim of the clinical trial, which is still in its early stages, is to provide data on the effectiveness of the treatment as well as to establish its safety.</p>
<p>The therapy is being used to treat patients with tumours in the liver that have spread from the bowel or pancreas.</p>
<p>Eventually, the technique could be used to reduce the size of tumours before surgery – making them removable and potentially offering more patients a cure.</p>
<p>The clinical trial is largely funded by Phoenix Solutions, which developed the technique, and the Research Council of Norway.</p>
<p>Jeffrey Bamber, professor in physics applied to medicine, who led the work to develop and evaluate the technology at the ICR, said: <em>“We’re delighted that our work on innovative acoustic cluster therapy – which is designed to overcome barriers to drug delivery that tumours develop – has progressed to the point where the technology is now being assessed in patients for the first time.</em></p>
<p><em>“It’s a very exciting ‘door-opening’ technology which concentrates more of the drug in the tumour.</em></p>
<p><em>“We expect eventually to be able to both treat tumours more effectively and reduce the rate and severity of side effects.</em></p>
<p><em>“In the long term, we hope this technology will be of particular benefit in difficult-to-treat tumours, such as those of the pancreas.</em></p>
<p><em>“It may also assist new types of treatments such as immunotherapy.”</em></p>
<p>Professor Udai Banerji, deputy director of drug development at the ICR and Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said: <em>“We’re hopeful we can help open up a much-needed new option for patients with hard-to-treat advanced cancer.</em></p>
<p><em>“This trial is a real cross-team effort involving radiologists, physicists and nurses who all work together to provide the treatment and support the patient throughout the process.”</em></p>
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