Cancer-killing orthopaedic paste gets £110k grant

Made from gallium-doped bioglass, the paste could treat patients with primary and metastatic bone cancer. The material will be designed to be injected into bones following the removal of tumours, targeting residual cancer cells. 

Recent tests on the gallium bioglass by scientists at Aston University showed that it eliminated cancer cells in the lab with 99 per cent success and helped diseased bones to regenerate. The material also has antibacterial properties, preventing contamination around the surgical site.

“Advances in treatment of bone cancer have reached a plateau over the past 40 years, in part due to a lack of research studies into treatments and the complexity and challenges that come with treating bone tumours,” said research lead Dr Lucas Souza, research lab manager at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital’s Dubrowsky Lab.

“Innovative and effective therapeutic approaches are needed and this grant from Orthopaedic Research UK provides vital funds for us to continue our research into the use of gallium-doped bioglass in the treatment of bone cancer.”