Ion pump shows potential to treat brain tumours

This is the claim of researchers at Linköping University, Sweden, and the Medical University of Graz, Austria, who have shown in cells in culture that an ion pump can deliver drugs more accurately. The scientists used cells from glioblastoma, a common and aggressive type of cancer that occurs in the brain and their results have been published in Advanced Materials Technologies.

New brain scan tech could improve tumour removal

"This is the first time an ion pump has been tested as a possible method to treat malignant brain tumours. We used cancer cells in the lab, and the results are extremely promising. However, it will probably take five to ten years before we see this new technology used in treatments for brain tumours", said Daniel Simon, associate professor at the Laboratory of Organic Electronics at the Department of Science and Technology at Linköping University.

Surgical removal of brain tumours often leaves small parts of the tumour behind, which can require chemotherapy to stop the cancer recurring.