At its core, PERSEUS is all about revolutionising how we treat some of the hardest-to-manage cancers.

These include cancers that have spread to other parts of the body, resist current drugs, or are deeply buried inside the body where usual treatments can’t reach effectively.

Here’s how PERSEUS is breaking new ground in cancer care:

PERSEUS develops a new kind of cancer treatment using microscopic, cutting-edge flakes of materials known as nanocrystals. These are so small that they can reach into the smallest blood vessels in the body.

How it works

This treatment involves special nanosystems comprising various nanocrystals. When they are activated by a CT scan – a common type of medical imaging technique – they can treat cancer in several ways without causing much harm to the rest of the body.

A CT scan as the trigger

PERSEUS won’t use CT scanners just for looking inside the body: CT scanners will activate the nanosystems right at the cancer site. This should make it a precise, targeted treatment.

The action of nanocrystals

Once activated, nanocrystals can do a few remarkable things. They can heat up the cancer cells, generate highly reactive chemicals containing oxygen, that kill cancer cells, and make cancer cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. They can probably even help the body’s immune system recognize and fight cancer (abscopal effect).

Reaching the unreachable

Many current treatments can’t effectively target cancers deep within the body. PERSEUS changes this by using X-rays from the CT scan, which can reach these deep-seated tumors.

Safe and specific

The nanocrystals are designed to be safe and only active when hit by the CT scan’s X-rays. This means they won’t affect other parts of the body unnecessarily, reducing side effects.

Versatile and Inclusive

This treatment doesn’t depend on the type of cancer or the patient’s gender. It’s a versatile approach that aims to be effective for a variety of cancers including some particularly challenging types, like triple-negative breast cancer and pancreatic cancer.

Collaborative effort

The project brings together experts from different fields – like physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, and more – to develop this innovative treatment, ensuring a well-rounded and thorough approach to cancer therapy.

In summary, PERSEUS is pioneering a unique and potentially game-changing method of treating difficult cancers, offering hope for cases where current treatments fall short.