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MU’s nuclear
research reactor is the nation’s highest powered
university reactor and one of the largest producers in
the nation of radioisotopes used in the treatment and
research of cancer. The reactor core, above, produces
neutrons used in research. Photo courtesy of MU Publications
and Alumni Communication
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Expanding
the Cancer Arsenal
By Amy Kerkstra
Each year, thousands of cancer patients
around the world receive treatment that began with research
at the University of Missouri-Columbia Research
Reactor (MURR). In recent years, MURR has made significant
breakthroughs in cancer treatments. Scientists have helped develop
three specific radiopharmaceuticals to combat the disease. The
recent arrival of state-of-the-art technology will allow MURR
to expand its capabilities to fight cancer.
Two new hot cells, which are enclosed, shielded
units that allow researchers to work safely with radioactive
material, were installed at MURR in November. The 80-ton cells
are necessary because MURR specializes in making the active
ingredients in radiopharmaceutical drugs. Radiopharmaceuticals
work by combining a radioactive isotope with a biological-targeting
molecule. Scientists use a binder, which is a non-radioactive
compound, to attach the two components. Once inside the body,
the targeting component takes control and guides the isotope
to the cancerous site where the isotope works to destroy the
cancer.
“The hot cells serve several purposes
for our research at MURR,” said Ken Brooks, assistant
director of the reactor. “First, they increase our volume
capacity to treat more patients. In addition, because each radioisotope
produced requires its own hot cell, the addition of two hot
cells will enable us to expand our research with additional
isotopes.”
The hot cells, which weigh more than a fully
loaded Boeing 737, were designed with versatility in mind.
“The cells are initially equipped
to supply the active ingredients for treating 100 percent of
U.S. multiple myeloma cancer patients (a fatal form of bone
cancer),” Brooks said. “However, the hot cells also
can easily be used to assist with any MURR-produced radioisotope,
so we are not just limited to treating bone cancer. As ongoing
research leads to new cancer targeting agents, these hot cells
could support that treatment.”
MURR is the largest university-owned research
reactor in the world, and, as such, is capable of producing
the active ingredients for many cancer-fighting drugs. It is
currently the nation’s supplier of the active ingredients
in Quadramet™ , a treatment designed to help cancer patients
fight the terrible pain associated with metastatic bone cancer,
and TheraSphere™ , which is used to treat liver cancer.
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Last Update:
November 15, 2007
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