Indonesian microbiologist Leenawaty Limantara is developing a new cancer treatment that costs only one-fifth of traditional chemotherapy and is safer…
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| Cancer cells have “mimicked” the functions of brain cells to survive (Image: VNN) |
Through her research on the production and use of bacteriochlorophyll via photosynthesis, Leenawaty Limantara, a graduate of the University of Munich, was recently awarded the 12th annual prize from the Indonesian National Science Foundation.
In her acceptance speech, Limantara explained that photodynamic therapy (PDT) specifically targets tumors and cancer cells. This therapy differs from traditional chemotherapy, which can affect healthy tissues.
With PDT, patients will initially receive phytobacteria – the substance bacteriochlorophyll – either orally (in liquid or tablet form) or injected intravenously.
Bacteriochlorophyll acts as a sensitizing agent, making cancer cells highly sensitive to specific light, especially infrared light. The infrared light will then kill the cancer cells. Afterward, patients with bacteriochlorophyll will be treated with infrared light.
Leenawaty, who is currently a lecturer at Satya Wacana Christian University in Salatiga (Central Java, Indonesia), stated that this therapy costs only one-fifth of traditional chemotherapy. Currently, the cost for a single chemotherapy session in Indonesia is approximately 10 million Rp.
She mentioned that the most significant expense for this new PDT is purchasing the necessary equipment for the therapy.
The total cost of this therapy depends on where and how the bacteriochlorophyll is produced. However, the bacteria can proliferate easily in this environment. Bacteriochlorophyll is more challenging to cultivate and safer than chlorophyll chemically extracted from plants, as the latter can be contaminated by soil and pesticides.
PDT has successfully treated various cancers, including those of the mouth, intestines, lungs, brain, skin, eyes, and rectum. However, Leenawaty also noted that this therapy cannot cure all types of cancer. The ability to heal cancer patients depends on the type of cancer, the progression of the disease, and the patient’s immune response.
According to Leenawaty, only a few countries currently possess PDT technology, and Indonesia does not yet have this technology.
Leenawaty Limantara was recently awarded the Science and Technology Prize from the Toray National Science Foundation, along with a cash prize of 60 million Rp. Established in 1993, the National Science Foundation has been awarding annual science prizes since 1994. The foundation encourages and supports scientists and science teachers under 40 in Indonesia in the fields of biology, chemistry, and physics, providing research grants for lecturers and awards for high school science teachers. |
Minh Thương (According to Jakarta Post)
