Liposomes, considered the magic bay for effective drug delivery, are turning out to be molecules of immense potential, especially the engineered ones, the functions of which are now being compared to the modality adapted for use in missile technology.

The development was discussed in detail by Dr K P Mishra from the Radiation Biology and Health Science Division, BARC, Trombay while speaking on "Heat sensitive Liposomes" at the 3rd Biennial Conference on Hyperthermic Oncology and Medicine held here at Hotel Ramada Grove, Mumbai and organized by the Indian Association for Hyperthermic Oncology and Medicine (IAHOM). According to Dr Mishra, radiation in combination with heat therapy (hypethermia) is the favored choice in treating patients suffering from cancer.

"The modality that the procedure adopts is marvelous given that the manner in which they function is similar to the process adapted in a missile technology. All the latest therapy does is select a molecule and lead it to a particular target. By this, even the areas inside the tumor, which were earlier difficult to protrude could now be reached and a therapy be given."

Though Liposomes are broadly categorized into the Stealth, pH sensitive and heat sensitive, the one that has tremendous scope in the future is definitely the heat sensitive liposomes, said Dr Mishra. According to him, recent studies and research that have been released compared the results to have a success rate of nearly 70-80 percent in the I and II stages and a bit lower at 30-40 per cent in the III stage of cancer.

According to Dr. Nagraj G Huilgol, secretary and incoming president of IAHOM, despite the remarkable therapeutic gains that have been demonstrated in cancer patients, Hyperthermia is still not widely recognized as a useful treatment of cancer. "There is a definite need to spread more awareness about this remarkable treatment that has shown tremendous improvement in the effectiveness of conventional therapies. Only when hyperthermia is available more widely can larger studies be performed to learn how to fully exploit its potential effect."

But for a country like India where the disease is detected at the terminal stages, more research cannot be carried out due to the constraints encountered. Also the costly equipments and human subjects required to carry out the trials are the other limitations that have to be tackled before any further progress could be made. But according to Dr Huilgol this too will get moving as many hospitals and centers are now in the process of establishing hyperthermia centers in and around the country.