A novel drug that is developed by Pharmacologists in Sweden is used to treat the side effects caused after chemotherapy to the cancer patients. The drug is known as calmangafodipir. Mangafodipir is initially used in magnetic resonance scans as a media.It is also a fact that it not only protects against the side effects of chemotherapy but also protects the healthy and normal cells. Usually cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy or radiation therapy are prone to secondary infections. The reason could be due to the decrease in white blood cell count in the blood.
Pharmacologists have conducted experiments and checked it in mice which are infected with cancer. Mice were subjected to chemotherapy and mangafodipir was injected to it. Surprisingly they found that cancer cells were decreased and there was no change in the WBC count. The striking feature was the excess release of manganese.Manganese was found to be dangerous as it may cause brain damage.
Hence again studies were conducted and researchers were successful in replacing the manganese with calcium. Finally calcium was very stable in protecting the WBC cells without any accumulation.
As a result scientists were fruitful in protecting the cancer patients from side effects. The best example is treatment of colon cancer patients. This drug is marketed under the trade name PledOx®.
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