Botox helps to cope with cancer
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Recent studies on laboratory rodents have shown that Botox injections, which are so popular among celebrities, can not only rejuvenate the face, but also help in the fight against cancerous tumors, particularly with stomach cancer.
A group of researchers found that stomach cancer becomes more vulnerable to chemotherapy, and the growth of cancer cells slows down when nerve endings around the tumor are blocked.
A team of specialists from the University of Science and Technology in Norway and the Columbia Institute proved that the nervous system plays a significant role in the development of malignant formation, and when the nerve endings that are located around the tumor are blocked, the process of reproduction of cancer cells can be significantly slowed down.
In the course of their studies, to block nerve endings in laboratory rodents, scientists injected a neurotoxin botulinum toxin, better known as Botox and often used by beauticians for facelift. In cosmetology, Botox injections are quite popular cosmetic procedures that allow for a relatively short time to return the skin to youthfulness and beauty. Botox action is based on temporary paralysis of facial muscles, which allows to smooth and reduce the number of wrinkles.
Experts in their experiments used several dozen rodents who had a cancerous stomach tumor, similar to the one that develops in humans.
Scientists divided the experimental into three groups. In the first group of rodents, nerve endings were cut in the region of the stomach with the help of surgical intervention; in the second group, nerve endings that connected only one half of the stomach to the central nervous system were cut; in the third group, botox injections were used to completely disrupt the conduction of the vagus nerves.
As a result, experts concluded that in the first and third groups of rodents, where the connection of the stomach with the central nervous system was completely blocked, there was a slowdown in tumor growth. In the second group, the tumor ceased to develop only in that part of the stomach where the connection with the CNS was discontinued, in the remaining part of the stomach the tumor continued to progress quite rapidly.
In the opinion of the research group, the revealed effect is probably due to the fact that during the termination of the organ's connection with the CNS, acetylcholine ceases to enter the tumor, which provides a link between the organ and the brain and promotes the reproduction of cancer cells.
International experts have proved that such anti-cancer therapy is effective only at the initial stages of the disease.
But experts do not intend to stop the research and plans to study the effects of botox treatment in combination with chemotherapy.
Also, experts believe that botox therapy is the best option for cancer treatment due to the fact that it is used locally. The introduction of Botox can be carried out by gastroscopy (by means of a thin tube, carried into the stomach through the oral cavity). The treatment will take several hours, in addition, there is no need for a long stay of the patient in the hospital.
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