| abstract |
Disclosed are a sensitizing composition for thermal cancer therapy using electromagnetic waves and a method of treating cancer using the composition. The sensitizing composition includes a metal ion, a metal ion-bound material, “metal ion-noncovalently bound apotransferrin” (transferrin), or a metal ion-noncovalently bound apotransferrin derivative. The sensitizing composition enables selective delivery of the metal ion to tumorous tissue when administered in vivo, and thus the generation of heat in tumorous tissue in which the metal ion accumulates is increased upon thermal cancer therapy using electromagnetic waves, thereby maximizing efficacy of thermal cancer therapy using electromagnetic waves in treating cancer. Thermal therapy using the sensitizing composition effectively treats cancer without pain or side effects and is thus expected to be widely useful in anticancer treatment as monotherapy, and/or in combination with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination thereof, ultimately increases the potential to cure cancer. |