Apr 1, 2011 13:19 GMT  ·  By

Patients seeking to cope with the painful effects of cancer treatments now have a new method of doing so. A technology developed by the American space agency is now available to doctors, who can choose to use it to alleviate the pain certain cancer therapies inflict on patients.

Originally, the technology was developed to help astronauts in low-Earth orbit study the effects of microgravity on plant growth patterns. It is known among experts as High Emissivity Aluminiferous Luminescent Substrate (HEALS).

The thing that underlies its function is a light generator capable of producing powerful streams of red and infrared light, which doctors learned to use to counteract the effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy on cancer sufferers.

Scientists recently finished a two-year clinical trial that evaluated the technique. The studies were carried out on people who had undergone bone marrow or stem cell transplants for their condition.

All the test subjects were in pain following chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and HEALS was used to ameliorate these effects, Space reports. Experts in charge of the clinical trials say that the approach turned out to be beneficial for nearly all patients.

“Using this technology as a healing agent was phenomenal. The HEALS device was well tolerated with no adverse affects to our bone marrow and stem cell transplant patients,” says Dr. Donna Salzman.

The expert, who is based University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital, was the principal investigator of the clinical trials, Space reports. He explains that the “active ingredient” of HEALS is an array of special light-emitting diodes (LED).

These light sources produce red and infrared photons, while at the same time minimizing the emission of heat, which is generally produced in such devices by inefficient circuits that waste electricity.

The HEALS variant used in the tests is called the WARP 75 light delivery system, and is contains an array of no less than 288 LED. In the tests, the devices were used to treat oral mucositis.

This condition is characterized by the inflammation and ulceration of the mucous membranes found in the mouth and throat. It affects a large number of those who undergo cancer treatment, experts add.

The light WARP 75 produced turned out to be very efficient at promoting the healing of cells affected by this condition. This leads to patients experiencing a significantly reduced amount of pain.

The US Food and Drug Administration is currently reviewing this technology. If it passes the agency's tests, then it could enter widespread use in hospitals around the world.

“NASA is proud to be a part of the HEALS technology medical advancements that are improving the lives of cancer patients and providing new, innovative medical applications,” says Helen Stinson.

“It's exciting to see the spinoffs from NASA's science and technology initiatives continually improve the quality of life for people here on Earth,” adds the expert, who is the technical monitor for the NASA HEALS contract.