2023-07-11 06:36:08
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Scientists have developed and tested a potential new treatment for cancer. Working similarly to Covid-19 vaccines, the approach involves delivering mRNA molecules that cause cancer cells to produce toxic proteins.
Using messenger RNA to fight cancer
Inside all living cells are ribosomes, which are essentially tiny “protein factories”, the nature of which depends on the “blueprints”. they receive, from messenger RNA molecules (mRNA). During the pandemic, scientists notably hijacked this mechanism in order to induce cells to produce proteins similar to those of the coronavirus and obtain an appropriate reaction from the body during subsequent infections.
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If such an approach had previously been used to induce the production of tumor-like proteins and improve the immune response to cancerresearchers at Tel Aviv University recently unveiled a “Trojan horse” treatment that works differently.
Described in the review Theranostics, this involves mRNA molecules specifically coded to produce a bacterial toxin, which is then packaged into lipid nanoparticles. Once injected into tumors, they cause cancer cells to produce the toxin and poison themselves. According to the team, this method might be a safer option than chemotherapy, which also harms healthy cells.
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« With a simple injection into the tumor bed, we can cause cancer cells to commit suicide without damaging healthy cells. “, explains Dan Peer, co-author of the study. ” Unlike chemotherapy, cancer cells cannot develop resistance to our technology because it is always possible to use a different natural toxin. »
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Promising first trials
In tests carried out on mice with melanoma, between 44 and 60% of cancer cells were destroyed following a single injection. This resulted in a significant slowing down of tumor growth as well as a considerable increase in the survival rate of treated rodents, in whom no adverse effects were observed.
As promising as these initial results are, it should be kept in mind that the research is still in its infancy. The team plans to carry out large-scale preclinical trials soon, which might pave the way for testing in humans.
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