Cancer-Targeting Stem Cells May Be Treatment Of The Future
Posted on: Wednesday, 20 May 2009, 12:37 CDT
A group of British researchers believe that genetically engineered bone marrow stem cells may offer new hope in the battle against cancer.
Researchers reported the results of experiments performed in cell cultures and in mice that demonstrated the ability of adult stem cells to single-out and attack cancer cells with a deadly protein while leaving healthy cells unharmed.
“We’ve developed cells which specifically target cancer through the body and deliver an anti-cancer protein to where it is needed in a seek-and-destroy approach,” explained Dr. Michael Loebinger of University College London on Tuesday at the American Thoracic Society conference in San Diego.
“Essentially, we’ve combined two pieces of research. The first is that mesenchymal stem cells have an innate ability to seek out tumors throughout the body,” Loebinger later added during a phone interview.
For the second piece of research, Dr. Loebinger and his colleagues were able to modify normal bone marrow stem cells by inserting a gene for the production of the cancer-killing protein known as TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand, or TRAIL.
“This protein has the ability to cause the death only of cancer cells. By combining these two approaches, we have a cell which has the ability to go around the body and find and destroy tumors,” said Loebinger.
He added that in culture experiments the TRAIL protein was effective in destroying a broad spectrum of different cancer cells, including lung, squamous, breast and cervical cancer.
“Lots of cancer[s] have sensitivity to this TRAIL protein,” Loebinger said.
In mice with breast tumors as well, treatments with the protein were largely effective in eliminating malignant cells while leaving surrounding tissue unharmed. According to the group’s research, cancer cells were completely eradicated in some 38 percent of the mice tested.
Loebinger added that the team’s goal is to develop a similar cell-based therapy for treating human forms of cancer.
One of the peculiar perks of using stem cells for such treatments is that such cells are “immunoprivileged,” meaning that the body’s immune system will not launch an attack on them. Potentially, this could mean that the cancer-fighting cells could be prepared in large batches and would not have to be custom-tailored for each individual patient.
Loebinger’s team hopes to start conducting human trials within two to three years, but adds that a number of preliminary safety trials will be necessary before they can begin.
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Image Caption: Mesenchymal Stem Cell. Courtesy Robert M. Hunt - Wikipedia
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Source: redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports
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