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A genetic circuit turns cancer cells into self-destructors. This breakthrough could change the future of cancer therapy.
Pennsylvania – Every year, about half a million people in Germany are diagnosed with cancer, according to statistics from the German Cancer Research Center Only about two thirds of these patients survive the next five yearsBut new research from Penn State University in the USA could bring hope: The scientists have manipulated the genetic circuit in cancer cells so that they turn into a “Trojan horse”. This causes the malignant cells to destroy themselves and also kill neighboring cancer cells that are resistant to drugs.
New hope in the fight against cancer: self-destruction of tumor cells
The groundbreaking work of the research team led by Scott Leighow was published on July 4 in the prestigious journal Nature Biotechnology It focuses on a widespread problem in cancer therapy: tumors can become resistant to treatment. Cancer drugs often fail not because of their quality, but because of the diversity and heterogeneity of cancer, says Justin Pritchard, who was involved in the study, in a University press release.
If resistance occurs, the drug loses its effect and the cancer can return. Treatment then starts again with a new drug. But the “Trojan horse” developed by the researchers deceives the cancer cells and turns their strength into a weakness. “I love the idea that we can use the inevitability of a tumor’s evolution against it,” says Pritchard. This would allow doctors to always be one step ahead of the cancer instead of just reacting. Research is also being done into the resistance of other drugs such as antibiotics.
Genetic circuit tricks cancer cells: Evolution against the tumor
The circuit developed by the researchers consists of two parts: The first switch allows drug resistance to be switched on or off. When the switch is activated, the patient receives a drug that kills the natural, non-resistant cancer cells. What remains are the natural resistant cancer cells, which have been the problem in cancer therapy up to now, and the “artificially resistant” cells modified by the switch. These artificially resistant cells are in the majority and eventually displace the naturally resistant cells.
The result: The patient does not develop any new resistance to cancer drugs. In addition, the resulting tumor consists mainly of genetically modified cells. When the first switch is turned off, the cells respond to drugs again. Then comes the “trick”: The second switch is flipped and spreads a “self-destruct gene”. The cells then produce a “poison” that kills both the artificially resistant cells and the neighboring naturally resistant cells. “This is crucial. This population must be eliminated so that the tumor does not grow back,” explains Pritchard in the Penn State statement. Other researchers have examined an anti-cancer pill in a study.
Cancer cells could be tricked: New hope in the fight against cancer
Cancer is the second most common cause of death in Germany after cardiovascular disease, as data from the Federal Statistical Office show. The new anti-cancer method from the USA could save many lives in this country in the future. However, the method has so far only been tested on mice. According to the announcement from Penn State, the scientists are now working on improving the genetic circuit so that it can be introduced safely and specifically into growing tumors and soon also into metastatic diseases.
A patent application for the technology described in the study has already been submitted. “The great thing is that we can specifically attack the cancer cells without knowing which cells they are and without waiting for them to grow or develop resistance, because then it’s too late,” says Scott Leighow, one of the authors of the study, summarizing the results. A study by the University of California last year also presented a self-destruction mechanism for tumor cells.