New research from Tel Aviv University led by Prof Dan Peer, has developed a new system to directly slice DNA in cancer cells, effectively “deleting” them with molecular “scissors”, leaving no side effects, it is claimed.
“This is the first study in the world to prove that the CRISPR genome editing system, which works by cutting DNA, can effectively be used to treat cancer in an animal,” said Peer.
The treatment increased survival by 30% for mice with gliboglioblastoma, one of the deadliest cancers, and 80% in disseminated ovarian tumours.
When adapted for humans, the treatment would have to be customised for each individual based on a biopsy and then injected, either into the tumour or generally.
Peer explained that the injection consists of three components: a nanoparticle made from lipids, messenger RNA which “encodes” the “tiny scissor function” for cutting the DNA, and a system which “recognises” cancerous cells.
Peer said, “When we first spoke of treatments with messenger RNA twelve years ago, people thought it was science fiction. I believe that in the near future, we will see many personalized treatments based on genetic messengers, for cancer and various genetic diseases.”
Source: Times of Israel
