Nanoparticles: the missing link in cancer gene therapy
Introducing nucleic acids into cells by nanoparticles:
Researchers working on cancer, despite the many obstacles encountered in the course of time, studying gene therapy as an experimental treatment for use in combating diseases that lead to patient death. A research team composed of scientists, through the development of a nanoparticle capable of carrying, in a selective anti-cancer genes to cancer cells, is now able to obtain potentially very positive results. The researchers, whose findings were recently published in the journal Cancer Research, are hoping that experiments on humans could begin in 2011.
According to the researchers, the lack of safety of gene therapy as well as the efficiency of gene transfer vectors for systemic, have a negative impact on the potential of gene therapy in the clinic. In the earlier study the team discovered that mice with cancer, you can proceed to the transaction of tumor cells – ie the process of introducing nucleic acids into cells by non-viral – by nanoparticles.
Taking into account the need to increase the safety margin of therapy, the researchers analyzed the stability of colloidal nanoparticles and the precise biodistribution of gene transfer in the physical interaction of the subject to life.
“Gene therapy has enormous potential for the creation of safe and effective cancer treatments, but the transfer of genes into cancer cells is one of the biggest challenges that arise in this area,” said Dr. Andreas Schatzlein University of London, co-author of the study.
“This is the first time it is shown that nanoparticles are able to target so as targeted cancer cells. This is an extremely significant step forward.”
For this study, the research team used dendrimers of polipropienimine as carriers of genes, suggesting that this particular dendrimer forms a stable complex with DNA that seems to break only once inside the cancer cells.
“The biophysical characterization that we have done shows that dendrimers, when bound to DNA, can form spontaneously in solution in a supramolecular formation that has all the features necessary for its dissemination in experimental tumors due to the effect of increased permeability and retention (enhanced permeability and retention effect – EPR) “the authors wrote.
Although the tests were performed only on mice, researchers believe they can start experiments on humans within the next two years. This technique could be effective for patients with inoperable tumors because it does not affect healthy cells.
Under the guidance of Georges Vassaux National Institute for Health and Medical Research (INSERM) in France, the team has shown that, once the genes have been incorporated by the nanoparticles, the cells are forced to produce proteins that can kill cancer cells.
“Introduced into the cell, the gene was incorporated into the particle recognizes the environmental carcinogen and active,” said Dr Schatzlein. “The effect only damages cancer cells, while healthy tissue is not altered.”
According to the researchers, the cells produce the NIS gene (Na / I symporter) that is detectable by examination of medical imaging called “whole body scan.” While the gene was expressed in transfected cell phone cancer, its level was not considered relevant in healthy cells, the scientists added.
“Considering that the diagnostic imaging of NIS gene expression of the transgene was recently validated in humans, the data we collected show the potential of these nanoparticles for the formulation of new cancer gene therapy,” the researchers point out.
