by Swedish researchers at Karolinska Institutet have made a breakthrough in cancer treatment by utilizing the body’s natural communication system, extracellular vesicles (EVs). A study published in Nature Biomedical Engineering reveals that this innovative approach reduces tumor growth and improves survival in mice with breast cancer or melanoma.
Communication between cells involves the release of tiny membrane bubbles, known as extracellular vesicles. These EVs carry various signaling molecules and have gained significant attention in recent years due to their potential as drug delivery vehicles. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have now engineered a targeted cancer therapy by filling these EVs with a chemotherapeutic drug and attaching tumor-targeting antibodies to their surface. The antibodies not only guide the EVs to cancer cells but also act as an immunotherapy, amplifying the therapeutic effect.
According to Oscar Wiklander, a physician and researcher at the Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, and joint first author with Doste Mamand, a researcher at the same department, the potential applications of this treatment extend beyond cancer. By attaching different antibodies to EVs, researchers can target various tissues and load them with various drugs, making it a versatile therapeutic approach for various diseases.
Wiklander explains, “The targeted Cancer Treatment using EVs has the potential to revolutionize cancer therapy by providing a more precise and effective approach to delivering drugs to cancer cells while minimizing side effects.”
This groundbreaking research offers a promising future for personalized and targeted cancer treatments, paving the way for potential applications in various cancer types and diseases.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it.
