Stopping the pumps in chemotherapy-resistant tumours
Nature Biotechnology
June 29, 2009
A novel type of artificial drug delivery system that blocks cancer cells' ability to expel chemotherapy and thereby acquire drug resistance is published online this week in Nature Biotechnology. In mice, this approach successfully inhibits the growth of drug-resistant colon, breast and uterine tumours and substantially extends life expectancy.
Himanshu Brahmbhatt and colleagues' technique relies on minicells ― empty, lifeless bacteria without genetic material ― which can be filled with different types of drug. Mice were sequentially given two sets of minicells ― the first filled with small RNA molecules to block production of the pumps that confer drug-resistance, and the second one loaded with toxic chemotherapy drugs to kill the tumour cells with disabled pumps.
Since the drugs are not released into general circulation, they can kill cancer cells at much lower dosage than normally required, thus avoiding undesirable side effects.
doi: 10.1038/nbt.1547
Research highlights
-
Jul 1
Criminology: Predicting police enforcement bias in major US citiesNature Human Behaviour
-
Jul 1
Evolution: Pandas gave bamboo the thumbs up at least six million years agoScientific Reports
-
Jul 1
Space health: The path of most resistance could help limit bone loss during spaceflightScientific Reports
-
Jun 30
Genomics: Gray wolf genome hints at dual ancestry of dogsNature
-
Jun 30
Evolution: Hawks learn on the fly to swoop up before perchingNature
-
Jun 30
Microbiology: Transmission of gastrointestinal viruses in salivaNature