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Chemistry Institute develops new cancer treatment approach

Ljubljana, 22 January - Researchers at the National Institute of Chemistry have developed a new cancer treatment approach which causes the death of cancer cells and strengthens the immune system. The results of pre-clinical trials on mice have been published in Nature Communications, a prominent journal, the institute said on Wednesday.

Ljubljana Logo of the Chemical Institute. Photo: Katja Kodba/STA File photo

Ljubljana
Logo of the Chemical Institute.
Photo: Katja Kodba/STA
File photo

Researchers drew inspiration from inflammasomes, a part of the immune system that detects harmful microorganisms in cells. Inflammasomes then trigger a special type of cell death which causes inflammation that in turn attracts immune system cells to the place of inflammation.

The researchers inserted into tumour cells of mice with melanoma the proteins gasdermin D and cytokines. Gasdermin D makes holes in the cell membrane and causes cell death and inflammation. Cytokines and the spilled contents of dead cells then function as an alarm for immune system cells, causing them to enter the tumour and fight cancer cells.

Using this approach, researchers were able to successfully treat 40% of the mice with melanoma, which is considered an extremely aggressive form of cancer, the institute said.

The researchers also found that certain types of cytokines increase the activity of immune system cells in fighting the tumours, while other types inhibit it, which means that the type of cytokine has to be carefully chosen.

They introduced the proteins to the cells using electroporation, which is mostly useful for more accessible tumours, such as skin or breast cancer. In the future the researchers hope to study different ways of delivering the proteins which could allow the treatment of less accessible tumours.