Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have managed to deliver targeted cancer treatment using small membrane bubbles that our cells use for communication. A recent study published in Nature Biomedical Engineering demonstrates that this treatment reduces tumor growth and enhances survival in mice. When our cells communicate, they send out small membrane bubbles.Extracellular vesicles hold potential for drug delivery
Extracellular vesicles, which are tiny bubbles containing signaling molecules, have garnered increased interest as they have the potential to be used for delivering medications. These bubbles, also known as the body’s ’message in a bottle’, are being explored for their drug delivery capabilities.
Targeted cancer treatment using antibodies
Scientists at Karolinska Institutet have developed a targeted cancer treatment by loading these vesicles with a chemotherapy drug and attaching antibodies against tumors to their surface. In addition to targeting tumor cells, the antibodies also serve as a form of immunotherapy, leading to an enhanced therapeutic effect. This treatment has resulted in a reduction in tumor growth.treatment could be used in the future to complement or replace conventional chemotherapy. The therapy involves isolating extracellular vesicles from white blood cells and loading them with anti-cancer drugs. The study, conducted in mice, showed that the treatment led to reduced tumor growth and increased survival rates in mice with breast cancer or melanoma when given as an injection.
“By attaching different antibodies to extracellular vesicles, we can target them to virtually any tissue and we can load them with other types of drugs as well,” says Oscar Wiklander, a physician and researcher at the Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet. Wiklander is also a joint first author of the study, along with Doste Mamand, a researcher at the same department. “Therefore, the treatment has the potential to be used against other diseases and cancer types.”
The potential benefit of this treatment is its ability to be more effective against cancer with fewer side effects. It is hoped that in the future, this treatment could be used to complement or even replace conventional chemotherapy. The process involves extracting extracellular vesicles from white blood cells and loading them with anti-cancer drugs. The study, which was carried out in mice, demonstrated that the treatment resulted in reduced tumor growth and improved survival rates in mice with breast cancer or melanoma when administered as an injection.A recent development in cancer treatment aims to target and remove tumor cells more effectively while sparing healthy tissue. Researchers are looking into using various combinations of antibodies and drugs to enhance the treatment. Additionally, they are exploring the potential of utilizing mRNA as an anticancer drug. The ultimate goal is to create a new treatment approach that improves effectiveness and minimizes side effects for hard-to-treat cancers. Samir EL Andaloussi, a Professor at the Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, is leading this study.The study focused on developing a new method for delivering drugs directly to cells to treat diseases, with a particular emphasis on cancer. The research received primary funding from the Swedish Cancer Society, the Swedish Research Council, the European Research Council (ERC), and CIMED. Additionally, several of the authors have financial interests in Evox Therapeutics.
