Nandini Pharasi, Jaypee Institute of Information Technology
What is neuroblastoma?
Neuroblastoma is a condition in which malignant cells develop in the adrenal glands, neck, chest, or spinal cords neuroblasts (immature nerve tissue). A gene mutation (change) handed down from parent to kid can develop neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma is responsible for 8–10% of all malignancies in children and 15% of cancer-related fatalities in children. Chemotherapy is the standard treatment for neuroblastoma patients with advanced illness, followed by surgical resection or radiation. Tumors are more often detected in the abdomen and are caused by particular types of nerve cells. Current treatments like surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy help eliminate the original tumor, but the tumor will often recur at other locations in the body, making treatment much more difficult.
UCL researchers have devised a novel method of delivering medicines that can inhibit cancer-promoting mutations in neuroblastoma. The results in mice demonstrate that using small bubbles to deliver treatments directly to tumor cells decreased tumor development and increased survival. The study, which was published in the journal Worldwide Cancer Research, now opens a unique therapeutic option.
N-Myc as an important tool:
MYCN (N-Myc) is a gene linked to a poor prognosis that is found to be mutant or hyperactive in around 20% of neuroblastoma patients. The gene is involved in cell growth and development and is generally expressed during fetal development. In neuroblastoma cells, MYCN is overexpressed, promoting uncontrolled cell growth and division and preventing cancer cells from dying. N-Myc, a transcription factor belonging to the Myc family, regulates the expression of genes involved in proliferation, cell growth, protein synthesis, metabolism, apoptosis, and differentiation.
UCL researchers have discovered a technique to silence MYCN by directly delivering a form of genetic material known as siRNA to tumor cells. They created nanoparticles, or small bubbles, that target cancers by using leaky blood arteries around the tumor and specific characteristics were seen exclusively on tumor cells. Most of the nanoparticles delivered by injection reach the tumor and successfully inactivate the MYCN gene that causes cancer. The therapy slowed tumor growth and allowed the mice to live longer after they were diagnosed with cancer.
Future possibilities:
- Professor Stephen Hart, a senior author, stated “These findings suggest that using MYCN siRNA delivered through nanoparticles might be a novel neuroblastoma treatment option. The next stage would be to figure out how to scale up manufacturing to clinical-grade levels and prove that the therapy is safe. We anticipate that this therapy will complement existing treatments by allowing us to pinpoint treatment to these specific tumor locations.”
- “Every year, about 100 families in the United Kingdom learn that their child has neuroblastoma,” said Dr. Helen Rippon, CEO of Worldwide Cancer Research.
- Unfortunately, cancer is frequently discovered at a late stage, necessitating aggressive therapy. Professor Hart is one of our funded cancer researchers, and this significant finding highlights the importance of early-stage discovery research.
The use of new methods, such as nanoparticles, to transport medicine straight to the center of cancer is an exciting topic of research. These new results pave the way for better treatment options and bring hope to patients and their families.
Also read: First interchangeable biosimilar insulin for diabetic patients
References:
- Tagalakis, Aristides D., et al. ‘Integrin‐Targeted, Short Interfering RNA Nanocomplexes for Neuroblastoma Tumor‐Specific Delivery Achieve MYCN Silencing with Improved Survival’. Advanced Functional Materials, June 2021, p. 2104843. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202104843.
- London, University College. Tiny Bubbles Used to Treat Common Childhood Cancer. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-07-tiny-common-childhood-cancer.html. Accessed 31 July 2021.
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