A team of researchers at the University of Zurich in Switzerland has developed a new technology that allows the body to produce therapeutic agents in the exact place where they are needed.
The innovation could be effective in reducing the side effects of cancer treatment and in delivering new therapies against covid-19 directly into the lungs, writes the portal Medical Xpress.
The researchers altered an adenovirus to act as a ‘Trojan horse’ to deliver genes for cancer treatment directly into tumor cells. This technique causes no damage to healthy cells, which is a benefit compared to chemotherapy, for example.
Once they reach the tumor cells, the genes act to eliminate the tumors. The results of the study were published in the scientific journal PNAS.
“We trick the tumor into eliminating itself by producing anticancer agents by its own cells,” said Sheena Smith, co-author of the study.
“Therapeutic agents, such as therapeutic antibodies or signaling substances, usually stay in the place in the body where they are needed, rather than spreading into the bloodstream, where they can damage healthy organs and tissues,” explained research team leader Andreas Plückthun in turn.
The SHREAD technology – as the authors call it – made the tumor itself produce an antibody against breast cancer, called trastuzumab, in a mouse.
A few days later, the technology produced more antibodies in the tumor than when it was injected directly. The side effects seen were also much lower.
The researchers emphasize that this technology will not only be useful in cancer treatment: it is also applicable for the delivery of a wide range of biopharmaceuticals.
“By delivering the SHREAD treatment to patients via an inhaled aerosol, our approach could allow targeted production of covid antibody treatments in lung cells where they are needed most,” Smith said.
Adenoviral vectors are already being used in several of the covid-19 vaccines, including Janssen, AstraZeneca and Sputnik V
