Targeted Cancer Treatment: New Nanomedicine Improves Chemotherapy Delivery to Tumors
Researchers at the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center have developed a new type of nano medicine that improves the way chemotherapy drugs reach tumors. The approach uses nanoparticles to increase drug accumulation directly in tumor tissues, showing positive results in mice.
The Problem with Standard Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a common treatment for cancer, but it has some key challenges. Many drugs are broken down by enzymes or cleared out by the kidneys before they reach tumors in effective amounts. This limits their impact on cancer cells and can lead to toxic effects in healthy tissues.
To address this, researchers have been working to deliver chemotherapy drugs using nanoparticles—tiny particles that carry the drugs directly to tumor sites. But so far, many nanoparticle-based methods haven’t been able to get enough of the drug into the tumor cells themselves.
Using STING to Improve Drug Delivery
The research team, led by Wenbin Lin, designed a new type of nanoparticle that not only carries chemotherapy drugs but also activates a pathway known as STING (stimulator of interferon genes). STING activation disrupts the structure of blood vessels around the tumor, making it easier for the drug to enter the tumor tissue. This dual approach showed strong antitumor effects in their studies with mice.
“By using STING activators, we can improve drug delivery to tumors without increasing exposure to healthy tissues,” said Lin.
In collaboration with the team, Dr. Ralph Weichselbaum, a senior author on the study, noted that this method could also make STING activators more effective on their own or in combination with other treatments.
Next Steps for the Research
The team’s results showed significant tumor growth inhibition and high cure rates in multiple types of tumors in mice. Now, they plan to do further validation studies and work on scaling the technology for potential human trials.
To learn more, check this link!: https://biologicalsciences.uchicago.edu/news/nanomedicine-improves-cancer-treatment
