‘Smart’ Nanoparticles Deliver mRNA Directly to Tumors in New Cancer Therapy
Our immune systems don’t just fight bacteria and viruses invading the body. They are responsible for keeping our own tissues in check, taking out cancerous cells before they have a chance to grow. Once a tumor forms, however, it can create an environment that declaws cancer-fighting immune cells—in some cases even reprogramming them to suppress other parts of the immune system.
Overcoming the oppressive tumor environment remains a barrier for even some of the most promising treatments. “One of the biggest challenges in cancer immunotherapy is that the immune system may be capable of attacking a tumor, but the tumor environment can stop those immune cells from doing their job,” University of Adelaide professor Chunxia Zhao explained in a press release.
In a study published this week in Science Advances, Zhao’s team developed a system that can precisely deliver an mRNA therapy to transform immune cells back into...
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