In a groundbreaking study published in Cancer Research (December 2024), scientists at Ohio State University unveiled an innovative cancer therapy that targets the mitochondria, the energy centers of cells, to induce cancer cell death. This therapy, named mLumiOpto, utilizes a combination of nanoparticles and light-induced gene therapy to specifically disrupt the mitochondria of cancer cells, leading to their collapse and death. The research team, led by Professors Lufang Zhou and X. Margaret Liu, developed a system that delivers genetic material encoding a light-sensitive protein and a bioluminescent enzyme directly to cancer cells. When activated by light, these molecules generate electrical currents that disrupt the mitochondrial membrane, ultimately causing cell death.
The therapy showed promising results in treating aggressive cancers, including glioblastoma and triple-negative breast cancer, in mouse models. Tumors were significantly reduced, and the survival rate of mice with glioblastomas was notably improved. Importantly, the therapy was highly specific to cancer cells, leaving normal cells unaffected. The research also demonstrated that the therapy could stimulate an immune response against the cancer cells.
The team overcame significant challenges in targeting the mitochondria by using a viral delivery system that was engineered for high specificity to cancer cells. This involved incorporating a monoclonal antibody that could target cancer-specific receptors, ensuring the therapeutic genes were only expressed in cancer cells.
The success of mLumiOpto offers hope for more effective cancer treatments, and the researchers have filed a provisional patent for the technology. Supported by the U.S. Department of Defense and the National Institutes of Health, this breakthrough represents a major step toward advancing precision cancer therapies.
The full study can be found in the December issue of Cancer Research.
Source. ScienceDaily. "Light-induced gene therapy disables cancer cells' energy center." "https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241213125202.htm." December 13, 2024.
Edited by Ansh Pincha.
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