July 9th, 2024

Re-engineering cancerous tumors to self-destruct and kill drug-resistant cells

Researchers at Penn State University developed a genetic circuit to re-engineer cancerous tumors, causing self-destruction and targeting drug-resistant cells. Published in Nature Biotechnology, the study shows promising results in combating cancer evolution and drug resistance.

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Re-engineering cancerous tumors to self-destruct and kill drug-resistant cells

Researchers at Penn State University have developed a novel genetic circuit aimed at re-engineering cancerous tumors to self-destruct and eliminate drug-resistant cells. This circuit essentially transforms cancer cells into a "Trojan horse," making them easier to treat by causing them to self-destruct and kill nearby drug-resistant cancer cells. The team's findings, published in Nature Biotechnology, introduce a new approach to combat cancer evolution and drug resistance. By strategically manipulating genetic switches within the tumor cells, the researchers were able to target and eliminate drug-resistant populations effectively. The circuit was tested in human cell lines and mice, demonstrating promising results in eradicating cancer cells with high genetic heterogeneity. This innovative strategy offers a potential solution to the challenge of evolving drug resistance in cancer treatment, providing a proactive method to combat the disease. Further research is underway to translate this genetic circuit for safe and selective delivery into growing tumors and metastatic disease.

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