Genetically engineered stem cells from bone marrow showed promise as a potential new way to deliver a cancer-killing protein to tumours, British researchers said. Experiments in cell cultures and in mice showed the adult stem cells - a type known as mesenchymal stem cells - could home in on cancer cells and deliver a lethal protein that attacked only the cancer while sparing normal healthy tissue.
"We've developed cells which specifically target cancer through the body and deliver an anti-cancer protein to where it is needed in a seek-and-destroy approach," said Dr Michael Loebinger of University College London, who presented his findings at the American Thoracic Society conference in San Diego.
"Essentially, we've combined two pieces of research. The first is that mesenchymal stem cells have an innate ability to seek out tumours throughout the body," Loebinger said in a telephone interview.
Loebinger, Dr S. M. Janes and colleagues altered the cells to express or make the cancer-killing protein called TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand or TRAIL.
"This protein has the ability to cause the death only of cancer cells. By combining these two approaches, we have a cell which has the ability to go around the body and find and destroy tumours," Loebinger said.
Studies in cell cultures showed the cells were able to find and kill cells from lung, squamous, breast and cervical cancer. "Lots of cancer have sensitivity to this TRAIL protein," Loebinger said.
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