A team of Japanese medical oncologists has discovered a new way of using artificial DNA to eliminate cancer cells naturally, helping the immune system to recognize them. The immune system is usually unable to detect cancer cells, as they disguise themselves as normal cells. However, by creating special “hooked” DNA molecules called oHP, researchers were able to make the immune system recognize the tumor. This has made the immune system able to stop the progression of a cancer, and in many cases even make it regress.
The method successfully tested on mice affected by human cervical cancer, breast cancer and malignant melanoma, has just been illustrated in a study that I link to you here.
Artificial DNA against cancer, because it is an important discovery
Cancer treatments that use nucleic acid are often risky. The immune system can also attack healthy cells that share genes or signals with cancer cells. But although they can "disguise" themselves as normal cells, tumor cells have Achilles' heels that allow them to be recognized. In this specific case, the fact that they produce a molecule called in excessive quantities was useful microRNA-21 (miR-21). For the first time, the team was able to develop a hairpin-shaped DNA strand that could trigger a natural immune response to target and kill specific cancer cells.
When the artificial DNA encountered miR-21 and formed longer DNA strands with it, the mice's immune systems “discovered” that something was wrong. And he finally reacted independently.
The discovery illustrated in this study represents a breakthrough for doctors, scientists and cancer patients. The Professor Akimitsu Okamoto from the University of Tokyo is certain: “These results offer new opportunities for the development of drugs and strategies against cancer”. Next goals? Accurately evaluate the effectiveness, toxicity and possible methods of use of drugs based on artificial DNA.
Not an easy road, and certainly not a short one: if science finds a way to administer artificial DNA (and then make it disappear from the human body by only having it do the "dirty" work of sentinel) cancer will probably be reduced to a manageable problem and no longer mortal. Let's cross the double helixes!
