Researchers from Harvard Medical School (HMS) have found a new method of transforming stem cells into killing machines that can attack brain cancer.
As part of experiments on mice, researchers genetically engineered the stem cells to prepare and secrete toxins that can kill brain tumors and that too without killing themselves or the normal cells.
While publishing their findings in the journal Stem Cells, the researchers said in the next stage tests would be conducted on humans.
An expert in stem cells commented that this is going to be the future of treating cancer.
Researchers from Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) were involved in the study.
For several years now researchers had been studying a therapy based on stem cell for cancer cure. The idea behind the therapy was to kill only tumour cells and nothing else.
Researchers used genetic engineering to produce stem cells that discharged toxins that could kill cancer. However, most importantly, the stem cells were able to withstand the impact of the poison they were releasing.
The toxins, however, did not pose any risk to healthy and normal cells.
During tests on animals, the genetically engineered stem cells were covered with gel and planted at the spot of the brain tumour after it was removed.
As a result, the cancer cells in the animals died as they did not have any defences against the toxins.
Lead author Dr Khalid Shah, who is also the director of molecular neurotherapy and imaging lab at MGH and HMS, said the study results are positive.
After completing the molecular analysis and the necessary imaging to keep track of the inhibition of protein synthesis inside brain tumors, the researchers had seen the toxins killing the cancer cells, Dr Shah said.
He also said that such toxins were used with immense success in several blood cancers. He went on to add that toxins do not work as well in solid tumors, because those cancers are not as accessible and toxins have a short lifespan.
All this has changed due to the genetically engineered stem cells, he said and added that researchers now have stem cells that are resistant to toxins, which can produce and release drugs that can kill cancer.
Dr Shah is now planning to test the new method using several different therapies on mice with glioblastoma, which is a common brain tumour among adult humans.
He further hopes the new therapies will be used in clinical trials during the next few years.
Meanwhile, Professor Chris Mason of at the University College London said the new study signals the start of the next wave of therapies. They show that doctors can now attack solid tumors by inserting mini pharmacies inside a patient and ensure that the toxic payload is directly delivered to a cancerous tumour.
Prof Mason said that this is how the future is likely to be.
Nell Barrie of the Cancer Research UK said the new therapy is a clever approach to treat cancer.
Barrie also said there was an urgent need for better and newer treatments for brain tumors and the new stem cell therapy can help in the direct treatment at the location where it is needed the most.
