Over 10 years ago researchers using worms showed cancer genes could be prevented from replicating if double-stranded small interfering RNA chains (siRNAs) was used to cut the messenger RNA cancer cells used to replicate, rather than the RNA or DNA itself. The problem was getting into human cancer cells.
Now more than a decade later another team of Nobel Prize researchers including Davis and Ribas have successfully used a specialized polymer nanoparticle injected into people’s bloodstream to get the shut off message to cancer cells. While the trial is just in the first of possible three test stages the possible implications for the future of medicine is hope inspiring.
By preventing the proteins from replicating, it means not only a possible cure of cancer but for a variety of other diseases as well for e.g. Alzheimer and Diabetes. Unfortunately because of the complexity and risk of such research, this hope will not materialize for a lot of us but maybe we are on the right path for future generations.
image via technewsworld
