Breakthrough: Cancer cells to see a self assigned end

A team of synthetic biologists have advanced a landmark system to force cancerous cells crumble on their own and safeguard the body from fatal tumors. The researchers have developed a gene that can stimulate efforts to wipe out the cancerous cells in a creative way. The genes initially determine health status of the cells. And, if any cells are found cancerous, the genes will right away start action until the affected cells are annihilated.

A cancer cell undergoes apoptosis (cell death)

Researchers at MIT and Switzerland’s ETH Zurich, are behind the praiseworthy project. Of course, the technique will be a huge advancement in scientists’ longs efforts to foster a reliable treatment for cancer, one of the most lethal diseases in the world. Many think that the method to kill tumors and leave the healthy tissues unhurt, will initiate a new revolution in the fight against cancer. The researchers published their study in the September 2 issue of Science magazine.

The tumor-killing technique works on a logic circuit developed by the researchers. The technique reaches at a decision in accordance with multiple inputs. The circuit in the system, is built of particular genes, which can identify molecules specific to cervical cancer tissues in the body. On evaluation and discovery of the affected tissues, the genes will generate a protein that can stimulate apoptosis, the killing of cells. In other words, the protein generated by the genes will force the cancerous cells to kill themselves.

Amazingly, the genes used to produce the protein can be swapped in and out. It means they can be used to determine several other diseases and health issues. Apart from diagnostics, these genes can be used to treat several tissue-related problems. In fact, as said by Ron Weiss, an associate professor at MIT and one of heads of the study, the technology will be a great assistance in disease-state detection in future.

The researchers picked microRNA as target for their study. MicroRNA is a genetic material discovered just 10 years back. These snippets of RNA are used to reach DNA’s instructions to other cells. There are more than 1,000 various microRNA sequences in human body. According to the researchers, every type of cancer has its own microRNA profile, and the study was done based on this.

In another step, the scientists differentiated a particular type of cervical cancer cell, HeLa. For this, the researchers identified six microRNAs, with some present in large multitudes in the HeLa cells and some having less numbers. The protein created by the synthetic gene is the major element in the overall functioning, however. The researchers named it hBax. As mentioned above, this protein instigates the killing of the affected cells. hBax leaves the healthy cells without any damage to them.

Via: MIT