Develop a technique for cancer cell suicide in Israel

2002/08/22 Carton Virto, Eider - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Medikuntza

Researchers have used a genetically modified virus to kill cancer cells. The virus belongs to the HIV family and carries a molecule that activates the mechanism of cell suicide. The technique has been tested with the most violent brain cancer, with a type of glioblastoma. In vitro tests have shown that the virus caused the death of cancer cells and in the mouse inhibited the growth of the tumor. In both cases, healthy cells have not suffered any damage. The new strategy developed in Israel is based on gene therapy, since the virus carries to the cells the molecule that binds to a certain area of the genome.

In many types of cancer, malignant cell genes go away or change places. And, in many cases, a certain mRNA molecule is generated at the point where the deagation or modification has occurred. Israeli researchers have designed a molecule that is associated with this MRNA, as both together launch the cell's suicide mechanism. When molecules come together, the cell begins to produce a protein called PCR that self-destructs. Suicide mechanisms are common in cells, they are activated when they are sick or infected by a virus to protect the body, but in the case of minivices they do not work. That is why it is so difficult to destroy them.

Israelis use an HIV family virus to transport the ‘killer molecule’ to cancer cells. Due to the high capacity of cellular contagion of this virus, they ensure that the ‘drug’ reaches the desired place. Of course, the virus is genetically modified to avoid evils.

The strategy itself has begun to experiment with lymphomas and leukemia. However, there is still a long way to go to know if this technique will be effective for the human being. Mice have been directly involved in ‘killer molecule’ in subsurface tumors, but the reality is very different. In most cases it is not possible to reach the tumor directly and the ‘drug’ will have to overcome major obstacles before reaching cancer cells, such as the immune system. Precisely, one of the greatest difficulties that gene therapy currently has is to find transporters that bring complete ‘medicines’ to cells.

The research has been published in the September issue of the journal Nature Biotechnology, but is now available on the Internet.