Researchers Find a Genetic Kill Switch Able to Destroy Cancer Cells without Chemo

Two studies have discussed a natural mechanism, which if adequately harnessed, may kill cancer cells and prevent them from becoming resistant to treatment.

And, this could be possible without the side effects common with chemo.

The study, published in 2017, was led by Marcus E. Peter from the Tomas D. Spies Professor of Cancer Metabolism at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago and it found that RNA molecules can destroy cancerous cells and avert them from developing a resistance to treatment. 

According to Peter, the RNA molecules were able to kill the cancer cells,  but also removed genes that the cancer cells need for survival.

A Genetic Kill Switch: Destroying Cancerous Cells without Chemo?

As Dr. Peter noted, this finding is like stabbing oneself if one wants to commit suicide or shooting yourself and jumping off a building. The chances of survival are practically zero.

But, the exact way in which the cells commit suicide wasn’t known until two new studies led by Dr. Peter discovered the reason. Namely, the team found that the mechanism was enabled by a kill code in the RNA and microRNAs of each cell.

This mechanism is what causes the cells to self-destruct. 

Chemo can trigger the toxic RNA and microRNA molecules, according to the study authors; however, scientists hope that this mechanism can be used to avoid the chemo side effects.

The first study is published in the eLife journal. It discusses how big RNAs can be transformed into smaller, toxic RNAs. The second paper describes how the two small microRNAs use the kill code to destroy cancerous cells and it was published in the journal Nature Communications.

Turning on the Kill Switch without Chemo?

In the first mentioned paper, the team of Peter found a six nucleotides sequence in small RNAs which made the molecules toxic to cancer cells. 

A nucleotide is a basic structural unit and a DNA and RNA building block. This study also concluded that around three percent of the big RNAs can be divided into smaller pieces that will act as microRNAs that will destroy cancer.

In the second study, the team and Peter tested 1,400 possible combos of nucleotide bases from the six primary ones in an effort to find the most toxic combination.

The knowledge from these studies helped the scientists to make artificial microRNAs which are more potent in destroying cancerous cells than even the natural ones. 

Peter believes that this definitely needs to be turned into therapy.

The Side Effects of Chemo Remain a Big Issue

Despite its ability to trigger toxic RNAs, chemo comes with side effects like second cancers due to the approach causing genome changes.

In the new studies, the researchers claim that they’ve discovered weapons that may be better than chemo due to the lack of side effects.

Dr. Peter notes that the goal is to follow nature and use its mechanism to create effective cancer treatment. 

Due to the cancer being unable to adapt to the toxic RNAs, these findings may one day help create an unstoppable cancer therapy.

Sources:

POWER OF POSITIVITY

MEDICAL NEWS TODAY