New (potential) Cancer Treatment

Nanoparticles and genes used to treat cancer
Straits Times reported 14 Jun that a team of researchers from the National Cencer Centre (NCC) have turned “engineered” silica nanoparticles into tools for anti-cancer gene therapy. The engineered nanoparticles were developed by a team from NTUC School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering. Tests showed that the nanoparticles could carry and transfer pieces of DNA to the spleen, thus causing it to produce immune cells that recognise and destroy cancer cells. The tests also showed that such gene therapy could prevent a cancer relapse. According to NCC’s Prof Hui Kam Man, the result is a more targeted and effective cancer treatment with fewer side effects. It noted that the study was funded over two years by a grant of more than $250,000 from the NMRC and the results were published in the international journal Gene Therapy last month.