A new way to use DNA to kill cancer cells has been found

Scientists have found a new way to use DNA to kill cancer cells, which could pave the way for a cure for the disease. The method targets malignant melanoma cells in mice, as well as cells from human cervical and breast cancer.  In the method, a pair of cancer-killing DNA in the form of a wire clip is injected into cancer cells. DNA injected into cells binds to molecules called microRNAs, which are overproduced in some cancers.

A new way to use DNA to kill cancer cells has been found

After DNAs bind to MicroRNA, they unwind and form longer DNA chains, creating an immune response. The immune system identifies overproduced microRNA cells as dangerous, activating a natural immune response that kills cancer cells. The Japanese research team says their method is different from existing methods and could herald a new era in breakthrough cancer drugs. While cancer is unfortunately a common health concern and the limitations of current treatment modalities, DNA and RNA-based drugs are expected to eventually enable scientists to beat cancer. This is because DNA and RNA are vital information carrier molecules that can control the biological function of cells.  These molecules are expected to change the future of medicine and contribute to the treatment of genetic diseases and other difficult-to-treat diseases caused by viruses.

Using DNA and RNA in cancer therapy is difficult because getting these molecules to differentiate between cancerous and healthy cells is not easy. This means that if healthy cells are attacked, the patient's immune system may be adversely affected. But for the first time, scientists have succeeded in developing a strand of DNA that can activate a natural immune response to target and kill specific cancerous cells. "The results of this study are good news for physicians, drug discovery researchers and cancer patients because we believe it will open up new options for drug development and drug policy," said Professor Akimitsu Okamoto of the University of Tokyo, one of the study's authors.