A nanoparticle drug-delivery system that combines two complementary types of anticancer treatment could improve outcomes for patients with pancreatic cancer, according to research published in Nature Nanotechnology.
In the study the researchers, who included BRC-supported Dr Stephen Pereira, used a nanomedicine that combines photodynamic therapy – the use of light to trigger a chemical reaction – with a molecular therapy drug targeted against common treatment-resistant pathways.
With this dual approach the researchers found the dosage of the molecular therapy drug required to suppress tumour progression reduced by a thousand-fold.
Dr Tayyaba Hasan from Harvard, who led the team, said: “Right now we can say this approach has tremendous potential for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer, for whom surgery is not possible”. This work follows on from the BRC-supported phase I/II clinical studies with photodynamic therapy alone and will lead to further phase I studies led by UCL.
Nanoparticles range in size from about 100 nanometre down to about 1 nanometre. They are typically the size of small molecules, and far too small to see with a microscope, but have a very large surface area compared with their volume. So they are often able to react very quickly – this makes them useful as catalysts to speed up reactions. They can be employed to deliver drugs, heat, light or other substances to specific types of cells, such as cancer cells. Particles are engineered so they are attracted to diseased cells, allowing for direct treatment of those cells. Previous studies have shown this technique reduces damage to healthy cells in the body and allows for earlier detection of disease.
The researchers say that while the results are encouraging, this ‘nanoconstruct’ combination needs more validation before becoming a clinical treatment option.
To read A photoactivable multi-inhibitor nanoliposome for tumour control and simultaneous inhibition of treatment escape pathways in full click here.
