Taking a page out of a vaccine developer’s playbook, a Boston biotech company is making major strides towards a breakthrough cancer treatment.
Driving the news: More than three years after the messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule gained popularity for its role in COVID-19 vaccines, Strand Therapeutics will test a cancer-fighting mRNA treatment that can more precisely treat cancerous tumours, according to WIRED.
- Strand can take mRNA — which gives instructions to cells to help fight off illnesses — and program it to target a specific area with a tumour, leaving non-cancerous cells alone.
- That level of precision is a big deal because other existing cancer treatments can also reach off-target areas (that is, where the healthy cells are) and can be toxic.
How it works: Similar to how mRNA in some COVID vaccines was programmed to create a lookalike coronavirus spike protein — a process that created antibodies to help fight the virus — Strand’s synthetic mRNA can detect cancerous cells and alert the body to create immune cells to launch into action.
- This is especially important when it comes to cancer because tumour cells are particularly stealthy and often go undetected by the immune system.
Why it matters: Cancer is still the leading cause of death in Canada, killing one in every four Canadians. The mRNA therapy, while still in its early stages, has cleared some of the major hurdles that have stumped targeted mRNA tumour treatments in the past.
What’s next: While the initial trials will target easy-to-reach tumours like melanoma and breast cancer, if the mRNA is proven effective, the treatment could be expanded.—LA