Can ‘2 in 1’ therapy improve how we treat cancer?
Cancer types:
General cancer research
Project period:
–
Research institute:
Universidad del País Vasco
Award amount:
£235,794
Location:
Spain
Dr Edurne Rujas and her team are designing a treatment that can target cancer in two completely different ways - by delivering potent drugs to tumours while also boosting our immune system to fight cancer. This radical ‘dual-action’ therapy could be a powerful new way to target the disease.
Why is this research needed?
Immunotherapy and chemotherapy are two distinct types of cancer treatment. Both can be highly effective, but they also come with challenges. Immunotherapy does not work for everyone, and unfortunately, it may become less effective over time. Meanwhile, chemotherapy can be effective, but it may lead to resistance and cause difficult side effects.
But what if we could make a better treatment by combining both therapies together?
This is the bright idea of Dr Rujas and her team, and they are engineering an innovative new type of molecules that can do just this. It will be able to deliver a ‘backpack’ of potent chemotherapy drug molecules to cancer cells, while also firing-up the immune system to kill the cancer.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to all the incredible individuals who believe in science, in scientists, and who so generously contribute to our mission. I have learned that the foundation calls you Curestarters, and I truly couldn’t think of a more fitting name—because without your support, many of the breakthroughs we achieve would simply not be possible.
What is the science behind this project?
Dr. Rujas’s new treatment will use specialized molecules, known as antibodies, to precisely target cancer cells. The novelty of this approach lies in the engineering strategy of these molecules to equip them with a molecular ‘backpack’—a structure consisting of tiny fat molecules called lipids.
The backpack will be able to hold a high number of cancer drug molecules, many more than has ever before been managed. It will be used to deliver these drug molecules directly to the cancer cells.
The idea is that once the antibody reaches the tumour, the backpack decouples and the drug molecules are released to enter the cell, where they can attack. The backpack will also transport the strong chemotherapy drug molecules directly to the tumour. This should help to stop the molecules from affecting other parts of the body in the way that chemotherapy drugs do. Any treatment based on this technology should therefore be kinder, with fewer side effects for the patient.
Another important strategy incorporated into these molecules is their dual functionality.
One part will deliver the tiny "backpack" filled with cancer-fighting drugs, while the other will help activate our immune system to attack cancer. In this way the antibody should work like a combined immunotherapy and chemotherapy treatment- in one molecule!
During this project, Dr. Rujas and her team will refine the antibody’s design and test it in lab models, starting with lymphoma but with the potential to treat other cancers. They will first develop its ability to deliver different drug types at once. Then, they will test how the molecule splits when they approach the cancer, allowing it to do both jobs—delivering drugs directly into tumors and activating the immune system to fight back.
What difference could this project make to patients in the future?
Targeting tumours simultaneously in two completely different ways like this should unlock much more cancer-killing power, unleashing huge potential to help many more people with this condition.The team hope that this will be the start of a brand new way to treat cancer and to stop lives being cut short in the future.
Donate to support more research like this
By choosing to make a donation today you can help us fund more of these bright ideas for new ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer.
Active Spain
Lung cancer
Researchers want to help immunotherapy work for more cancer patients by understanding how cancers hijack our immune system and preventing this happening
Researcher: Dr Andrés Hidalgo
Understanding how cancer cells modify white blood cells to help tumours grow
Active United Kingdom
General cancer research
Chemotherapy can sometimes stop working, so this project is hoping to better understand why and find ways to give more, better options to cancer patients.
Researcher: Dr Andrew Beekman
Stopping cancer becoming resistant to chemotherapy
Active United Kingdom
General cancer research
This project hopes to open up exciting possibilities for personalised cancer treatment by finding how to predict which patients will respond best to treatment.
Researcher: Professor Tim Elliott
Finding ways to predict which patients will respond to immunotherapy