Can nanoparticles make a big difference in retinoblastoma cancer?
Cancer types:
Retinoblastoma
Childhood cancer
Project period:
–
Research institute:
Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC)
Award amount:
£192,029
Location:
Finland
Dr Mika Reinisalo and his team hope to tackle retinoblastoma by combining three very novel and state of the art approaches –tumour targeting proteins, nanoparticles and a type of radiotherapy called boron therapy. This could pave the way for less toxic treatments, better outcomes and fewer side effects for retinoblastoma patients.
Why is this research needed?
Retinoblastoma is a rare form of eye cancer that affects young children. If untreated it can cause blindness and has a high chance of spreading to the brain. Current treatments for retinoblastoma are quite effective however side effects can be severe especially when treating children. This is because the treatments are not specific enough to the cancer cells and can damage healthy tissue surrounding the tumour.
Dr Mika Reinisalo and his team are investigating whether they can make an effective radiotherapy technique more specific, to target the tumour without harming healthy tissue. Using state of the art techniques they could pave the way for less toxic treatments in retinoblastoma to help more children with this devastating disease.
I want to thank the Curestarters, their support is extremely valuable and enables the work of our researchers. Even the smallest advancements in cancer treatment are significant.
What is the science behind this project?
Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a promising new type of radiotherapy treatment for head cancers, so-called because it involves using a substance called boron to distinguish between healthy cells and cancer cell. Patients are then exposed to a beam of low energy neutrons - invisible particles that can pass through the body and interact with the boron in the cancer cells.
Boron and neutrons are both harmless by themselves but when they mix in the right environment they can kill cancer cells. This means that cancer cells can be targeted whilst the healthy tissue is unharmed. Boron therapy is localised to only where the boron is. This precise treatment means less side effects and fewer rounds of therapy for patients.
However, the main problem with boron therapy currently is delivering the compound containing boron to the tumours effectively. The boron needs to be selectively taken up by the cancer cells and kept only there, not in any other cells. This means that new delivery methods that can selectively target and penetrate the cancer cells are needed.
Dr Mika Reinisalo and his team have discovered a small protein called a peptide that naturally targets retinoblastoma. One incredibly innovative method Dr Mika Reinisalo and his team propose is to use nanoparticles, which are incredible small particles with unique properties that can target cancer cells. Nanoparticles have the ability to carry medicine inside them and can even have peptides attached to the surface of the nanoparticle. The nanoparticles act like an envelope with the boron medicine being the letter on the inside and the peptide being the delivery address on the outside, assisting with the delivery to the tumour.
What difference could this project make to patients in the future?
Thanks to Curestarter funding Dr Mika Reinisalo and his team will try to revolutionise retinoblastoma therapy. Using their cutting-edge creative approach they hope to kick-start new, kinder treatments for patients.
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