Human Protein May Combat Cancer, Viruses

Scientists have modified a process that occurs naturally throughout the human body into a potential therapeutic approach in fighting cancer and viruses.

The study, published in the May 2006 edition of the journal Nature Biotechnology, was led by researchers from Monash University (Victoria, Australia) and involved researchers from other institutes in Denmark, Japan, and the United States.

"The process, called RNA interference, blocks the production of proteins that create cancer and viruses,” said lead investigator and director of the Monash Institute of Medical Research (MIMR), Prof. Bryan Williams. "We've exploited this process by creating short interfering RNA, or siRNA, that are being developed into drugs to fight viruses and cancer,” he said. "We've now taken this a step further and worked out how we can create siRNA with different cellular properties to target different diseases.”

Whereas earlier studies had revealed siRNA had the potential to be a powerful anti-cancer and anti-viral agent, Prof. Williams had demonstrated there was a question of whether siRNA-based drugs could cause a dangerous inflammatory response. The scientists have now discovered the physical structure of siRNA , which is essential for the creation of successful anti-cancer and anti-viral drugs. This will allow the development of siRNA-based drugs to respond differently for different diseases.

"By ‘tweaking' the structure of siRNA to target specific diseases, we can dictate whether we want a particular siRNA-based drug to block or promote an immune response, to increase the effectiveness of the treatment,” he said. "While our research is at an early stage, human trials using siRNA are currently underway in the USA and Europe. We're confident our study will have a significant impact on the way siRNA is being developed as a weapon in the fight against viruses and cancer,” concluded Prof. Williams.



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