Researchers from the University of Tokyo have developed a new approach to cancer treatment, involving artificial strands of DNA that react with specific microRNA to provide a natural immune response.
MicroRNA are over-produced in cancer cells, and lab tests have found their new technique works against malignant melanoma cells. Researchers used cells from mice, alongside human samples from breast and cervical cancer-derived cells in the study, the Express reports.
Drugs based on DNA and RNA are able to control the biological functions of cells, which means the future of cancer treatment is set to be transformed. It has been a challenge for scientists to get to this point, as it is tricky to make nucleic acids distinguish between cancer cells and healthy ones.
