'Trojan horse' approach eradicates cancer cells

Researchers for Australia's EnGeneIC have outlined a strikingly successful new approach to conquering cancer. In several preclinical studies the scientists injected minicells into animals which are designed to deliver a payload of toxins and gene inhibitors and are coated with an antibody that latches on to tumor cells. In one recent study all the mice implanted with a tumor were free of tumor cells after a 70-day treatment period. All the mice left untreated died.

A separate study using dogs with advanced brain cancer produced similar results and safety trials using human subjects begin next month in three Melbourne hospitals. Jennifer A. MacDiarmid and Himanshu Brahmbhatt add that the company is also engaged in talks to partner the cancer program.

"I consider the approach is remarkable and more than intriguing," said Dr. Stephen Friend, the former head cancer scientist at Merck who is now at Sage Bionetworks. But he adds the warning that cancer cells are so versatile that they often defeat the drugs used to attack them in humans.

The minicells are dubbed EDVs, for EnGenelC Delivery Vehicle. "The beauty is that our EDVs operate like 'Trojan Horses.' They arrive at the gates of the affected cells and are always allowed in," MacDiarmid told Reuters.

- read the article in the New York Times
- check out the story in Reuters