Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have developed a revolutionary cancer treatment that precisely targets tumors with radiation while sparing healthy tissues. The innovative approach uses a KRAS-targeting drug to mark cancer cells and attaches a radioactive antibody to eliminate them.
In traditional radiation therapy, radiation can’t distinguish between cancerous and healthy cells, often causing harm to non-cancerous tissue. This new method overcomes this limitation by combining the KRAS-targeting drug with a radioactive antibody that directly targets and destroys cancer cells.
Studies on mice have shown that this treatment successfully eliminates bladder and lung tumors without common radiation side effects such as lethargy or weight loss. Researchers believe that this approach has the potential to kill tumors before they can develop resistance, making it a more effective treatment option.
The breakthrough was made possible by a decade-long study of KRAS, a notorious cancer-causing protein discovered by UCSF’s Kevan Shokat in 2022. A team led by Charly Craik and Mike Evans developed an antibody that recognizes the unique surface fragment created by the KRAS drug, beckoning immune cells to attack.
To make this therapy work for most patients, scientists are now working on developing antibodies tailored to individual variations in how people’s cells display KRAS. This innovation has significant implications for personalized radiation therapies, potentially leading to a new paradigm for cancer treatment.
This innovative approach harnesses atomic-level radiation to target cancer cells exclusively, making it an attractive alternative to traditional radiation therapy. With further research and development, this targeted radiation therapy holds promise as a more precise and effective way to treat cancer.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-just-made-cancer-radiation-therapy-smarter-safer-and-more-precise