Chinese researcher, Yan Zou at the Henan-Macquarie University Joint Center for Biomedical Innovation has designed a new kind of nanocapsule that will treat Brain tumours and other brain diseases by using CRISPR to break beyond the blood brain barrier.
CRISPR is one of those “once-in-a-century” breakthroughs that is seeming to be applicable to so many different points within medical science. A tool for adding, removing or altering genetic material inside cells, CRISPR has already shown great promise in treating other conditions cheaper and more accurately than other gene-editing tools.
Researchers used this to target the gene “PLK1” which regulates the development of new cells. This gene when suffering under a brain tumour causes this development to act in overdrive.
Mice, when treated with a single instance of this nanocapsule had a more than 100% increase in lifespan compared to others who did not receive the treatment.
Treated Mice survived for 68 days compared to the 24 days or less of the untreated Mice. The increase of 24 days to 68 doesn’t sound huge, but comparing that to humans. Offering sufferers 4 years of life, as opposed to 18 months is revolutionary.
Whilst the researchers are aware that their current study is only the first step and that much, much more testing is needed. They are also hopeful of the research, understanding it as an “encouraging first step” and expect it can be translated to brain conditions beyond glioblastoma.
"Extending the life expectency of cancer sufferers massively, and even being able to treat the cause and effect of the tumour is amazing. Do we dare to think that the days of us long suffering from the disease are near gone?" Shivvy Jervis
