Tue Feb 18th, 2025

A revolutionary Israeli platform allows drugs to be directed directly to cancerous tumors

Ulcer edge of a squamous cell skin cancer. Photo: Mikael Häggström, MD Author info - Reusing images- Conflicts of interest: None Mikael Häggström, MDConsent note: Consent from the patient or patient's relatives is considered as redundant, because of absence of identifiable features (List of HIPAA identifiers) in the media and case information (See also HIPAA case reports guidance)., CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.Ulcer edge of a squamous cell skin cancer. Photo: Mikael Häggström, MD Author info - Reusing images- Conflicts of interest: None Mikael Häggström, MDConsent note: Consent from the patient or patient's relatives is considered as redundant, because of absence of identifiable features (List of HIPAA identifiers) in the media and case information (See also HIPAA case reports guidance)., CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.

A team of researchers at Tel Aviv University (TAU), led by Ronit Satchi-Fainaro, developed an innovative polymeric nanoparticle platform that enables simultaneous delivery of two drugs directly to cancerous tumors, effective for patients with skin cancer and breast cancer. 

This is a breakthrough developed in collaboration with scientists from Italy, Portugal and the Netherlands, and its results were recently published in the prestigious journal Science Advances.

In general, differences in the chemical and physical properties of the various drugs used in a cancer treatment make it difficult for them to reach the tumor at the same time, limiting their effectiveness.

“We were looking for a way to deliver two drugs simultaneously and selectively to the tumor site without harming healthy organs,” Saatchi-Fainaro explained. “What the scientists found was that biodegradable nanoparticles can encapsulate two complementary drugs, specifically targeting cancer cells thanks to the sulfate groups attached to P-selectin, a protein expressed at high levels in tumors and in the new blood vessels that feed cancer.”

Simultaneous delivery of the drugs was much more effective than giving them separately, even at doses 30 times lower, reducing tumor size in mice, and also doubling or tripling survival.

2 thoughts on “A revolutionary Israeli platform allows drugs to be directed directly to cancerous tumors”
  1. All scientific advances, especially in medicine, seem excellent to me! Because they can save lives! Congratulations to this incredible group of scientists!

  2. Excellent scientific contribution to the world, my recognition and congratulations to these medical geniuses, this news will cheer the hearts of many people who suffer from these diseases.

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