The new treatment, according to Nature Biotechnology, works by using mutant bacteria generated minicells, which contains siRNA, a cytotoxic drug, to destroy cancer cells.
The whole treatment includes two stages. In the first wave, agent to suppress the toxin-resistant gene will be injected to the body to deactivate the gene, and the minicells with millions of doxorubicin, a toxin used in chemotherapy, will be injected in the second wave to give the cancer cells a thorough clean-up.
The treatment has got splendid results in animal tests of mice, which were implanted with human uterine tumor that was highly aggressive and drug-resistant. All the treated mice were recovered after 70 days of treatment, and the untreated mice all died after a month.
The researchers, who are from EnGeneIC Pty Ltd, a Lane Cove West – based Australian company specializing in cancer treatments, said they had also conducted successful tests in monkeys and will start trials in patients with solid tumors in three Melbourne hospitals in July.