KIST develops nanoparticle for non-invasive cancer treatment

KIST develops nanoparticle for non-invasive cancer treatment. January. 30, 2018 07:20. kyungeun@donga.com.

A group of South Korean researchers has developed a candidate material for a new medicine that will allow selective removal of cancer cells through intravenous injections without surgical procedures.

A team led by Prof. Kim In-san, a chief researcher at the Korean Institute for Science and Technology (KIST), announced on Monday that the research team found an anticancer nanoparticle called “FHSIRPα-dox,” which boosts the natural immune reactions of a human body disproportionately against cancer cells. “By helping the immune cells perceive cancer cells as enemy, the new finding will enable us to overcome the adverse side-effects and limitations of conventional cancer treatment,” explained Prof. Kim.

Prof. Kim and his team found that the tumor tissue volume of mice without nanoparticles injection grew about 10 times in 18 days. By contrast, the cancer cells in the mice, which were injected with the anticancer nanoparticles, began to shrink before disappearing altogether. Another group of mice, which had their cancer cells surgically removed, was also safe from recurrence after getting the nanoparticle injection. “The mice in question developed ‘lasting anticancer capacity,’” said Yang Yoo-soo, a senior researcher at KIST.

KIST recently transferred the anticancer nanoparticles technology to Samyang Biopharm, a local pharmaceutical company, and embarked on commercialization research. In addition to the basic payment of 500 million won (466 thousand U.S. dollars) for the technology, KIST will receive an additional 4.5 billion won (4.2 million dollars) depending on the results of clinical trials and will also be entitled to 3 percent of net sales once its commercialization research succeeds. KIST’s research findings were published on Advanced Material, an international weekly journal of science, on Jan. 15.