New Hope for Rare Pregnancy-Related Cancer with Nanomedicine Drug Delivery System

Oregon (The Uttam Hindu): A groundbreaking nanomedicine drug delivery system shows promise in treating choriocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive cancer that affects pregnant women and new mothers. Researchers, led by Olena Taratula from Oregon State University, have developed a method to enhance chemotherapy targeting, allowing for a 95% reduction in tumor size in mouse models. The team engineered polymersomes—hollow spheres designed to specifically deliver methotrexate (MTX) to tumor cells—thereby improving the drug's effectiveness while minimizing side effects.

This study, published in *Small Science*, focuses on choriocarcinoma, a cancer that arises from placental cells and can develop after a miscarriage, abortion, or ectopic pregnancy. It can also occur following a molar pregnancy or after a full-term pregnancy. The research centers on enhancing the delivery of MTX, the primary treatment for choriocarcinoma, by targeting a protein called ENT-1 found in tumor cells. Polymersomes, designed to carry chemotherapy drugs more precisely, were shown to significantly improve drug delivery, ensuring the treatment directly targets cancer cells while minimizing harm to healthy tissue. In the mouse model, this innovative approach proved six times more effective than traditional drug carriers, shrinking tumors by 95%.

MTX, a drug that interferes with DNA and RNA replication, is a key treatment for choriocarcinoma. However, its use can lead to side effects such as liver and kidney toxicity, due to poor tumor specificity in standard applications. This new nanoplatform addresses this issue by ensuring precise and targeted drug delivery. With early detection and proper treatment, most cases of choriocarcinoma are curable, boasting a five-year survival rate of about 87%. The team's research suggests that this novel drug delivery system could not only revolutionize the treatment of choriocarcinoma but may also be applied to other cancers in the future. The study was funded by the OSU College of Pharmacy, OHSU School of Medicine, NIH, and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.