Breakthrough Cancer Strategy Hijacks Tumor Cells' Survival Network
Researchers have developed a nanoparticle-based therapy that disrupts cancer cells' organelle communication system – the hidden network allowing tumors to resist conventional treatments. By combining multi-hydroxyl fullerene (MF) nanoparticles with mTOR inhibitors, this approach triggers the domino-like collapse of lysosomes ("cellular recycling centers"), mitochondria ("power plants"), and endoplasmic reticulum ("protein factories") while sabotaging cancer cells' self-repair mechanisms.
Key Innovations:
Organelle-Targeted Strike
MF nanoparticles selectively rupture lysosome membranes, releasing digestive enzymes that disable mitochondria and trigger endoplasmic reticulum stress. Concurrent mTOR inhibitor treatment first activates and then blocks autophagy, leaving cancer cells unable to clear damaged components.
Self-Destruction Switch
The therapy intentionally activates autophagy (cells' cleanup system) but disables its completion through lysosome destruction. This "traps" cancer cells in a lethal cycle of damage accumulation.
Safety by Design
Normal cells exhibited a 3.7-fold greater survival rate compared to cancer cells at the IC50 concentration, as they maintain more robust organelle networks. Tumors shrank by 60.4% without detectable organ toxicity.
Significance:
This work pioneers a "physical biology" anticancer paradigm using nanomaterials to disrupt cellular infrastructure rather than targeting genes/proteins. It offers new hope for treating aggressive cancers resistant to existing therapies.
Science Bulletin
Experimental study