'Smart' Nanoparticles Deliver mRNA Directly to Tumors in New Cancer Therapy

'Smart' Nanoparticles Deliver mRNA Directly to Tumors in New Cancer Therapy The treatment can reprogram immune cells that have been corrupted by the cancer, strengthening the body's ability to attack. They are responsible for keeping our own tissues in check, taking out cancerous cells before they have a chance to grow. Once a tumor forms, however, it can create an environment that declaws cancer-fighting immune cells--in some cases even reprogramming them to suppress other parts of the immune system. Overcoming the oppressive tumor environment remains a barrier for even some of the most promising treatments. "One of the biggest challenges in cancer immunotherapy is that the immune system may be capable of attacking a tumor, but the tumor environment can stop those immune cells from doing their job," University of Adelaide professor Chunxia Zhao explained in a press release .