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Health See other Health Articles Title: World's first guided anti-cancer 'missile' created by scientists A new breakthrough discovery has inched closer towards creating a cancer [abnormal cells that divide without control, which can invade nearby tissues or spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to other parts of the body. ] -destroying antibody that may help scientists in eradicating the indestructible cancer cells from body. Indian and Oz researchers have recently identified a ‘RNA aptamer’ antibody that acts as an anti-cancer [abnormal cells that divide without control, which can invade nearby tissues or spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to other parts of the body. ] missile. A team of researchers headed by Wei Duan from the Deakin Medical School's Nanomedicine Program along with scientists from Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore and Barwon Health's Andrew Love Cancer Centre and Chem Genex Pharmaceuticals in Australia initiated the study that claims having discovered a ‘cancer bomb’. “We have created the world's first RNA aptamer, a chemical antibody that acts like a guided missile to seek out and bind only to cancer stem cells. It has the potential to deliver drugs directly to the stem cells and also to be used to develop a more effective cancer imaging system,” said Wei Duan, director of the Deakin Medical School. According to him, the antibody has helped reveal major information on cancer detection and treatment. "What we have created is the 'guided missile' part of the 'smart bomb'. The aptamer acts like a guided missile, targeting the tumour and binding to the root of the cancer," said Duan. Benefit of the RNA aptamer The minuscule size of the aptamer allows it to detect the location of the cancer cells right at the onset and now researchers are focusing on affixing a radioactive compound on it, to help detect cancer before its starts growing. This would also help in detecting the exact location of the infection caused by cancer, predicting the extent of cure and better follow-up. "The aim now is to combine the aptamer with the 'bomb' (a microscopic fat particle) that can carry anti-cancer drugs or diagnostic imaging agents directly to the cancer stem cells, creating the ultimate medical smart bomb," said Wei. Detecting the exact location of the cancer could lead to better and economic treatment against many cancer types. Non-effective cancer treatments mar medical world Despite achieving unbound advancements in the technology and medical field, scientists have failed to combat the menace called cancer till now. Also, cancer deaths have remained a cause of constant worry due to failure in detecting the cancer at an early stage and due to late treatment. "Current cancer treatments destroy the cells that form the bulk of the tumor, but are largely ineffective against the root of the cancer, the cancer stem cells. This suggests that in order to provide a cure for cancer we must accurately detect and eliminate the cancer stem cells,” concluded the lead author. The study has been detailed in the Feb. edition of the journal 'Cancer Science.'
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