A breakthrough in radiation therapy has been made with the discovery of a protein from tiny tardigrades that may help protect cancer patients from severe side effects.
About 60% of all cancer patients in the United States receive ‘radiation therapy’ as part of their treatment. However, this radiation can have severe side effects that often end up being too difficult for patients to tolerate.
Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, accounting for 9.6 million deaths in 2018.
There are over 100 different types of cancer, with breast, lung, colon, prostate, and skin cancers being the most common.
Cancer can be caused by genetic mutations, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices.
Early detection and treatment are crucial for increasing survival rates and improving quality of life.
Researchers at MIT, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the University of Iowa have drawn inspiration from a tiny organism that can withstand huge amounts of radiation – the tardigrade, also known as ‘water bear.’ These organisms are usually less than a millimeter in length and are found all over the world, often in aquatic environments. Scientists have even sent them into space, where they were shown to survive extreme dehydration and cosmic radiation.
Tardigrades, also known as water bears, are microscopic eight-legged creatures that can withstand extreme conditions.
They can survive in temperatures ranging from -200°C to 150°C, and pressures up to 6,000 atmospheres.
Tardigrades can also endure dehydration by entering a state of dormancy called cryptobiosis, where their metabolic processes come to a near-halt.
This unique ability allows them to survive in environments with little to no water, such as the vacuum of space.
In fact, tardigrades have been sent to space and have even survived exposure to radiation.
One key component of tardigrades‘ defense systems is a unique damage suppressor protein called Dsup. This protein plays a major role in tardigrades‘ ability to survive radiation doses 2,000 to 3,000 times higher than what a human being can tolerate.
The researchers wondered if they might be able to deliver messenger RNA encoding Dsup to patient tissues before radiation treatment. This mRNA would trigger cells to transiently express the protein, protecting DNA during the treatment. After a few hours, the mRNA and protein would disappear.
After showing that these particles could successfully deliver mRNA to cells grown in the lab, the researchers tested whether this approach could effectively protect tissue from radiation in a mouse model. They injected the particles into either the cheek or the rectum several hours before giving a dose of radiation similar to what cancer patients would receive. In these mice, the researchers saw a 50% reduction in the amount of double-stranded DNA breaks caused by radiation.
Radiation exposure can occur naturally or through human activities.
Ionizing radiation can cause harm by damaging DNA, leading to cancer and genetic mutations.
Non-ionizing radiation, such as radiofrequency energy from 'cell phones' , has raised health concerns.
To mitigate risks, personal protective equipment (PPE) like lead aprons and thyroid shields are used in medical settings.
Shielding materials, like concrete or water, can also absorb radiation.
In daily life, minimizing exposure by using devices with safe emission levels and following safety guidelines is crucial.
If developed for use in humans, this protein could potentially be used to protect against DNA damage caused by chemotherapy drugs. Another possible application would be to help prevent radiation damage in astronauts in space. The researchers now plan to work on developing a version of the Dsup protein that would not provoke an immune response.
The discovery of this protein from tiny tardigrades may lead to a new strategy for protecting cancer patients from radiation therapy side effects. This breakthrough has the potential to improve the quality of life for many cancer patients and could also have applications in other areas, such as space exploration.
