In animal experiments, researchers in Israel have managed to halt triple-negative tumors in female mice using particles made from materials previously deemed safe for humans.

In a promising breakthrough, researchers at Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, a technical university in the city of Haifa, have developed nanoparticles that can treat the highly aggressive form of breast cancer known as “triple-negative” – entirely without chemotherapy or other drugs.

In a new study published in the prestigious journal ACS Nano, the lab-engineered nanoparticles successfully stopped tumor growth in female mice.

The project is led by doctoral student Ofri Vizenblit together with Rawan Mhajne, under the supervision of Associate Professor Assaf Zinger at Technion’s Bioinspired Nano Engineering Lab.

“We managed to design nanoparticles that achieve the same results as some advanced immunotherapies in use today,” Assaf Zinger told The Times of Israel.

He describes the results as a “significant success” and hopes to advance the technology to clinical trials in humans.

Triple-negative breast cancer is one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat forms of breast cancer. The cancer lacks receptors for the hormones estrogen and progesterone as well as the HER2 protein, which means it does not respond to hormone treatments or drugs targeting HER2.

40 percent of deaths

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer :censored:6:cdd6bbaa89:ly in 2022, of which 670,000 died. In Israel, about 4,500 women are diagnosed annually and approximately 900 die.

Triple-negative breast cancer accounts for about 13 percent of all breast cancer cases but represents a full 40 percent of deaths from the disease.

Cancer cells employ a smart strategy. They recruit macrophages, a type of white blood cell that normally fights infections, and instead get them to nourish and protect the tumor.

The nanoparticles block

The new nanoparticles, called MPsomes, are injected into the bloodstream. In the experiments, they targeted the tumor, surrounded it, and blocked macrophages from accessing it. This allowed other immune cells to more easily enter and attack the cancer cells.

In preclinical tests on mice and cell cultures, the particles inhibited tumor growth without causing damage to vital organs.

A major advantage is that the nanoparticles can be produced quickly – a liter per hour – and are made from materials already approved as safe by international regulations. This could speed up the pathway to human trials.

“We can cure cancer in mice – now we have to focus on humans”

Zinger expresses frustration over how long it takes to move from successful animal experiments to treatments for humans.

“I have worked for many years but have not found any shortcut to clinical trials. We know how to cure cancer in mice. Now we need to focus on humans.”

Colleague Associate Professor Avi Schroeder at Technion, who was not involved in the study, praised the results.

“This is an innovative way to target the tumor’s environment instead of just the cancer cells. It offers new hope not just for breast cancer but potentially for other cancer types as well.”

Zinger’s research group is simultaneously working on nanoparticles for, among other things, pediatric neurodegenerative diseases, brain injuries, and ovarian cancer. He emphasizes the importance of early detection.

“The earlier cancer is detected, the greater the chance of curing it.”